 HarperCollins and Harper Audio present 13 Things Strong Kids Do. Think Big, Feel Good, Act Brave, by Amy Moran, read by Sandy Rustin. Introduction. A while back, I wrote a book called 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do. It was a book for adults about how to get rid of bad habits, but readers kept saying the same thing about it. I wish I had learned these things back when I was a kid. So I wrote this book specifically for kids. We're going to talk about how to start good habits now, so you don't build bad habits later. Your future self will thank you for reading it today. But before we talk about those good habits, let's talk a little about what it means to be strong in the first place. There are lots of different kinds of strength. You might be the kind of strong kid who has big muscles and can lift heavy things, or maybe you're a strong student who does really well in every class. Those kinds of strengths can be helpful in life, but they're not what we are going to talk about here. Instead, we're going to talk about mental strength. If you aren't sure what that means, don't worry, you're not alone. Many adults aren't quite sure either. Mental strength is what it takes to become your best self. Building mental muscle requires you to pay attention to three things. The way you think, feel, and act. Thinking big, feeling good, and acting brave will all help you develop bigger mental muscles. And when you have bigger mental muscles, it's easier to think big, feel good, and act brave. It's a two-way street. The link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. Look at it this way. Your thoughts, feelings, and actions are all connected, and they create a cycle that can either be positive or negative. Here's an example. Situation. It's raining outside. Kid number one thinks this is terrible. I can't go outside and have fun. He feels sad, bored, angry. Acts. He sits inside all day staring out the window and sulking. Kid number two thinks, I guess I can't play outside. I'll see if I can have a friend come over instead. Feels happy, hopeful, excited. Acts. She invites a friend over and they have fun together. Which kid feels better? Kid number two, that kid found a way to make the best of the situation. In real life, of course, we get caught in situations that are more complex than rainy days. But if you develop healthy habits to make the best of those situations, you will build your mental muscles until you can handle almost any challenge life throws your way. So that's what this book is about. Each chapter will teach you how to think big, feel good, and act brave. So you can become the strongest and best version of yourself. Being strong versus acting tough. Before we learn how to become stronger, let's get one thing clear. Being strong is not the same as acting tough. Many people, including adults, get confused about what it means to be a strong kid. A parent who doesn't understand what it means to be strong might tell their kids, stop crying, crying is for babies. But crying isn't a sign of weakness, and it's not just for babies either. Sometimes tears can be a sign of strength. Strong people show their feelings. People who are just acting tough pretend they don't even have feelings. They're more likely to say, I don't care, that doesn't bother me, even when they feel sad about something. Sometimes people think being strong means acting like a bully, but that's definitely not true. The reason most bullies try to control other people is because they can't control their own thoughts, feelings, and actions. Strong people focus on controlling themselves instead of others. Here are some more key differences between being strong and acting tough. Kids who are working on being strong. They want to become better. They say things like, I could really work on my self-confidence. Kids who are trying to look tough. They deny that they have anything to work on. They say things like, Sample complete. Ready to continue?