STRENGTH

Strength. Where does it come from? Why do some people seem to always have it when needed and others can't muster it, ever? Is physical strength more or less important than emotional strength? Are they mutually exclusive? Or mutually inclusive? Can you learn emotional strength like you gain physical strength?

Emotional strength seems to come from surviving pain or loss in your life. The more times you are faced with a trial, the more strength you seem to be able to develop. Not to say that loss or pain isn't still there or that it doesn't still tear away at your heart, but you are stronger because you KNOW you will live through it.

The ability to move forward while wiping tears and picking up your broken self is the definition of strength. The more times you need to do it, the more times you survive it, the stronger you feel. 

Emotional strength is all about having survived, something.

(morguefile photo)

Physical strength is in part, genetic, but mostly a matter of working muscles into their peak condition and developing flexibility. This is usually done by working out regularly and sometimes with assistance to target certain areas, but also sometimes just a regular workout routine. The key to building strength is resistance training with weights of varying sizes. If this is done with regularity, muscles will be strengthened and developed. One will see results in both bigger muscles and greater endurance. Since muscle weighs more than fat, sometimes a weight gain accompanies a good workout routine. Eventually, though, inches will be lost and pounds will usually follow. 

To maintain physical strength, the workout must continue. Stopping for a prolonged period will result in the muscle being lost or lessened.

Emotional strength seems much longer lasting. Once your heart has been hurt, it remembers always. It hardens a little more each time and doesn't forget. 

The two can reside in one body, for sure. It's just a matter of understanding that emotional strength is learned and physical strength is earned.

You most definitely learn to be strong emotionally. You also most certainly work to achieve physical strength. Clearly, both are great qualities. Life is better with both of these in your world.

There is no comparison, in my mind, between the two. I will never be physically strong again and I will never be emotionally weak again. My life has taught me that I need the emotional strength because no one else can carry my hurt for me, but if I need something heavy moved, someone can do that for me.  

I am not trying to say that I have had an horrendous life filled with pain and torture. That is simply not true. I have had a life filled with love and many more happy days than sad. Many more happy years than sad. I had a few years of difficulty and survived them. I lost my dad much too young and survived. I have been fired and sexually harassed and survived.  Nothing a million other women haven't had to face and survive. 

Those things do, however, add up to a heart that has been beaten and bruised and yet because my life was peppered with things I had to overcome or learn to live with, I am stronger than I once was, emotionally. I can do whatever I must do. I still feel pain; I still feel defeat; I still ache, sometimes. But I always know that I will survive. I will live to write about whatever it is that is trying to win. It will not. It will be in the lead for a while, but it will not win. I cannot be taken down through my heart, just slowed down momentarily. I also believe my own emotional strength is faith based. I know God will see me through whatever I am facing.

Yep, the sun will come out tomorrow and I will be there to soak it up.

Jo