I read two blog posts this week that I really liked and both relate easily to stepparenting.
The first one was titled, “Six Habits of Resilient People” by Gwen Moran. As stepparents, we have to be resilient or we won’t make it. The second was titled, “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do” by Amy Morin.
I want to highlight a few thoughts from each post but I encourage you to take time and read each one in its entirety and think about how it relates to you as a stepparent.
Characteristics of Mentally Strong People
“They Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves
Mentally strong people don’t sit around feeling sorry about their circumstances or how others have treated them. Instead, they take responsibility for their role in life and understand that life isn’t always easy or fair.
They Don’t Give Away Their Power
They don’t allow others to control them, and they don’t give someone else power over them. They don’t say things like, “My boss makes me feel bad,” because they understand that they are in control over their own emotions and they have a choice in how they respond.
They Don’t Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control
You won’t hear a mentally strong person complaining over lost luggage or traffic jams. Instead, they focus on what they can control in their lives. They recognize that sometimes, the only thing they can control is their attitude.
They Don’t Dwell on the Past
Mentally strong people don’t waste time dwelling on the past and wishing things could be different. They acknowledge their past and can say what they’ve learned from it. However, they don’t constantly relive bad experiences or fantasize about the glory days. Instead, they live for the present and plan for the future
They Don’t Expect Immediate Results
Whether they are working on improving their health or getting a new business off the ground, mentally strong people don’t expect immediate results. Instead, they apply their skills and time to the best of their ability and understand that real change takes time.”
Habits of Resilient People
“They Build Relationships.
People who bounce back tend to have a network of supportive people around them, says Michael Ungar, Ph.D., co-director of the Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. For some people, that’s a close-knit family, but for others it’s a carefully cultivated group of friends, colleagues, mentors and others who actually care and are willing to help. Resilient adults seek out others who care about them who can offer emotional, professional or other assistance when times get tough.
They Practice Forgiveness
Whether it’s forgiving yourself for a failure or forgiving someone else for an injury or injustice, being able to let go of past hurts and move on is an essential component of resilience, Lorenn Walker says. When you find yourself “ruminating about grievances and negative stories, you have to just stop yourself and remind yourself of what you have to be grateful for,” she says. If you’re not a naturally forgiving person, this takes practice, but it is a skill that can be mastered, she adds.
They Accept Failure
If you don’t give yourself the opportunity to fail sometimes and accept it as a part of life, you’re going to struggle with bouncing back, Paul LeBuffe says. Successfully emerging from failure develops the ability to be optimistic that things can be bad now, but they’ll be okay eventually, he says.”
Can you relate? Which characteristic resonates with you as a stepparent?
Pic by photostock
Thank you Grace!!!
I know that we are supposed to pick 1 characteristic thar resonates… but 4 out of 5 for the mentally strong person apply for me 🙁 My step-daughter is 17, lost her mom at 9 and I came into her life at 13. We’ve had our ups and downs but it’s really bad right now.(‘I’m NOT her parent!’, her words). I can feel sorry for myself, give away my power, waste energy on things I can’t control and want change yesterday.
What I really want is to please God in ALL I do, and yes…love my step-daughter. Thank you again.
Hello Lorena,
Thank you for your comment. That’s a hard situation with a 17-year old stepdaughter. I understand your feelings- the relationship with my stepdaughter during her teen years was very hard. Thankfully, it’s much better today (it helps tremendously when they gain some maturity). I want to encourage you to find some support as a stepmom. Could you consider joining us at our next stepmom retreat? The details are here: http://sisterhoodofstepmoms.com. If not, I hope you can find a stepmom support group or some other type of support for yourself. You’re in a tough season. Hang in there and keep trusting God!
Blessings, Gayla