There’s More to Strength Than Rippling Biceps

by Samantha on October 3, 2009

There are two kinds of strength.

The first is outer strength. It’s more visible, tangible, measurable. It is bulging muscles, six pack abs, and grunts, exemplified by football players, wrestlers, and body builders. This kind of strength is admired, coveted, rewarded and praised.

Then, there is inner strength. You can’t always see it and it’s difficult to measure. It is courage, perseverance, and faith, exemplified by a widow or widower who chooses to keep on living after their spouse is gone, or someone who is facing cancer and refuses to let it win. Inner strength is also admired and coveted, but not as often as it should be.

Perhaps, the World’s Strongest Man shouldn’t be the guy who can drag a truck up a hill, but instead the one who was told he would never walk again and finally takes his first step. Strength is more than rippling biceps. The people I admire may not be able to bench press their own weight, but they have faced adversity and overcome obstacles, and for that reason, they are even stronger.

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Tagged as: confidence, Learning, Meaning, strength

{ 10 comments }

Elisa Doucette October 3, 2009 at 9:31 pm: I find that outward physical strength is something that leaves an impact on an observer/audience for a fleeting amount of time. Even now I couldn't tell you in detail the feats of muscular strength I've seen in life.

However I could recount to you tome after tome of internal strength and will I have seen in others. And the times I found it within myself. Those are the stories that stick in our minds. They are the ones that remain in our hearts. Your strength and ability to appreciate life in any circumstance is one that comes to mind. Thinking of you!
sameve October 4, 2009 at 1:45 pm: Elisa: Great point! That's exactly what I was trying to get across. While it's all well and good, and kind of freakish, that some uber musclely dude can drag a truck up a hill, I'd like to see him in the face of sickness or death. That's when I would be truly impressed. Thank you so much for your kind words
Dayne | TheHappySelf.com October 5, 2009 at 9:54 am: Real strength comes from within, not on the outside. Outside strength is good for survival, but I think inner strength and wisdom is much more important.

Thanks for the great post!

Dayne
TheHappySelf.com
sameve October 5, 2009 at 2:20 pm: Thanks Dayne! I totally agree.
Andhari October 6, 2009 at 12:49 pm: I very much agree, the bruises to your heart, soul and mental are always hardest to taken care of,
rubyku October 6, 2009 at 6:21 pm: Sam, you might like Mitch Albom's “Have a little faith”. It just came out! Have you read his other books?
sameve October 7, 2009 at 7:59 am: Andhari: You make a great point. Just as inner strength is different than outer strength, so is inner pain different than outer pain. We can get stitches or have surgery to repair an outer wound, but there's no cure for heartbreak.
sameve October 7, 2009 at 8:00 am: Ruby: I haven't read his books, although I've heard a lot about them from my dad who has used them for sermons. I'll definitely check out the new one, thanks!
sameve October 7, 2009 at 1:59 pm: Andhari: You make a great point. Just as inner strength is different than outer strength, so is inner pain different than outer pain. We can get stitches or have surgery to repair an outer wound, but there's no cure for heartbreak.
sameve October 7, 2009 at 2:00 pm: Ruby: I haven't read his books, although I've heard a lot about them from my dad who has used them for sermons. I'll definitely check out the new one, thanks!