True Strength
© 2013 GypsyJaguar
strength n. 1. The quality of being strong. 2. The power to resist force, strain, or stress; toughness; solidity. 3. The power to sustain or resist an attack. 4. Power or capability. 5. Moral courage or power. 6. Effective or binding force: the strength of an argument. 7. Degree of concentration, distillation, or saturation; potency. 8. Intensity.--- [<Old English strengthu.] -The American Heritage Dictionary
True strength is being able to face your fears, move through them and eventually rise above them, with honor and dignity. Strength is not being without fear, but being afraid, yet facing that fear head on.
Strength may, at times, mean taking no action at all or ceasing any further action. It takes a strong person to know when enough is enough. Sometimes strength may be biting your tongue at times when you are mature enough to realize your words may not be all that helpful or progressive to the situation. It takes strength to accept that you can't win every battle that comes your way.
Strength and temperance go hand in hand. Strength is essentially controlling your own actions and reactions. Strength is knowing when and how to take appropriate actions and when and how to stand down when it is warranted. Strength is being confident enough in your own beliefs, morals and codes of living, that any opposition is of no threat to you. Strength is having ultimate power over yourself.
We are taught that part of being a strong person is to stand up for yourself and your beliefs and individual rights. While this is true, nowadays the basic meaning of sticking up for yourself has been perverted into getting over on everyone before they can put one over on you, criticizing and condemning others when they do not believe the same that you do and verbally or physically assaulting anyone that threatens your delicate psyche. Many men and women today seem to think that being strong and standing up for themselves means being on constant guard, ready to fight anyone who seems a threat to their reputation. In reality, this attitude shows great weakness.
Your reputation is how others see you, their opinion of you. If you are strong enough in the sense of how you see yourself, then other people's view of you will not make any difference. Remember that one's opinions equal one's judgments. So, the opinions of what other's think of you, are only their pre-conceived judgments based solely on what little they hear about and see of you. Unfortunately, many opinions are based on what people say to others about you. These shared opinions are referred to as rumors, gossip or hearsay, and generally have no basis in fact, whatsoever.
To attempt to control or punish others for what they think and/or say about you is a monumental waste of time and energy. Regardless of such, many people spend their entire lives trying to do so. Little do they realize that this ends up leading to a miserable lifestyle filled with unnecessary drama, anxiety, frustration and mistrust. The sad part is that not only do they mistrust others, but they are so busy being worried about what others think, that they ultimately lose trust in themselves and what they are truly all about.
There are proper times when you do need to stand up for yourself. These are times when your life may be in immediate danger, or if someone is physically or verbally attacking you. When someone is physically attacking you, you must defend yourself. Do whatever you can to avoid and block any hits that come at you. If necessary, bring your attacker to the ground and restrain them until either they calm down or outside help arrives, depending on the circumstances.
When someone is verbally attacking you, you have every right to stand up for yourself, your beliefs or lifestyle. The key is to remain calm, state the facts and refrain from counter-attacking your opposition. When we get all bent out of shape and retaliate out of fear, we only fuel the aggression and hatred of the situation. When we are able to stand up for ourselves with truth, diplomacy and an even temper, rising above the need for revenge or retaliation, only then will we know true strength.
"Character, like tea, shows it's strength in hot water."
-Chinese proverb
Also see:
Emotional Healing - Dealing With Issues - Coping with Grief - Why Bad Things Happen to Good People - Releasing Anger - Forgiveness - Acceptance - Facing Your Fears - True Strength - Rediscovering Yourself - A Feel-Good Project - Finding Your True Love
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