Hey there. There was a time when I thought strength was about pushing through, keeping walls up, and proving to the world that I could handle anything. What I’ve come to realize is that true strength is found in something much simpler and much harder at the same time. It’s choosing to lead with kindness and compassion regardless of what you’ve been through. That choice is not weakness, it’s courage.
Life has a way of stacking the odds against you. Struggles, setbacks, and scars can leave you feeling hardened. It’s tempting to carry bitterness and lash out because of what you’ve endured. But the real power is in not letting those experiences define how you treat others. To me, the ultimate form of strength is meeting people with grace even when you have every reason not to.
I remind myself often that my past doesn’t have to dictate my present or my future. The hurt and challenges I’ve faced may shape me, but they don’t control how I show up. When I choose kindness, I’m not dismissing my pain or pretending it didn’t happen. I’m showing myself that I’ve grown past it. I’m proving that I can take the very things that tried to break me and turn them into fuel to connect with others on a deeper level.
Leading with compassion is also about how I treat myself. For years I beat myself up over my body, my fitness journey, and all the times I thought I wasn’t enough. It’s easy to carry that self-criticism into every area of life. But I’ve found that if I can practice patience and kindness toward myself, I naturally show more of it to others. That’s the inside/out approach in action.
Strength isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up as you are, scars and all, and still choosing love over anger. It’s about recognizing that you can’t control everything that’s happened to you, but you can control what you put out into the world. And when you put out kindness, you create a ripple effect that not only impacts others but reinforces your own growth.
So if you’re someone who has been carrying the weight of years of struggle, know this. The fact that you can still lead with kindness makes you stronger than you realize. Your story matters, your resilience matters, and your choice to show compassion is proof that you’ve built something unshakable.
If you’re ready to take the next step in building strength from the inside/out, I invite you to join one of The YLF Experience. Together we’ll focus on sustainable habits, mindset, and self-acceptance so you can continue moving forward with confidence and compassion.