If You Want Dominance, Build Your Mental Capital

There are four capitals in psychology; moral, mental, financial and political.

Of these, I believe mental capital is the most important. Why? Because it’s the foundation for everything else. With a strong mind, you naturally become more moral, knowledgeable, and capable of earning more.

You also build meaningful connections and influence through your thoughts and actions, and gaiin political power as a result.

Mental Capital is the the sum of your intellectual abilities, knowledge, mindset, problem-solving skills, and emotional intelligence.

Building mental capital isn’t just about cramming more information; it’s about increasing the value of your thinking, sharpening your focus, and using your mind as a tool to achieve mastery in any domain.

Let’s get into some practical steps you can take to build this mental capital.

Strengthen Your Foundation with Knowledge

The first step to building mental capital is gaining knowledge.

You don’t need to learn everything at once. Begin with topics that align with who you are. For me, as a Muslim, it’s essential to understand Islam first. Once I have a solid base, I expand to other subjects like mathematics, physics, and other sciences.

You have to gather as much facts & figures as possible to argue for your perspective. If you have no idea where to start, then start with psychology, science, business and most importantly religion and politics because they will you a solid foundation to have well-rounded perspectives.

Keep books within reach wherever you are. Instead of scrolling through Instagram reels, grab a book. Place one on your desk, by your bed, next to your sofa, and even in your car.

All of you have to do is dedicate at least 30 minutes of your time a day to that very subject. A year later that amounts to 150+ hours. Reading books and learning through YouTube is the best way.

Develop Emotional Intelligence

Mental capital isn’t just about IQ; it’s about EQ (Emotional Intelligence) as well.

People who can regulate their emotions, communicate effectively, and understand the emotions of others are far more adaptable and successful in life. Your mental resilience is highly dependent on how you handle stress, setbacks, and difficult emotions.

You can develop your EQ with meditation or whatever, but the best way to do it is actually just taking on more responsibilities.

Think of it like building muscle: you don’t grow stronger by just drinking protein shakes. You grow by lifting weights and pushing your limits. The same is true for your emotional intelligence.

Start more projects in your life. Start a YouTube channel, a podcast or a business.

Learn Skills Everyday

It’s not just about gathering information and storing it in your head. Learn actual skills like programming, hacking, writing, graphics/video editing, sales and marketing etc.

Skills will always help you no matter what. If you think you are wasting your time learning a skill, waste it. That skill will help you one day.

Great leaders were all masters of multiple skills like Alexander, Suleiman The Magnificent, Mehmed II The Conqueror and Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). They were not only warriors but also thinkers, strategists, and learners. Mastering different skills isn’t a waste of time; in fact, it’s what sets extraordinary people apart from the average.

An employer today is more likely to hire a web designer who also knows marketing, or a writer who understands basic coding. Being skilled in more than one area can open doors you never knew existed.

Physical Activity Boosts Your Brainpower

Physical activity has a very big impact on brain. No man is happy living in a body he feels uncomfortable in.

Simply put, when your body is strong, your mind works better.

Sprint running and playing football ( or any other sport for that matter ) will keep you fit, happy and improve your overall performance in life.

That’s it for this week. I’ll bring you more ideas next week, InshaAllah.

Salam.
— Ali Bin Naseer