6 Hidden Habits That Quietly Build Unshakeable Mental Strength (And How to Train Them)
Mental strength isn’t genetic. It’s built. Here’s how.
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What’s In This Edition:
The real difference between those who thrive under pressure and those who crumble
Six practices that build unshakeable mental resilience
Real-world examples from leadership and learning
A reflection to anchor your mindset this week
I’ve been thinking a lot about what separates people
who thrive under pressure from those who crumble.
Resilience has become a buzzword.
But when you strip it down, what does it really look like in action?
Not just in theory, but in practice. In real moments.
In the decisions that shape careers, confidence, and futures.
Here’s what I’ve learned coaching both women leaders growing their presence online and teens preparing for high-stakes French exams such as their GCSEs and A-Levels:
Mental strength isn’t something you’re born with.
It’s something you build, one brave decision at a time.
I’ve seen this pattern again and again: founders on the verge of giving up LinkedIn after weeks of low engagement, and students frustrated by their own slow progress, thinking they just “don’t have the gene” for learning.
Different people. Different paths.
But the same hidden belief:
that mental strength is something you either have or you don’t.
Here’s the truth:
👉 Mental strength is a daily practice, not a personality trait.
And it’s built through small, deliberate choices that compound over time.
Let me share what I’ve observed in the people who break through, whether they’re stepping into visibility as leaders or conquering a language they once feared.
The 6 Daily Practices That Build Resilience
1. They Keep Moving Forward
They don’t dwell. They extract the lesson, adjust, and keep going.
The Founder: I’ve worked with founders who went from posting sporadically to building genuine traction. They didn’t have the perfect strategy, but they kept showing up. They stopped replaying old narratives about not being “expert enough” and focused on serving their audience.
The Student: I’ve worked with many students who’ve faced that discouraging turning point, where French suddenly felt too hard, too foreign, too overwhelming. Instead of shutting down, they get curious.
And even when it’s uncomfortable, they commit to practice. Over time, that decision to lean in, not away, pays off. Not just in grades in their exam, but in confidence.
Pattern: Mentally resilient people don’t waste energy feeling sorry for themselves. They extract the lesson and take action.
2. They Welcome What Scares Them
Growth lives on the other side of discomfort. Mentally strong people don’t resist change. They position themselves to benefit from it.
From the classroom: The students who improve fastest aren’t the ones who avoid challenges. They’re the ones who actively seek them out. They volunteer to speak first. They ask for harder exercises. They push into what they don’t know.
The insight: Comfort zones feel safe, but they’re where growth goes to die.
3. They Master Their Inner Dialogue
The way you speak to yourself matters more than you think.
“That post flopped. I’m not cut out for this.” vs.
“That post flopped. what can I tweak next time?”
One is spiraling. The other is strength.
Power move: You can’t always control what happens.
But you can always control the story you tell yourself about it.
Talk to yourself like someone you’re responsible for encouraging.
4. They Take Calculated Risks
They get ready by doing.
Waiting doesn’t create readiness. Intentional action does.
From the business side: The bravest thing I see leaders do is niche down (even when it feels scary). It feels counterintuitive, like limiting yourself. But the ones who commit to clarity are the ones who often stand out the fastest.
The lesson: Strategic risk, backed by clarity and intention is how breakthroughs happen.
5. They Never Stop Learning
Mentally strong people are relentlessly curious.
A founder who spends 10 minutes daily refining her message compounds clarity.
A student who speaks 10 minutes a day gains fluency, not through one heroic effort, but through consistent repetition.
Success isn’t an event. It’s a habit.
6. They Invest in Themselves
Mentally strong people believe they are worth the investment.
Not someday. Not when they’re “ready.” Now.
Whether it’s booking a LinkedIn audit or a speaking coach, mentally strong people treat growth like a responsibility, not a luxury. They take ownership of their trajectory. And that decision changes everything.
The truth: Betting on yourself isn’t selfish. It’s strategic.
Reflection: What Are You Building?
Mental strength isn’t reserved for the naturally confident or inherently talented.
It’s built through choices:
The choice to move forward instead of staying stuck
The choice to embrace discomfort instead of avoiding it
The choice to reframe setbacks as opportunities
The choice to take strategic risks with courage
The choice to keep learning, even when it’s hard
The choice to invest in your own potential
Here’s your starting point:
✅ Pick one of the six practices above.
Which one is your current growth edge?
That’s your starting line.
Linked And Lift Picks
Book: The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday - A modern classic on building mental toughness.
Podcast: The Happiness Lab - Especially the episode on mental resilience with Dr. Santos.
Quote of the Week:
“Mental strength isn’t given. It’s built, one choice at a time.”
Closing Thought
Whether you’re a leader building something meaningful, a parent supporting a teen through academic challenges, or a woman navigating your own season of growth, remember this:
Resilience is quiet. It doesn’t ask for applause.
But over time, it earns you something far more valuable:
trust in yourself.
So I’ll leave you with this question:
What are you building today?
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Until next time,
Veronique Barrot
Founder, Linked And Lift
Coaching leaders to grow inside out.
Follow me on LinkedIn where I share self-leadership and growth insights 6 times a week.
P.S. If you’re wondering what I do beyond writing newsletters: I support ambitious women leaders in two ways: through strategic personal branding for founders, and helping their teens go from “I’m not a language person” to earning A–A* in IGCSE, O Level & A-Level French exams. In both cases, it’s about building the kind of inner resilience that translates into real-world results. On stage, on paper, or in life.
If that speaks to your world, I’m here.