What is True Strength?

What Does True Strength Mean to You?

A different kind of conversation about your body, your goals, and your worth.

When you think of “strength,” what comes to mind?
Maybe it’s lifting heavy, visible lean muscle, running faster. Maybe it’s how you used to feel in your body—or how you wish you could feel right now. And that’s okay. We live in a world that’s constantly telling us what strength is supposed to look like.

But here’s a gentle question for you:
What if strength is not a look at all?
What if it’s something deeper, something more personal—something more yours?

Strength Isn’t an Appearance

From the time we’re young, we’re taught that our bodies are projects to fix. We learn that being “strong” means looking a certain way. But that’s a narrow—and exhausting—definition of strength. In More Than a Body, the authors remind us that our bodies are not ornaments—they’re instruments.  This means your body’s value isn’t in how it looks, but in how it helps you live your life, experience joy, overcome hardship, and keep moving forward. You don’t have to love how your body looks to respect what it does.
You don’t have to push it to its limit to be proud of it.

True Strength Is Growth Through Adversity

So many of you show up during hard seasons: stress at work, grief, anxiety, fatigue, self-doubt. You still show up. You move. You breathe. You give what you can.
That’s strength.

Everyone’s body is unique, and some of us live with chronic conditions, pain, mental health challenges, or disabilities that require different kinds of care, pacing, and adaptation—and that’s a powerful part of what strength looks like.

And even on days you don’t show up—because you’re protecting your energy, listening to your body, or choosing rest over burnout—that can be strength, too. Strength means staying connected to what matters to you—to your intentions—even when things feel hard. It means being present, being real, and taking steps (big or small) toward your values, not just your goals. Let’s say your intention is to move your body because it helps you feel more grounded, less anxious, and more connected to yourself. But today… you’re tired. You didn’t sleep well. Work was overwhelming. Your body feels heavy, and your inner critic is loud.

In the past, you might’ve skipped the workout or pushed through with frustration, trying to “earn” something or “make up” for something. But this time, you pause. You remember what really matters—not perfection, but presence. So you choose a short walk instead of a hard lift. Or a few stretches. Or 10 minutes of breath work. Not because it’s the “best” workout, but because it honors your values: taking care of yourself, staying connected, and showing up with compassion.

That is strength.
It’s not flashy, but it’s powerful.

Changing the Story in Your Head

If you’ve ever told yourself:

• “I’m not fit enough.”

• “I should look better by now.”

• “I’m not strong like I used to be.”

You’re not alone.
From a mindfulness perspective, these are just thoughts—not facts.  And while they feel real, they don’t have to run the show.

Try asking yourself:

• “Is this thought kind?”

• “Is it helpful?”

• “What else could be true in this moment?”

• “What would I say to a friend in my shoes?”

Sometimes true strength is simply not believing everything your inner critic says.

Tip for Deepening this Practice: I recommend using my “Befriending the Thinking Mind & Grounding in Sound” audio—a short, guided practice that helps you notice when a thought is just a thought, not something you have to believe or act on.  It helps you create space from your inner critic, recognize unhelpful thinking patterns, and stay grounded—even when difficult thoughts arise.  You can listen anytime—before or after a workout, on a walk, or whenever you feel stuck in judgment.  Shoot me a quick message, and I’ll share the link!

Strength Is Also… Stillness

If you’re working with me, you’ve likely taken a moment or two to feel the sensations of your feet on the ground, notice sounds or the breath. This is mindfulness practice and it shows us that real strength can also be… quiet.

It’s in the pause before a rep.  Resettling into your form.
It’s in taking a breath when your body says “enough.”
It’s in checking in instead of checking out.

You’re halfway through a workout and notice your shoulders tensing, your breath getting shallow. Your mind is racing with everything you need to do afterward. Instead of pushing through on autopilot—or cutting the workout short out of anxiety—you pause, take a breath, and adjust, choosing form and presence over force. “This is how I practice showing up.”

These mindful pauses don’t just support your form—they help calm your nervous system, which is part of how we build stability, resilience, and long-term strength.

Mindfulness teaches us that we don’t have to fight our bodies to be strong—we can learn to listen instead.

So... What Does True Strength Mean to You?

Maybe it’s…

• Showing up when motivation is low.

• Letting go of punishing workouts that don’t feel good anymore.

• Offering your body & mind care—even on tough days.

• Moving for joy, not just for results.

As your trainer, I care about your strength—not just in your workouts, but in your life. And that includes:

• Rest without guilt.

• Setting goals that reflect your values, not society’s standards.

• Accepting your body for what it is right now, not what you think it “should” be.

• Taking on new challenges and discomforts with presence & belief.

True strength looks wildly different from person to person.  Below are just two examples that highlight real (not ideal) everyday human expressions of true strength:

Let’s take Mark—an avid runner who’s recovering from a big race. He’s more tired than usual, and though he knows he could complete his scheduled run today (and that’d feel good to check off the list), he goes out for a gentle stroll with his dog because he knows his body needs rest to recover and adapt from the race—that’s strength!

And then there’s Martha—she’s been managing an autoimmune condition for years, with pain that’s invisible to others. Since she can’t always predict when a flare-up will happen, she’s learned to listen closely to her body and include both planned and spontaneous breaks, along with gentle, adaptive exercises, before, during, and after episodes. This curious and flexible approach gives her control. When she feels ready—and once the episode has subsided enough—she confidently takes on more complex workouts, knowing she’s supporting her progress—not risking harm or triggering a setback that could set her back for weeks.

This thoughtful balance of listening and adapting is a true strength—showing courage, self-awareness, and respect for her body’s needs.  As concluded by poet Maya Angelou, "you may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."

So, a reminder:

You don’t need to chase a certain look to be strong.
You already are strong.
You are so much stronger than you think.

Something to Try:

Next time you train, ask yourself:

• “What does strength mean to me today?”

• “What’s one way I can honor my body instead of fighting it?”

Let’s build strength that lasts—inside and out.