Mindset Mastery: The Key to Mental Resilience

Hello there. Molweni. Molweni🙂.

For 17 weeks, I’ve consistently honoured our weekly date by publishing a blog every Monday. This week, though, I had to face my own capacity honestly and accept that my post would be late. So first, thank you for your patience. Life has me juggling too many important balls (read responsibilities) at once, and after some reflection, I realized the blog was one of the plastic, malleable balls. If dropped, it could bounce back, unlike the fragile glass ones.

That’s the reality of adulting: we’re constantly juggling responsibilities, and the key is having the mental clarity to evaluate which balls can’t be dropped. Glass balls represent things like your health, a loved one’s wellbeing, your role as a parent or partner, or a sudden crisis. These are fragile, if they fall, they shatter. They demand our full attention, and sometimes, our humility to ask for help. This is where your support system, your “village,” steps in to help you keep going.

On the other hand, plastic balls are more forgiving. If they drop, they bounce back. The danger lies in misjudging them, treating a plastic ball like glass, or neglecting a glass ball until it breaks. That’s why protecting your mind is so important. Mental strength is what allows you to pause, regroup, and choose wisely. Sometimes clarity leads to decisive action; other times, it calls for rest and recovery.

The truth is, mental strength looks different for everyone. The real question to ask yourself is: What does it look like for me?

For me, mental strength isn’t always about joy (though sometimes it includes that). It’s about willpower, the steady belief that I can face whatever challenge comes my way. It’s the quiet peace of knowing that even if I don’t yet have the answer, it will come, and that no situation is ever truly final. Mental strength feels like refusing to be consumed by circumstance.

But this isn’t my default state. I have to work at it, especially in tough seasons. When I notice I’m not at my best mentally, I know it’s time to unplug and regroup. I’ll admit, that hasn’t always been easy. I used to try and schedule recovery for a “convenient” time, only to learn (often the hard way) that mental fatigue doesn’t wait for convenience. Sometimes you need a complete stop, immediately, not later. The key is listening to your body and being honest with yourself. Admitting you’re struggling isn’t weakness, it’s strength. It’s self-awareness.

And here’s why that matters: the state of your mind shapes the state of your life. You’ve probably heard the saying, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” What you believe determines your direction. Without mental resilience, every tough season feels final. With it, you build the tenacity to keep going, and tenacity is essential if you want to reach your full potential.

Life will bring challenges we can’t avoid. Your career, your relationships, your decisions all depend on the strength of your mind. That’s why I believe in normalizing mental breaks. You don’t need to be physically ill to take your mental health seriously. In fact, you could be at your physical peak yet still be unwell mentally or emotionally. Protecting your wellness means finding ways to recharge your mind before you crash, so you have the clarity and strength to navigate every season of life.

It also helps to be clear on which balls are glass and which are plastic. When you know this, prioritizing becomes easier, and you avoid depleting all your energy trying to keep everything in the air at once. Sometimes, we create unnecessary crises simply because we haven’t distinguished between glass balls and plastic balls.

The perfectionist in me hesitates to admit it, but often, work deadlines are plastic balls; they can bounce back. Occasionally, we find ourselves forced into vulnerability at work, which can feel uncomfortable, but it can also be protective. Saying something as simple as, “I can’t meet that deadline, I need support, or I need more time” can make a world of difference. By being vulnerable, we give others permission to do the same, and in the process, we humanize ourselves and our colleagues.

I’ve said a lot, and these are just my thoughts as I experience them; raw, unrefined, and very much a work in progress. But I hope they at least spark some reflection on the importance of recognizing and prioritizing the different balls (i.e. responsibilities) in our lives as a strategy to navigate crises and difficult seasons.

I’m still figuring out how to keep all my glass balls in the air, and right now, I need to give myself permission to take a short break. I’ll be back in two weeks (on the 29th of September) after some time to regroup, recharge mentally, and ensure that I don’t drop any of the fragile, essential balls. Taking this pause isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a commitment to staying strong for myself and the people who depend on me. And I want to give you permission to do the same. Your mental wellbeing matters just as much as anything else in your life.

Here are a few reflection prompts to consider for yourself :

• Which of the “balls” in your life are glass, and which are plastic?

• Are you giving your energy to plastic balls at the expense of your glass balls?

• When was the last time you intentionally paused to recharge your mental strength?

• What does mental resilience look like for you, and how can you nurture it starting today?

  
  

Remember, taking time to pause, reflect, and recharge isn’t indulgent, it’s essential. Your mind carries everything else in your life, and protecting it allows you to thrive, even in tough seasons.

We’ll talk again soon. Until then, be kind to yourself, live intentionally, and don’t forget that it’s okay to drop a plastic ball now and then.

Lots of love,

Zizo