Many people think strength is only about how much you can lift or how big your muscles are but trust me strength is SO much more than that. There is mental strength and emotional strength also. I used to think that to be strong you had to have big muscles or that you were just born with a strong mindset. However, after lot of growing up mentally and physically I have come to realize that isn’t always the case.

According to the dictionary mental strength is the ability to regulate emotions, manage thoughts, and behave in a positive manner, despite the circumstances. Mental strength is not someone who never cries or lets their emotions out it is someone who cries for a minute but gets up and continues on. It’s someone that despite the crappy situation they are in still tries to find the silver lining. It is someone who went to bed crying but still woke up with a smile on their face. It is not ignoring your emotions and letting them build up until you break down. It is recognizing that there’s something wrong and taking it head on. It is being there for others while working on your own problems.

I have come to realize my mental strength a lot these last few years. I first started realizing when my sister first went into the hospital. It not only scared me but it scared my whole family. My little brother was confused as to what was going on and my parents were a mix of distraught and denial. I had no one to talk to about and I didn’t understand myself either. I put on a strong face in front of everyone but deep down it felt like my heart was breaking, I didn’t want to lose anybody especially not my little sister. But I realized that I would not have been put in this situation if I couldn’t handle it. So I decided to do whatever I could to ease the burden placed on my family. That was when I discovered my mental strength. It was tested many times. The first time being when my little sister hurt herself and the first person she called was me. It was the first time I had to put my emotions aside to help someone I cared for deeply who was struggling. This soon helped me excel at helping my sister with her issues. Putting my emotions aside helped until I came to college and realized that it doesn’t work. I was putting my emotions aside until it was beneficial to me. That didn’t work because the stress and emotions would build up and I would end up having a freak out. I soon learned talking about my problems and using calming aids such as coloring was a better option.

This year was harder because I lost my best friend and it was my first real time experiencing grief over a loved one. I didn’t think that I would ever get better but I learned that you have to it a day at a time and that some days are going to be harder than others. At first it felt like I was never going to stop crying and then it was a good day if I didn’t cry more than once until finally I went days and weeks without crying when I thought of her. I was so scared that I was going to forget her and sometimes I still am. But I still get up every day and try my hardest because I know she would want me to. I still miss her like it was yesterday but I have the strength to say it does get better and that I am so glad that I discovered my mental strength and I hope this inspires other to do the same!