View source for 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do by Amy Morin

{{infobox1
|title=13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
|author=Amy Morin
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=Popular Science
|summary=Thirteen habits which can weaken us mentally examined and then countered, with anecdotes to illustrate what has gone wrong.  Very easy reading without a hint of jargon. Highly recommended.
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=320
|publisher=Harper Thorson
|date=January 2015
|isbn=978-0008105938
|website=http://www.amymorinlcsw.com/mentally-strong-people/
|video=swWHH392CDM
|cover=0008105936
|aznuk=0008105936
|aznus=0008105936
}}
When Amy Morin was just 26 and working as a psychologist and therapist her husband died suddenly, but even whilst she was reeling from the shock she realised that there were things which she must ''not'' do.  She knew that she must not develop a sense of entitlement, feel resentment or succumb to self-pity.  That was ten years ago: since then Morin has remarried and worked with numerous patients using the principles which she applied to herself.  She's found 13 common habits which hold us back in life and developed strategies to combat them.  But the best thing which she makes clear is that mental strength is not about acting tough - for instance, if you've suffered a bereavement, you need to grieve - it's about having the mental wherewithal to overcome life's challenges.

If this all sounds rather 'new age' or even a bit complicated, don't worry.  Each habit which mentally strong people ''don't'' do has a chapter to itself and begins with a case study which demonstrates what is happening and the effect that this has on someone's life: it makes the problem feel very real.  This is followed by some examples of how this might manifest itself in the reader, with a range which takes in the worst to the least-worst ways that you might experience the problem.  Occasionally I read through the examples, happy that I didn't (currently) fall into any of the traps but then found an example which made me sit up and think.  I don't suffer from jealousy, but I'm not ''completely'' immune to having a snigger when a celebrity falls flat on their face (but obviously only when said celebrity fully deserves their comeuppance...).

After the examples we move on to the reasons why we do these things and why they're so  destructive.  The nitty gritty is obviously how to get out of the habits - how to behave, how to replace the negative thoughts with the positive ones which will lift your mood.  This section is usually quite extensive and you'll find your mind pushed into all sorts of corners which it might not have visited for a while.  On one or two sections where I felt that I was at risk (no - I'm not going to tell you...) I went back and read this part again and some of the pages are bookmarked.  Each chapter finishes with troubleshooting hints and guidance as to what's helpful and what's not helpful.

It's very easy reading without even a hint of jargon.  If you'd like an overview of the thirteen problems have a look at [http://www.amymorinlcsw.com/mentally-strong-people/ Morin's website], but for the detail on how to counter them I think you'll need the book.  I'd like to thank the publisher for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

For ways to look after your body we can recommend [[Eat. Nourish. Glow.: 10 easy steps for losing weight, looking younger and feeling healthier by Amelia Freer]].  For another look at how you act have a look at [[The Test Book: 64 Tools to Lead You to Success by Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschappeler]].

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[[Category:Lifestyle]]