The ‘S’ in STRIVE with Janelle is STRENGTH. Strength has many meanings for me and has so many degrees of intensity. It’s much more than the physical, look-at-my-biceps-strength. There’s mental strength, spiritual strength, and even emotional strength. There is strength in numbers, family, faith and friends. I see strength as moving forward, and accomplishing what you once thought was impossible. But, I also see strength in vulnerability.
What can I possibly mean by that?
Where there is no struggle, there is no strength. - Oprah Winfrey
I dug deep a while ago, sought out support from comrades and resources I didn’t even know I had. It’s funny how that happens when you decide to be honest with yourself. I asked myself that very question, “Why do I feel vulnerable? And does that mean I have no strength?” I exposed my feelings, posted about my lowest point and even included a video about inspirational 3 x 5 index cards I wrote to myself that gave me hope, because I felt handicapped. While this was part of many small, but scary steps; it began there with a simple, personal ‘declaration of my independence’, where I allowed myself to let go and asked myself, and “What is my why?”
Oprah Winfrey once said, “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” She sure hit the nail on the head there.
So I ask you, what does strength mean to you? How do you find strength when the going gets tough?