The Myth of the Strong Person
Traits we’ve been trained to admire aren’t necessarily strength
In fairy tales, a strong person, is often portrayed as a man (maybe a knight) who subdues dragons or performs other feats of courage and strength. The stereotypical image of a strong women might include a mother who lifts a car off of her child or one who stands up for herself against aggression. There’s nothing wrong with these examples, but they don’t begin to tell the entire story. True strength is less about holding firm at all costs and more about knowing when it’s appropriate to bend or be flexible; to change your mind or learn something new. Strong people are always growing; weak people are stagnant, clinging to the perceived safety of the past. Lots of people who believe they are strong because they never show vulnerability or doubt are really just emotional children wearing heavy suits of armor.
Strong People aren’t afraid to show vulnerability because they understand that it is at the core of being authentic and key to being deeply connected with others. They can admit to making mistakes.
Weak People want everyone to think they’ve got everything figured out and handled. They don’t want anyone to see the cracks in that facade, even though it’s entirely human. It keeps them isolated, but with the veneer of competency.
Strong People can share…
