Building mental strength takes hard work and commitment, but it’s the key to reaching your greatest potential.

As the author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, I usually spend my time talking about the bad habits that can rob you of mental strength. After all, it only takes one bad habit to hold you back from reaching your greatest potential.

In addition to giving up those bad habits, however, it’s also important to perform exercises that build your mental muscle. With hard work and dedication, you can train your brain to perform at your peak.

Here are 18 things mentally strong people do.

1. They practice gratitude.
Counting their blessings, rather than their burdens, helps mentally strong people keep life in proper perspective. Their choice to be grateful shines through in their mood and behavior.

2. They retain their personal power.
Mentally strong people don’t give negative people…