We know for a fact that life is made up of ups and downs. One minute you enjoy a moment of peace and quiet and the next you find yourself facing a challenging situation that you were not quite ready for.
That’s how life unfolds for many of us, and there’s little we can do to control the uncontrollable. So, the only option left is to discover the inner strength we need to develop resilience in the face of adversity and achieve personal growth.
What is inner strength anyway?
For some, ‘inner strength’ might sound like one of those new-age concepts that you can’t quite distil into a strict definition. It’s something that everybody seems to know a bit about, but nobody can offer a complete and unifying explanation.
Some associate inner strength with spiritual discovery, while others believe it’s mostly about motivation and inner-drive.
But if we were to take on a more ‘palpable’ approach, inner strength refers to a set of talents and skills that allows you to survive and thrive in your environment. It also involves a particular mindset that drives you to pursue growth, innovation, and excellence.
To develop inner strength, first you must take the time to get to know yourself better; to understand your aspirations, values, limits, and personal goals. In a way, building inner strength is a journey of self-discovery and self-growth; a path towards a better version of yourself.
But how exactly can we build inner strength?
7 simple practices that will help you build inner strength:
#1 Practice self-awareness
Self-awareness represents the first step in building inner strength. By taking the time to discover your talents, skills, weaknesses, limits, and aspirations, you will gain a better understanding of yourself. That, in turn, will help you invest in activities which put your talents to good use and learning opportunities that sharpen your skill set.
Do you know what your strengths are? How about your weaknesses? What are the limits that are holding you back from achieving what you desire most?
Look deep within yourself and find your own answers to these questions.
#2 Listen to your body
There are times when your body communicates what your mind can’t. When we’re under a lot of stress or going through a rough patch, many of us tend to overlook the psychological signs that might point towards a problem that needs immediate fixing.
Did you know that your body and mindshare a close link? In other words, what goes on in your head echoes throughout your entire body and vice versa.
Whenever you’re feeling unwell, take a moment to listen to your body. Perhaps that uncomfortable sensation in your body is not of physical but psychological nature. Maybe the reason why you can’t get enough sleep is an internal conflict that begs for resolution.
If you wish to build inner strength, pay attention to what your mind communicates through bodily sensations.
#3 Discover your talents
What is the one thing that you believe you’re good at? Something that you enjoy doing; something that generates exciting results. Unlike skills, talents involve an inborn, biological component. However, you still need to refine them by engaging in activities that allow you to exercise your talents.
The best way to discover your talents is by recollecting your childhood years. What were the things that you enjoyed doing? How did you – as a kid – spend your days? In what activities did you perform at your best? And most importantly, is there a way to put those talents to good use and improve the quality of your current life?
#4 Invest in your skills
Aside from the talents you are (in part) born with, you will also need to invest in your abilities. Building inner strength is as much about investing in personal growth as it is about self-exploration and self-discovery.
In broad lines, a skill refers to your ability to do something well or above average. It’s about striving to excel in a given area of expertise and aiming for great results.
When it comes to building inner strength, you will need both personal and professional skills, given that inner power impacts your work as much as it impacts your personal life.
Ultimately, it all comes down to exploring your skill set and finding ways to improve it.
#5 Spend time with like-minded people
As we mentioned before, inner strength requires a growth-oriented mindset that helps you cultivate innovation and excellence. And what better way to nurture this kind of mentality, if not by spending time with like-minded people?
If you wish to build inner strength, you need to hang out with people who appreciate you for who you are but also ‘push’ you to overcome self-imposed limits and reinvent yourself constantly.
People with whom you can share ideas and exchange valuable feedback are the ones who will support you in the challenging process of building inner strength.
#6 Open yourself to new experiences
Since inner strength involves mental resilience and flexibility, perhaps it’s time to exercise these valuable traits. And the best way to do this is by getting involved in new activities and giving yourself the freedom to experiment and learn from diversity.
Think about something you’ve never done before but with to experiment; something that’s exciting, inspiring, and insightful.
You might feel a bit uncomfortable at first but bear in mind that new experiences build resilience and creativity – two crucial aspects of inner strength.
#7 Be patient
One of the most important aspects to consider when building your inner strength is patience. Growth doesn’t happen overnight; you need to invest in this goal on a daily basis and take advantage of each learning opportunity life throws down your path.
You might not feel the positive effects today or tomorrow, but rest assured knowing that as long as you stick to this path, good things are bound to happen.
Building your inner strength is probably the smartest investment you can make.
