By Shazad
“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths.
When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Humans have been using concrete to construct tall and wide structures for quite some time. Under normal and light loads, it is strong and stable. However, when stressed by weight or tension, even concrete can break apart. That’s why reinforcement bars of steel, also known as “rebar,” are embedded within large concrete structures. They help ensure the tall building, the bridge, or the stadium remains upright and resilient to the constant stress from people and vehicles testing its design. Humans are built with similar reinforcements. I’m talking about the way we react, think, and care for ourselves.
Resilience is a topic we’ve spoken about before, and I’m going to mention it again here. We can’t talk about living a strong, courageous, and healthy life without mentioning resiliency. This is the ultimate ‘rebar’ for your mind. It means you have the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties and hardship. By developing your ability to endure and even grow stronger, you avoid crumbling and breaking down. Doing hard things regularly and accepting that struggle is an important part of your human journey can help you build this kind of reinforcement.
Equanimity is another form of ‘rebar’ we have discussed before. Having this means maintaining mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper during challenging situations. You reset and regain stability when aroused, angered, or shaken. You don’t have a meltdown, which could make things worse. To develop your equanimity, you need to experience calmness in your mind and life consistently. Daily meditation or gratitude practices can assist. Walking in nature, listening to soothing music, and engaging in proper stretching routines will help you strengthen your equanimity at your core.
Fitness and Self-Care are the third key aspects of being strong enough to handle life’s challenges. They include staying physically fit and eating well most of the time. Just like moisture and road salt can damage concrete and the rebar inside, poor food choices and unhealthy habits can harm our well-being, so we must avoid these dangers as much as possible. Small cracks in concrete can be repaired before they worsen, and the same applies to our overall health. If we address issues related to our muscles, bones, and organs early, we can maintain strength and overall condition better than those who neglect these areas. Maintaining a bridge or building is similar to caring for our bodies and minds through proper movement, nutrition, and medication/repairs. Looking and feeling strong on the outside starts with what is happening inside us all the time. Look for problems early and address the issues right away.
So now it’s your turn. What are you doing to build resilience, practice equanimity, and maintain fitness to keep yourself robust and capable of handling whatever the world throws at you? How you choose to live from now on will determine how heroically the rest of your life unfolds. Reinforce yourself with these tools on a daily basis!
Have An Awesome Day!
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