I, like many people, believe in the priceless value of maintaining good health and physical strength through exercise. Throughout my life I have reaped many benefits from staying active and engaging in strength-training exercises.
But no matter how faithful I am to an exercise regime, the inevitable reality is that my strength will eventually fade with age. The same is true for you, and for everyone.
But unlike outward, physical strength, there is a kind of strength that can increase instead of decrease with age. I’m talking about inward strength. John Maxwell explains: “Outward strength will fade on you; as you grow older you lose some of that muscle. But inward strength, carefully taken care of, gets stronger.”
We all have a number of inward strengths. Maybe you’re very aware of your strengths, or maybe you’re unsure what your strengths are. Either way, I guarantee—you have inward strength!
Maybe you have great determination and perseverance. Maybe you are compassionate and empathetic. Maybe you’re flexible and understanding. Maybe you are an excellent listener, and are committed to being “fully present” whenever engaging in conversation. Maybe you have strong moral convictions, and are steadfast in what you believe to be right.
Whatever your inward strengths may be, those are the strengths you should focus on identifying, improving, and leveraging! Yes, outward strength is good, and I recommend developing that as well, but ultimately, “inward strength, carefully taken care of, gets stronger.”
Cultivate inward strength, and reap the rewards!
