Stronger: Physically, Mentally, & Spiritually

Strength. Some determine it with iron. Many believe that struggles and adversity develop strength. While others believe that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I, myself, believe that strength comes in three forms. Any inadequacies in either of the three areas will significantly effect your strength.

Physical Strength: The ability to get up after you’ve fallen down.
Mental Strength: Making the correct decisions for right reasons.
Spiritual Strength:  You must believe in your higher purpose.

Strength is not just a physical thing. Mental and spiritual strength are equally important, if not more so. Strength is a relative term. It cannot be easily defined and everyone has strength within.

PHYSICALLY…

When I speak of physical strength, I’m speaking of something that goes well beyond the amount of weight you load up on a barbell. Physical strength is much more than that.

The physically strong rise after each time they’ve fallen. They are not afraid of failure. In fact, they challenge failure and constantly push past their comfort zone. They know that the only way to achieve success is to risk failing. Often times failed attempts are repeated. With each failure their goal becomes closer and closer. They remain adamant and diligent through the process. Many fall out along the way. But the few that survive, never look back in regret.

Physical strength is determined through failure. In all endeavors, failure is a great measure of success. Once you fail, you’re faced with a decision. You have two choices:

1. stand there and applaud your efforts and admit defeat
2. reload and try again.

For the physically strong, there is only one choice: reload.

The physically strong immediately take the steps necessary to get them back into that situation and be more successful. They are quite aware of the ever so real possibility of a repeated failure. However, this thought is only a motivating factor. It is used as fuel to push on when there is nothing in the tank. To go beyond the perceived physical limitations, requires no shortage of physical strength.

Those who are physically strong break barriers every day. I’m not talking about rep maxes on bench press. I’m talking about the point at which you’re unsure of your physical ability to press on. The physically strong constantly challenge their limits. Eventually, those whom continually challenge their limits gain the belief that limits are self imposed.

You’ve created it; you can destroy it.

The physically strong see their body as a unit. No part more important than the whole. The physically strong remain aware and in control at all times. The physical pain is but a small price to pay for the fruition of their ultimate goal.

They realize that they are in control of their physical bodies. The physically strong take daily steps towards their goal. They are mindful of the cost and are willing to lay down life and limb in order to pay in full.

The physically strong know their limiting factors: mentality and spirit.

MENTALLY…

Mentally strong people don’t rely on third parties. No outside element could ever match the undeniable will that they possess. Not to say that the mentally strong don’t use their resources. The mentally strong utilize these tools to their advantage but by no means use them as a crutch. They use them because they want to, not because they need too. The mentally strong are masters of their body and depend on no third party substance.

The mentally strong can get through Monday if the coffee pot’s broken. The mentally strong can max out their genetic potential without the use of “gear.” The mentally strong can entertain an idea without accepting it as truth. The mentally strong can challenge all the so-called truths. They’re not baffled by new research and laugh at all the bro-science spoken in gyms.

The mentally strong know that the only limits they have are the ones they’ve created. They’ve created them; they can destroy them. They have the power physically, and they implement it with their mentality.

Your mentality is nothing to take for granted. It’s a powerful tool. If used correctly, it often times makes the impossible, possible. Being strong mentally allows you to view things in a new way. There is nothing that you can think of mentally that you cannot achieve physically. Period.

Impossible
I’m possible

The alarm goes off at 5 AM. The thought to snooze crosses your mind but is not entertained. The strength of your mindset tells you there was a reason you set that alarm. You’ve got a job to do and a zealous effort toward its furtherance.

Mental strength has no room to rationalize the use of anything that can be harmful to the body. You’re thought process goes so deep that anything you put in your body that isn’t up to par, only takes you backwards. You’ve worked too hard for that. You’ve earned every little piece of success. You’re damn sure not gonna give it back for seconds of satisfaction.

“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.”
— Augusta F. Kantra

The mentally strong — like the physically strong — fail. What separates the strong from the weak is their response to failure. Do they treat it as a learning experience? In any circumstance — success or failure —  if you do not learn from it, it is an experience wasted. To become mentally strong, you must learn at every opportunity. That experience will help down the road. It will open the door for another opportunity to present itself. The mentally strong know this and soak up everything they possible can. They store it in their mind like tools in a shed. They know exactly where it is. When the moment arises and they need it, it’s there.

Your mentality plays a huge role.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t — you’re right.”
— Henry Ford

SPIRITUALLY…

I’m not speaking about religion. Spirituality is much deeper than religion. Spirituality is different in every human being. We are all unique. We bring different features and abilities to the table. Spiritual strength is the ability to look deep within yourself and find purpose. What makes you, you? There is no simple answer to this, I’m afraid. The only way to answer it is through action. For the spirit cannot be summed up in a matter of words.

The size can’t be determined by physical features. It is impossible to rationalize with and can only be under wraps for so long. Sooner or later, it’ll bust free like a caged beast and will be near impossible to stop.

The spirit that lives within each and everyone of us…

This spirit gives us our purpose. The meaning of life is different for different people. That’s because the spirits that live within us are different. We have different reasons we are alive on this Earth. We are blessed with different ways of thinking, different abilities, and different capabilities. I find it hard to believe that there is no point in walking this earth.

You must have the concept that you are here for a greater purpose. The spirit, that dwells in your heart, lives and breathes by that greater purpose. You may not understand that purpose as of today, but one day you will…

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.” — Mark Twain

Every action you do on this earth, leaves a metaphorical footprint. People will see that footprint. They will choose to follow it or not based on what that footprint represents. Did you stand strong in a just cause? Did you sell your character and integrity to the highest bidder? Make no mistake, every action rings into history. What will your footprint say about you? What will you leave behind?

“Did you leave your mark on this earth?”

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