Have you ever looked back on challenging moments in your life and wondered how you managed to get through them?

You might not realize it, but if you’ve endured certain tough experiences, you’ve built up a level of mental resilience that’s far stronger than you give yourself credit for.

Life’s hurdles often leave us questioning our strength, but it’s through overcoming these very challenges that we forge our inner strength.

In this article, we’ll explore eight profound experiences that, if you’ve lived through them, prove just how mentally tough you are.

These experiences not only test your limits but also reveal the remarkable fortitude you possess.

1) You’ve faced a major setback

There’s a saying that goes, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” While it might sound cliché, there’s a lot of truth to it.

Everyone experiences setbacks – it’s simply a part of life. But the real test of mental strength is how we respond to these challenges.

If you’ve faced a major setback – be it a loss of a loved one, failure in career or business, or even a devastating heartbreak – and still found the courage to pick yourself up and move forward, then you’ve showcased an admirable level of mental toughness.

It’s normal to feel shattered and broken during these moments. But surviving through them, picking up the pieces, and continuing your journey with an even stronger resolve – that’s a testament to your mental strength.

2) You’ve pushed past your comfort zone

Speaking from personal experience, pushing past your comfort zone is one of the most challenging tasks you can undertake. It demands a tremendous amount of mental strength.

A few years ago, I took on a project that was completely out of my comfort zone.

I had to learn new skills, work with unfamiliar technology, and face the fear of failure every single day.

There were moments of self-doubt, moments where I questioned if I had bitten off more than I could chew.

But I pushed through. I faced the challenge head-on, learned from my mistakes, grew from the experience, and ultimately, delivered a successful project.

This experience taught me that our comfort zones are self-imposed boundaries and pushing past them is a surefire sign of mental strength.

3) You’ve dealt with toxic relationships

Toxic relationships can drain our mental energy and impact our overall well-being.

However, recognizing that a relationship is harmful, and taking steps to distance yourself from it, takes a lot of courage and mental strength.

That’s why many people who have successfully removed themselves from abusive relationships experience significant improvements in their mental health, something known as Post-Traumatic Growth.

So if you’ve managed to walk away from a toxic relationship, even when it hurt, it’s a clear display of your mental fortitude.

It might have been a painful decision to make, but doing so shows your strength and commitment to prioritizing your own mental health.

4) You’ve persevered through failure

Failure is a part of life, but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.

The sting of defeat can be demoralizing, but it’s how we respond to failure that truly defines our mental strength.

If you’ve faced failure, dusted yourself off, and tried again, you’re demonstrating serious grit and resilience. It takes mental strength to view each failure as a stepping stone towards success rather than a dead end.

It’s not the failure itself but your reaction to it that highlights your mental toughness.

Whether it’s in your career, personal life or any other venture, if you’ve persevered through failure, you’re a lot mentally stronger than you think.

5) You’ve experienced heartbreak and moved on

Experiencing heartbreak can feel like your world is collapsing around you. The pain can be overwhelming, making it difficult to imagine a time when you’ll feel whole again.

But here’s the thing about heartbreak – it’s a testament to our capacity to love, and importantly, to heal. If you’ve loved deeply, lost profoundly, and found the strength to open your heart again, you’ve shown immense mental resilience.

It takes a great deal of bravery to allow yourself to be vulnerable after a heartbreak.

Moving on doesn’t mean forgetting the past or negating the pain; it means accepting what happened, learning from it, and finding the courage to love again.

So if you’ve lived through heartbreak and come out the other side stronger, remember – you’re more mentally resilient than you think.

6) You’ve learned to forgive

Forgiveness is a powerful act. Not only for the person you’re forgiving, but for yourself as well.

There was a time when I held onto a grudge for years. It was like a heavy weight, constantly looming over me, darkening my mood and tainting my outlook on life.

Then one day, I realized that by holding onto this grudge, I was only punishing myself.

In fact, research shows that holding onto grudges can lead to physical problems such as high blood pressure and mental health issues such as increased anxiety and depression.

Choosing to forgive wasn’t easy – it took a lot of strength and introspection. But once I did, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.

I realized that forgiveness wasn’t about excusing the other person’s actions; it was about freeing myself from the burden of resentment.

Forgiving someone who has wronged you takes an incredible amount of mental strength. So if you’ve managed to let go and forgive, you’re demonstrating remarkable mental resilience.

7) You’ve overcome fear

Fear is one of the most powerful emotions we can experience. It can paralyze us, keep us from pursuing our dreams, and make us feel small.

But if you’ve faced your fear and pushed through it, you’ve shown exceptional mental strength.

Whether it was speaking in public, starting a new job, moving to a new city, or even facing a fear of heights or spiders – overcoming fear takes courage and resilience.

Overcoming fear doesn’t mean not feeling scared. It means feeling the fear and doing it anyway. That’s the mark of a true warrior. 

8) You’ve learned to be alone

Being comfortable with your own company is a sign of mental strength.

It’s easy to surround ourselves with people and distractions, but being alone with our thoughts – that’s where true growth happens.

If you’ve learned to be alone, to enjoy your own company, and to use solitude for introspection and self-improvement, you’ve demonstrated a high level of mental resilience.

Learning to be alone means understanding and accepting yourself. It means facing your thoughts and feelings without distraction or avoidance.

This is one of the hardest skills to cultivate, but also one of the most rewarding. If you’ve mastered it, you’re far stronger than you think.

Final thoughts: Strength lies within

The American Psychological Association defines resilience as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress”.

If you’ve lived through these eight experiences, you’ve not only adapted but thrived.

Each setback, each heartbreak, each moment of fear we overcome adds to our resilience. They shape us, mold us, and ultimately, make us stronger.

So next time you face a challenge or a setback, remember that you’ve faced adversity before and emerged stronger. There’s no reason why you can’t do it again.