5 Ways to Grow Business–Building Mental Muscle

5 ways to grow business using mental muscle?  It’s not unusual for entrepreneurs to start eating right and exercising more when they’re gearing up to launch a business. Physical health is directly connected to success, and smart entrepreneurs look to leverage every advantage. But how many of them ever think to step-up their mental game before making what may be one of the biggest commitments of their lives?
To be mentally strong means you regulate your emotions, manage your thoughts, and behave in a positive manner regardless of circumstances, according to Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and adjunct college psychology instructor in Lincoln, Maine. It’s not a matter of willpower; it’s about establishing healthy habits and committing to doing the heavy lifting required for self-improvement.
For entrepreneurs, choosing to develop the skills that boost mental strength can make all the difference when facing the inevitable hurdles confronting business owners. Here are five ways to grow business using mental muscles.  Starter exercises to get you on your way to becoming a mental powerhouse:

1. Check Your Core

Your core beliefs were ingrained over time, and they affect your thoughts, behavior and emotions. Sometimes they empower us, but if they’re inaccurate or unproductive they can get in the way of success. Identify your core beliefs and then take a good, hard look at them. Are they helping you or impeding your progress? Altering your core beliefs isn’t easy—it takes purposeful intention—but it can be a game-changer.

2. Conserve Mental Energy

It’s easy to get caught up thinking about things that are beyond your control. But the more mental energy you sink into thinking about negative issues that you can’t address, the less energy you’ll have available to innovate solutions.
For example, you can waste time and energy worrying about a coming snowstorm that could delay an important delivery (something you can’t control), or you could divert that same mental power into creating a contingency plan in the event the delivery doesn’t arrive as planned (something you can control). Practice conserving mental energy until it becomes a habit.

3. Recognize That Productive Thoughts Rule

If you’re like most busy entrepreneurs, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about your thoughts. But teaching yourself to be aware of your thinking habits can go a long way towards boosting resilience. You may be familiar with the quote from Henry Ford: “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” It’s a favorite saying among business owners because it captures a fundamental truth in just eleven words.
When you entertain exaggerated, negative thoughts such as, “This will never work,” you keep yourself from achieving your full potential. A better approach: identify and banish overly negative thoughts. Replace them with productive thoughts that are grounded in reality. They don’t have to be overly positive, just balanced. So, instead of “This will never work,” try something like, “This may be tricky, but there’s a fair chance we’ll be successful.” Changing your thoughts takes practice and constant monitoring, but developing this habit can unleash your best self.

4. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Mental strength doesn’t come at the expense of being in touch with your emotions. In fact, the opposite is true. Mentally strong people are acutely aware of their emotions—and it’s this awareness that helps them determine the best response to the situation at hand. The whole idea is to accept your emotions without being controlled by them.
As Morin explains it: “Mental strength also involves an understanding of when it makes sense to behave contrary to your emotions. For example, if you experience anxiety that prevents you from trying new things or accepting new opportunities, try stepping out of your comfort zone if you want to continue to challenge yourself. Tolerating uncomfortable emotions takes practice, but it becomes easier as your confidence grows.”
Yes, by behaving more like the person you’d like to become—whether you feel like it or not—you’ll experience some discomfort. But by developing your ability to tolerate this discomfort, you’ll get closer and closer to making your improved self a reality.

5. Note Your Daily Progress

As a budding entrepreneur, you probably think you’re far too busy for quiet reflection. You’re not. Truth is most super-successful business people admit to carving out some time in their daily routines to “reconnect” with themselves. If your goal is to develop mental strength, you’ll have to do the same. Take a few minutes at the end of each day to ask yourself what you learned about your thoughts, emotions and behavior. Then ask yourself what you hope to improve upon tomorrow.
Developing mental strength is a bit of a moving target; some days will prove more challenging than others, and there’s always room for improvement. By reflecting on your progress daily, you’ll reinforce your ability to achieve your definition of success without compromising your values.
Building this kind of mental muscle takes commitment, practice and determination. If you stick with it and don’t allow yourself to become discouraged, you’ll reap the rewards that come to those who are mentally strong.

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