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7 things successful people do, and 6 things they avoid.

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When the going gets tough, the mentally strong kick butt and take names.

Between trying to succeed in your career goalsand trying to find some kind of personal balance, life can be pretty hectic. And when the going gets tough, it's easy to consider giving up or dropping back. If this is you, it's time to take a cue from thementally strong.

Here are some common traits mentally strong people share:

Never give up.

Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone will fail at something at some time in their lives. Look at failure as a chance to improve at what you do. Failure, not success, is what makes people learn and grow, and be willing to fail again and again in order to soak up as much knowledge as possible.

Enjoy your own company.

Mentally strong people aren't afraid to be alone, and don't flip out every time they don't have plans or have an opening in their calendars. Instead, they enjoy and even treasure the time they spend alone and use it as downtime to reflect, to plan, and to be productive. Be your own biggest fan and believe that you are in good company, and can be just as happy alone as with others.

Don't feel entitled--know that you have to work for everything you have

The mentally strong don't feel that they world owes them. Know that hard work begets success, and be willing to put in the time and effort to get there.

Know that all good things take time.

Be patient and remember that nothing good happens overnight. Therefore, be patient and in it for the long haul. When the going gets tough, dig in and work harder to apply your energy and time and celebrate each milestone when you can.

Roll with the punches.

While the rest of the population is stressed bad traffic, silly people and a late flight, the mentally strong know that these factors are generally beyond their control. The only thing you can control is your own response and attitude. How will you choose to react?

Accept that you can't please everyone.

Strive to be kind, fair, and to please others where it's appropriate, but know your own rights too! Be unafraid to speak up and do what's right, even if others don't like it. You should be strong enough to withstand the possibility that someone will get upset, but take your confidence from the fact that you are doing what you believe is morally right.

Take calculated risks.

Calculated risks are okay for strong people. Do your research, weigh the pros and cons of taking the risks, and envision what the outcome will be before proceeding. Be prepared to accept and deal with the consequences, whatever they might be.

Don't live in the past--look towards the future.

There is no good that can come of reliving a decision you have made over and over again. Strong people know that if they want something to change, they focus on the future, and what can be done. So, accept any lesson that was gained from that past decision and move on with your life.

Learn from your mistakes.

... and from others' mistakes, because life is too short to make them all by yourself. A mentally strong person accepts full responsibility for past behavior and is willing to learn from their mistakes. Analyze what you could have done differently and make sure to act accordingly the next time.

Don't be jealous of others.

There's no point in being jealous or resentful of other people's successes, know that others have worked hard for what they have. You should feel happy when other people find their own successes and their own way in their lives.

It takes strength of character to be excited for other people. If anything, other people's successes just makes you work harder, and soon you can experience something that they can be proud of too.

Quit feeling sorry for yourself.

There's no time to waste! Self-pity is a waste of energy. Instead, take responsibility for your actions and outcomes, and know that life can be unfair. Taking action is a much better use of your time.

Stop letting others make you feel bad.

If someone tries to make you feel bad about yourself, understand that they can only do that if you give them the power to do so. Avoid giving others the power to make you feel inferior. Remember, you are in control of your actions and emotions!

Don't be afraid of change.

In fact, you should embrace change and welcome challenge. Try not to become stagnant in your life. Can you think of someone in your life that you consider to be strong willed? Take a few notes from them and remember that an environment of change and sometimes uncertainty can energize you!

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com

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