Part Two
IN last week’s column, Jocelyn G. asked how we could prepare ourselves to face day-to-day challenges as we go about our PR work.
We replied that to say that PR is challenging as an understatement, and every day brings about things that will surprise even the most seasoned practitioner. And we have to prepare for this.
We got a little help from an article, 10 Exercises That Will Help You Develop the Mental Strength You Need to Crush Your Goals in Inc.com, by Amy Morin for our response.
“If you want to be able to tackle bigger challenges, and overcome more obstacles, you need mental strength” she says. In the same way that working out is helpful in keeping us healthy and fit; it is also important for us to be mentally strong to help us face challenges and achieve our goals. And she shared with us 10 exercises that can help us start developing the mental strength we need.
We tackled the first five in last week’s column, including:
- Reframe negative thoughts;
- Create goals;
- Set yourself up for success;
- Do at least one difficult thing a day; and
- Tolerate discomfort for a greater purpose.
We will discuss the other five exercises that will help us get mentally fit in this week’s column.
6 Balance your emotions with logic. Balance between our logic and emotion, says Morin, will help us make the best decisions.
“Being overly anxious, angry, or excited can cause you to make an emotional decision,” she says. It’s best to “write down a list of pros and cons for each decision you make. Reviewing this list will enhance the logical part of your brain and help balance out your emotions.”
7 Fulfill your purpose. “It’s hard to stay the course unless you know the overall purpose,” says Morin. Why is it that you want to hone your craft or earn more money?
Focus, she says, is key, but suggests that we first “write out a clear and concise mission statement about what you want to accomplish in life.” And while we focus on our daily objectives, “make sure the steps you’re taking will get you to a larger goal in the long run.”
8 Look for explanations, not excuses. If you feel falling short of your goal, Morin says it is important to “examine the reason. Rather than make excuses for your behavior, look for an explanation that can help you do better next time.”
Part of developing mental toughness is taking “on the full responsibility for any shortcomings without placing blame. When you face and acknowledge your mistakes, you can learn from them and avoid repeating them.”
9 Use the 10-minute rule. Being mentally strong means being productive when you don’t feel like it. And let’s face it, there are times when we don’t exactly feel enthusiastic about the work at hand.
When you don’t feel motivated, Morin says “there is a 10-minute rule that comes in handy when you are tempted to put off something important.” This means telling yourself to get moving for just 10 minutes.”
Then, things can go either way. If your mind is still fighting your body after 10 minutes, it might be okay to give yourself permission to quit. But more often than not, “once you take that first step, you’ll realize your task is not nearly as tough as you predicted. Getting started is almost always the hardest part, but your other learned skills can help keep you going.”
10 Prove yourself wrong. “The next time you think you can’t do something, prove yourself wrong,” says Morin. “You are more capable than you give yourself credit for, so make it a habit to prove yourself wrong. Over time, your brain will stop underestimating your own potential.”
In the same way that we achieve physical strength over time, mental strength does not happen overnight. It takes time to grow stronger and become better. But with consistent exercise, “you can build the mental strength you need to crush your goals and live the life of your dreams.”
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie F. Dizon, the senior vice president for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chairman.
We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.
Image credits: Bulat Silvia | Dreamstime.com