For years, I was in awe of strong women around me.
You know the ones:
– Fearless
– Independent
– Emotionally intelligent
– Inspiring.
And managing to maintain their strength and grace under pressure.
My fascination peaked during my late 20s. I was running a start-up, Hack Spirit, in the heart of bustling Sydney.
As its founder, I was constantly interacting with strong, independent women who seemed to possess a mental strength I couldn’t quite grasp.
Despite my background in psychology, I still found myself perplexed by these rare behaviors that seemed to be exclusive to genuinely strong women.
My curiosity piqued, I decided to delve deeper into psychology and discovered seven unique behaviors that these women exhibited.
In this article, I want to share these rare behaviors with you. Not only did they help me understand the strength of women better but they also taught me some valuable life lessons.
Let’s dive in.
1) Embracing vulnerability
One of the first behaviors that struck me about genuinely strong women was their ability to embrace vulnerability.
Now, this might seem counterintuitive. After all, isn’t vulnerability a sign of weakness? But as I dove deeper into psychology, I realized that it was quite the opposite.
Strong women understand that vulnerability is not a weakness, but a strength. It is the courage to show up and be seen, to risk rejection and criticism for the sake of authenticity.
In my interactions with these women, I noticed this trait time and time again.
They were not afraid to express their emotions, admit their mistakes, or ask for help.
Embracing vulnerability takes courage. It means being honest with yourself and others about who you are, what you need and how you feel.
If you ever find yourself hiding your true feelings or pretending to be someone you’re not, remember this: strength lies in authenticity.
2) They practice self-compassion
The second behavior I noticed was the practice of self-compassion.
I’ll be honest, this one hit home for me. As a psychology enthusiast and the founder of Hack Spirit, I’ve spent countless hours reading and writing about mental health and wellbeing.
But practicing what I preach? That’s been a tougher nut to crack.
I’ve had my fair share of self-criticism and negative self-talk. I often found myself dwelling on my mistakes or beating myself up over perceived failures.
But then I came across a quote from psychologist Kristin Neff, who is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on self-compassion: “With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and care we’d give to a good friend.”
This quote resonated with me deeply. It made me realize that if I could extend compassion and understanding to others, why couldn’t I do the same for myself?
Genuinely strong women have mastered this art. They treat themselves with kindness, understanding their own flaws and accepting them without judgment.
Practicing self-compassion not only improves mental health but also boosts resilience and fosters a positive attitude.
Next time you find yourself being too hard on yourself, remember to treat yourself with the same kindness you would give to a good friend.
3) They set healthy boundaries
The third behavior I observed in genuinely strong women was their ability to set healthy boundaries.
This was yet another lesson I learned from them, and it was a game-changer for me.
As the founder of a start-up, Hack Spirit, I found myself constantly juggling multiple responsibilities and working late hours.
I was saying ‘yes’ to everything, trying to keep everyone happy while ignoring my own needs in the process. It took a toll on my health and personal life.
Observing strong women around me, I noticed they had a clear understanding of their limits and weren’t afraid to communicate them. They knew when to say ‘no’ and didn’t feel guilty about it.
Setting boundaries is an essential part of self-care. It means respecting your own needs, time, and mental health.
I started setting boundaries in my personal and professional life, and the difference was profound. I had more time for myself, my stress levels dropped, and my relationships improved.
Setting boundaries doesn’t mean you’re selfish; it means you’re taking care of yourself.
4) They maintain a growth mindset
The fourth behavior that struck me about genuinely strong women was their ability to maintain a growth mindset.
I first learned about this concept through the work of psychologist Carol Dweck.
She conducted a study at Stanford University which concluded that individuals can be placed on a continuum according to their implicit views of “where ability comes from.”
Dweck concluded through her studies that people who believe their success is based on innate ability are said to have a “fixed” theory of intelligence (fixed mindset), while others, who believe their success is based on hard work and learning, are said to have a “growth” theory of intelligence (growth mindset).
The women I admired seemed to embody this growth mindset. They viewed challenges as opportunities for growth, rather than insurmountable hurdles.
They weren’t deterred by failure; instead, they used it as a stepping stone for improvement.
This behavior resonated with me. As an entrepreneur, I faced my fair share of failures and roadblocks.
Adopting a growth mindset allowed me to view these as learning opportunities rather than dead ends.
Remember this: your abilities and intelligence can be cultivated. With passion and perseverance, you can always continue to learn and grow.
5) They cultivate gratitude
The fifth behavior I noticed in genuinely strong women was their habit of cultivating gratitude.
There’s a lot of research out there showing the benefits of gratitude. It can improve our mental and physical health, enhance our relationships, and even lead to greater happiness.
But let’s be honest, cultivating gratitude isn’t always easy, especially when life gets tough. It requires a conscious effort to focus on the positive, even when it feels like everything is going wrong.
Despite this, I noticed that strong women always seemed to find something to be grateful for. Even on their worst days, they would focus on the good things in their lives rather than dwelling on the negatives.
I took a leaf out of their book and started a daily gratitude practice. Every morning, I would write down three things I was grateful
for. This simple act of acknowledging the good in my life made a significant difference in my overall happiness and well-being.
So try cultivating gratitude.
6) They practice mindfulness
The sixth behavior I admired in genuinely strong women was their practice of mindfulness.
As an enthusiastic student of psychology, mindfulness was a concept I was familiar with. But it wasn’t until I saw it in action that I truly understood its power.
Mindfulness, put simply, is the ability to be fully present in the moment, aware of our thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment.
Famous psychologist Carl Rogers once said, “The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination.”
This quote encapsulates the essence of mindfulness – living fully in the present and appreciating the journey rather than racing towards a destination.
Strong women I knew lived this quote. Whether they were engaged in work, spending time with loved ones, or simply enjoying a moment of solitude, they were always fully there, savoring every moment.
Keep in mind: the power of now is immense.
7) They aren’t afraid to ask for help
The seventh and final behavior might seem counterintuitive, but it’s a crucial one: genuinely strong women aren’t afraid to ask for help.
Often, we equate strength with independence and self-sufficiency. We believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness. But in reality, it’s quite the opposite.
Strong women understand that they can’t do everything on their own. They recognize their limits and aren’t afraid to reach out when they need support.
They know that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength.
Whether it was a colleague reaching out for assistance on a project or a friend asking for advice, these women showed me that there’s strength in vulnerability.
Asking for help allowed me to learn from others, build stronger relationships, and achieve more than I could on my own.
A practical tip: next time you’re struggling with something, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Reach out to a friend, a family member, or a mentor.
Conclusion
In observing and interacting with genuinely strong women, I’ve learned so much about resilience, self-care, and personal growth.
These behaviors are not exclusive to women, but can be adopted by anyone looking to build mental strength and live a more fulfilled life.
Remember: strength isn’t about never falling; it’s about getting back up every time you fall. It’s about being true to yourself, embracing challenges as opportunities, and treating yourself with kindness.
Here’s my final piece of advice: Start small. Pick one behavior from this list and focus on practicing it each day.
And always remember: you are stronger than you think.
The post originally appeared on following source : Source link
