Mental strength demands a positive spirit and an ability to leap over any unexpected hurdles life throws at you. No one illustrates those traits better than Buffy Summers and the rest of the Scooby gang in the cult hit, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Keep on reading to discover what Buffy and friends can teach you about mental strength.

1. Mentally strong people don’t stop trying.

“The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.” –Buffy

You might feel so depressed that you don’t see the point in living. There is nothing “fun” about making a costly mistake, getting fired from your job, or losing a loved one. Please take time to heal after any hardship. It’s okay to cry if you need to (yes, even if you’re a guy!), but do NOT let yourself become so emotionally paralyzed by a negative event that you fall into the trap of self-pity.

2. Mentally strong people don’t hold grudges.

“To forgive is an act of compassion… it’s not done because people deserve it. It’s done because they need it.” – Giles

You might feel so angry that you could punch a person in the face. Few things are more hurtful than betrayal. If a person repeats a secret they promised to keep, then you have every right to be upset. We all make mistakes, however, and you can’t expect anybody to be perfect. Don’t trust a person who hurts you over and over without regret, but do forgive those who offer a genuine apology.

3. Mentally strong people don’t bury their feelings.

“It hurts sometimes more than we can bear. If we could live without passion, maybe we’d know some kind of peace. But we would be hollow. Empty rooms, shuttered and dank… without passion, we’d be truly dead.” – Angel

You might feel so passionate about a person that you can’t get them out of your head. Seeing their face might bring out a flood of raw, intense feelings that overwhelm your consciousness. I hope things work out with the person of your affection, but often they don’t. Love them with all of your might, but don’t expect them to be your single source of happiness unless you want to risk future emotional devastation.

4. Mentally strong people don’t lie to themselves.

“You’re not friends. You’ll never be friends. You’ll be in love till it kills you both. You’ll fight, and you’ll shag, and you’ll hate each other till it makes you quiver, but you’ll never be friends. Love isn’t brains, children, it’s blood… blood screaming inside you to work its will. I may be love’s bitch, but at least I’m man enough to admit it.” – Spike

You might feel so confident that you don’t question your motives. No matter how sure of yourself you might be, you should perform an honest assessment to determine if your thoughts and actions are in alignment. The longer you act in a way that defies the words you express, the harder it will become to admit you have been kidding yourself.

5. Mentally strong people don’t see themselves as victims.

“Bottom line is, even if you see ’em coming, you’re not ready for the big moments. No one asks for their life to change, not really. But it does. So what are we, helpless? Puppets? No. The big moments are gonna come. You can’t help that. It’s what you do afterwards that counts. That’s when you find out who you are.” – Whistler

You might feel so surprised by an unexpected situation that you don’t know what to do. Stop looking at life like it’s a choreographed routine; instead, see it as an exciting adventure with twists and turns that you can’t predict. If you want to be successful, don’t worry having a “perfect” plan, and don’t stress out about making the “best” decisions. It isn’t how you act initially that counts, but rather your ability to react decisively to a changing set of circumstances that you cannot control.

6. Mentally strong people don’t submit to a defeatist attitude.

“I’m beyond tired. I’m beyond scared. I’m standing on the mouth of hell and it is gonna swallow me whole. And it’ll choke on me. We’re not ready? They’re not ready. They think we’re gonna wait for the end to come, like we always do? I’m done waiting. They want an apocalypse? Well, we’ll give ’em one. Anyone else who wants to run, do it now, ’cause we just became an army. We just declared war. From now on we won’t just face our worst fears, we will seek them out. We will find them and cut out their hearts one by one until the First shows itself for what it really is. And I’ll kill it myself. There is only one thing on this earth more powerful than evil, and that’s us. Any questions?” –Buffy

You might feel so small that you don’t think you could ever make a difference. This self-defeating attitude will result in a mediocre existence where you meander through your days without any reason to be excited about life. Countless individuals like Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, and Anne Frank changed the world by having the courage to speak out and stand up against evil. If you lack confidence, join a cause or support group centered on an issue you care about, and get to work.

7. Mentally strong people don’t take everything too seriously.

“I laugh in the face of danger, and then I hide until it goes away.” – Xander

You might feel so possessed by what you hope to accomplish that you don’t stop to express gratitude for the little things you should appreciate. Yes, the world is full of atrocities worth getting upset about; but that doesn’t mean you can’t be happy for a beautiful sunrise, exhilarating workout, fun road-trip, romantic dinner, thoughtful conversation, or any of the limitless things that make life a beautiful experience.

If you know any Buffy fans, make sure to share this article so they can become mentally strong just like you! Tell us one of your favorite Buffy quotes in the comments