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Work is often where we're mentally and emotionally tested the most.

Mental strength isn't about denying feelings or pushing through pain at all costs.

Mental strength is about more than just surviving tough times—it's about thriving in all areas of your life.

Mental strength helps you persevere, adapt, and thrive under pressure, no matter what you're going through.

When I landed my first job as a therapist, I was determined not to become one of the statistics. Most therapists burn out within seven years in the field. It's a tough job—even among the professionals who are trained to help people manage stress and exhaustion. I told myself I would practice good self-care and would keep my stress under control. And in those early days, when my personal life was smooth sailing, staying optimistic was easy.

But about a year into my career, everything changed. My mom passed away unexpectedly, and dealing with the overwhelming grief while simultaneously supporting my clients through their own struggles was harder than I imagined.

Life wasn't done testing me yet, though. Three years to the day after my mom died, my 26-year-old husband, Lincoln, passed away from a heart attack. My life felt like it had flipped upside down. And the loss was so sudden and unexpected that it took a while to even wrap my head around what had just happened.

I had lost the two people........

© Psychology Today