Things we instinctively avoid – discomfort, failure, risk, and difficulty – make us grow strong. It’s better to grapple with struggle than turn from it.
Ease is the enemy. Playing it safe leads to stagnation.
21 Ways to Defeat Weakness and Grow Strong:
- Responsibility – rescue reinforces frailty.
- Challenge – coddling corrodes character.
- Performance – baseless self-esteem leads to narcissism.
- Confrontation – unfounded praise produces arrogance.
- Struggle – ease leads to self-doubt.
- Service – indulgence corrupts the soul.
- Accountability – excuses dilute self-respect.
- Risk – security breeds stagnation.
- Action – stagnation stifles potential.
- Persistence – quitting cripples progress.
- Integrity – deception weakens character.
- Sacrifice – greed fosters feebleness.
- Boldness – timidity shrinks hearts.
- Failure – success breeds complacency.
- Discomfort – comfort stifles growth.
- Discipline – laziness atrophies potential.
- Learning – ignorance weakens adaptability.
- Ownership – blame invites indulgence.
- Humility – arrogance erodes strength.
- Effort – entitlement undermines achievement.
- Adversity – over-protection weakens resolve.
Strength is never an accident. People grow strong when they work. The seduction of ease is our decay.
You grow strong when you choose to persist. Marcus Aurelius said, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
Strength shrinks obstacles. Weakness looks at the mountain and trembles. Strength charges forward with confidence. Seneca said, “Our lack of confidence is not the result of difficulty. The difficulty comes from the lack of confidence.”
Adversity is the crucible of strength. Resolve begins with discomfort.
What can you add to the list of 21 ways to grow strong?
What difficult thing do you need to do today?
Still curious:
4 Unexpected Sources of Strength Available to Tired Leaders
