Dr. Yanina Shapiro coined the phrase "mental fitness" in 1997. Mental fitness psychology aims to help people make themselves more successful. It emphasizes exercising the brain and utilizing natural abilities and talents.

We naturally encounter occasional frustrations and setbacks. Some days can be exceedingly difficult. Other people might be hard to deal with. Perhaps a project doesn't come together as planned. We might feel short on energy. During stressful times, we must maintain enough mental energy to keep moving forward.

Daily exercises of thought can help to maintain mental fitness. They can help to build an internal toughness, tenacity and resolve.

These simple exercises keep the mind active and fit, just as physical activity keeps the body fit. Both types of fitness are important as physical fitness affects quality of thought, and quality of thought affects physical condition.

I recently came across a great list of mental fitness tips published by the Canadian Mental Health Association. You can view the tips through this link:

http://tinyurl.com/8v6qf

One of these tips suggests collecting positive emotional moments, and recalling pleasant, confident times. Over the years, I've found this to be one of the most beneficial habits of thought. Positive memories can provide relaxing one-minute breaks. They also enhance the ability to form visualizations accompanied by strong emotions.

Using positive self-talk upon rising each morning can help to get the day off to an enthusiastic start. Positive affirmations spoken with enthusiasm and faith are excellent mental exercises.

One of the most powerful exercises is the simplest to do: giving thanks for all that we have each day. Gratitude is a powerful spiritual cornerstone for personal power and mental well-being.

Using these types of positive thought exercises will not only get your day off to a great start. They will keep you mentally fit and help you achieve success in every area of your life.