Strength, in whatever way it is manifested, is something that a lot of people want to possess. Some people work out to be physically powerful. Others study to be mentally and intellectually strong. There are also those individuals who seek to be strong in spirit. Personally, I think that the strongest person is one who is strong in spirit. Without that inner strength, all other forms of strength won’t matter. Not everyone, including me, has developed a strong spirit. However, no matter how old you are or what your status in life is, it is never too late for you to become a person of strength. Check out these tips that will hopefully help you become strong in spirit.
We all have our limits. There is nothing wrong with admitting that you cannot be strong all by yourself. For many people, their strength comes from having faith in something. You can have faith in your personal god, in the universe, in the goodness of people, in the natural course of things, or just in anything that gives you some form of strength.
The relationships you build and keep can affect your outlook in life. If you spend time with a lot of cynical and negative people, then chances are you will become like them. You need to be with people who are positive and strong in spirit. Hopefully, they will influence you to be a better and stronger person.
Your experiences in life are lessons waiting to be learned. Mistakes cease to be simple errors in judgment if you take time to reflect and learn from them. Even positive experiences reinforce and add to the things that you already know. Open your senses and be willing to learn from the things that will make you a person with a strong spirit.
If you want to be strong in spirit, you need to be able to face your fears head on. I am not particularly fond of this advice, but I do believe in heeding it. You need to believe that you are a force greater than your fear. You cannot let it control your life. Allow me to share this litany against fear by the Bene Gesserit, a fictional social, political, and religious force in Frank Herbert’s Dune: “I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
Resilience is the ability of people to cope with problems and stress. You need to find a way to be resilient. This way, you can face life’s trials and still be able to bounce back or become an even stronger person. Another trait the complements resilience is flexibility. Being flexible allows you to face changes without getting overly flustered or upset. And lastly, you need to learn to be calm in the face of a storm. This way, you have a clear mind to come up with the necessary plan of action.
The way you view the world affects the way you live your life. Make a thought inventory and see what needs a paradigm shift. You want to have a world view that promotes positivity and happiness; not something that leads you to experience pain and negativity. By having a positive outlook in life, your spirit becomes freer and stronger.
People with a strong spirit do not wait for things to happen. Instead of simply reacting like the rest of the population, they do something about the situation. They assert themselves and work to get things done. If you do not have a proactive personality, then don’t worry. You can work on developing it one day at a time.
You have to accept that you cannot control everything and everyone. Trying to gain control over the world will only tire you out. It will frustrate, anger, and sadden you. In time, it can break your spirit. Instead, try to control yourself, your decisions, actions, and thoughts.
The future is a big hole of uncertainty and no one has a way of knowing how things will turn out. You can fret and be a knot of worry or you can learn to embrace the mystery of tomorrow. Stop worrying too much about what could happen and focus on what is happening today.
Determine what principles work best for you. Once you do this, stick to them like glue. Don’t compromise your principles for things that you don’t believe in. When you do this, it is tantamount to compromising your integrity and your value as a person. Your principles are like a compass pointing you to your true north. They guide you during times of uncertainty.
You have to be aware that becoming strong in spirit is not an easy task. You may experience pain and uncertainty because you have to question and change the things that you have grown used to. However, know that with every challenge you surpass, with every habit that you change and learn, is a spirit that grows stronger.
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