What fortifies your mental strength?

[Witterquick]

When you're preparing for a particularly stressful day or to face someone difficult, what do you absolutely have to do to help yourself get through it, to give yourself the confidence and strength?

I find that running fortifies me. A good run in the morning makes me feel like I can get through "it". Not everything, but most things. But my gut reaction to stress is always to seek comfort. I always feel hungry when I'm stressed out.

 

[Amaris]

I don't really have anything to fortify my mental strength other than what it already is.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Tea.

Gallons of tea.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Tea and something relaxing like music.

 

[An Officer]

Strong drink.
I just grit my teeth and power through it, sober, sadly.
When I find an answer other than that, I'll be rich.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Music, a wide variety provides a great source of fortification.

 

[Canadave]

Scotch.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Coffee.

 

[RoJoHen]

Just knowing that I'm better than most people around me is good enough.

 

[Itisnotlogical]

Listening to music and thinking only about the music usually helps me.

 

[auntiehill]

Lots of soda pop and a little music break usually keep me going.

 

[sojourner]

Knowing that whatever "it" is will end eventually and I can go home.

 

[Mary Ann]

I've found that allowing myself a few moments of panic helps me to calm down because it forces me to gather my thoughts and get on with things. Tea and a bit of knitting helps, too.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Arrogance, despair, masturbation. Not necessarily in that order.

 

[Niorah]

When I was visiting England back in 1987 I bought for myself a small poster with Garfield the cat saying: "One day I'll look back on all this and laugh".

It has been true about so many negative moments in my life that now if I know I'll be facing something difficult I just take a deep breath, I tell myself that "One day I'll look back on all this and laugh" and try to get on with it as best I can.

 

[Cheapjack]

Star Trek 4.

 

[Mr Light]

Watching something funny. I save Colbert Report to watch on my lunch break so I have a pick me up in the middle of the day

 

[Caliburn24]

I think back to my 15 months in Iraq, make the assumption that no one is going to be shooting at me or trying to blow me up today. And than realize yet again just how mellow and low-key everyday life is.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

Arrogance, despair, masturbation. Not necessarily in that order.

Music, or i pop in an old movie.

 

[Kestra]

When I'm nervous that I can't handle what's going to happen, I remind myself of everything I've been through. Usually I've been through worse. And even most worst-case scenarios are things I can deal with. Life goes on.