Over the weekend I spent some time with some close friends of mine talking shop on hardships, personal struggles, and finding strength when you just feel like you can’t possibly keep going on day in and day out. Some of the stories I heard this weekend were of troubling relationships that have since ended, the real struggles of hustling for work in order to raise a family, and “war stories” of very serious traumas. What I took away from all these discussions was the fact that I was sitting around a table with a number of my fitness friends. All of us seemed to have had the worst of the worst of the worst happen in our lives, yet we made it a point to redefine what this whole “Strength” thing really means to us.
Today is day one of our VIP coaching program. Leading a group of people to develop some serious strength gains has been an honor over the past few years of my life, but diving into more of the personal lives of our VIP members has brought to the surface a TON of inner strengths this incredible group of people possess. This team of men and women have truly opened my eyes to the impact strength training has on their lives. I have a few excerpts from conversations I had just this weekend with the VIP’s and my friends below.
“After my knee surgery, I was bedridden for a number of months. I could’t do a thing. I am finally at a place post physical therapy where I can get back and start moving again. For me, working on my strength means perseverance, because I WILL persevere past this injury.”
“I lost my daughter due to a miscarriage, and I don’t have a ton of support raising my two sons of mine on my own. It’s hard. It’s been the hardest thing for me. It’s been so hard I sometimes wonder why I’m out there training, but I keep going. For me, the stronger I become the more, capable I am of being there for my family, those that are here with me and in spirit. Strength to me means having the mental strength to keep living and supporting the ones I love the most. “
“I was recently diagnosed pre-diabetic, and it was a bit shocking because I am young. I’m just 33. But now, knowing what my body is doing, I can take appropriate action to get myself healthy. I’m lifting, eating healthier, and working on my stress levels. For me, strength is about refining my habits in all areas of my life and making sure I crush my olympic lifts as much as my nutrition. My life depends on it now. “
Today’s post is short, but it begs a very important question:
What does “Strength” mean to you?
If you haven’t already done so, please feel free to join our Powerful Strength Coaching forum by clicking this link. This FREE forum is designed to talk about strength, in all aspects of our life, be it in our nutrition, training, or personal lives as well. Join a community of people that are committed to lifting everyone up to become the strongest, most powerful versions of themselves. Should you need more individualized coaching, please request a free consultation by clicking this link.
What does strength mean to YOU?
Let nothing stand in you way.
Press on!
