As a psychotherapist and as an author of books on mental strength, I encounter many misconceptions about what it means to be mentally strong. Ironically, many of the behaviors often associated with weakness are actually a sign of strength. Our culture often values "toughness" over "true strength." Acting tough is about external appearances. It involves creating a persona that convinces other people you're impervious to pain. True mental strength involves working on your character. Mentally strong people are willing to be vulnerable and quite often, people confuse their openness and honesty with frailty. Here are 10 signs of mental strength that are often viewed as weaknesses: 1. Being kind. Many people seem to think being kind means you're a pushover or a people pleaser. But showing compassion for a neighbor, giving a colleague the benefit of the doubt, and spending your spare time helping someone with a project could be a sign of strength. ...