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How do you define strength? I used to think strength was how hard I could ride a bike, how many burpees or squats I could knock out, or how far I could push my physical body. 

Now, having experienced even more life challenges, sat through countless hours of meditation, and done hours and hours of inner work, I’m seeing how strength transcends our physical body. I see that strength has more to do with how I handle myself outside of the gym, rather than how intense my workout is. Strength is in the grace, calmness and inner courage we embody when life throws us those unexpected curve balls. 

It has been shown that the older we get, the less we see because we tend to get stuck in our own beliefs, routines and habits. If this is true, then to me, strength comes when we acknowledge our limited beliefs and do the work to move past them. 

This isn’t easy work, but we have so much more strength than we give ourselves credit for. The measure of our strength isn’t in how many steps we take a day, but in our ability to remain grounded and calm as we navigate the day to day experiences of life. 

As I start to expand my old beliefs, I can see strength in those that move slowly.

I feel the power in those that listen more than speak.

I admire those that face stress or challenges with grace. 

I find strength in those that can laugh despite the pain.

This week I challenge you to change up your daily routine and thought patterns. Drive a different way to work, change up your morning drink, switch up which foot goes in your shoe first (I’m not kidding!), park in a different spot, eat with your opposite hand, listen more than you speak when you’re talking to your bestie or a co-worker…no matter how silly it may seem, break out of your usual habits. This practice will start to expand your awareness and help you see outside of your deeply conditioned behaviors. Let this is a practice in finding a deeper strength within you.