When confronted with unfavourable situations there's always the tendency for our weaknesses to want to respond with fear, disappointment, regret, lamentations, self-pity and withdrawal. But when your inner strength is developed, you are well able to confront unexpected life's challenges with confidence.

What is inner strength?

Your inner strength is that human spirit that sustains you throughout life, helping you cope with the stressful situations it throws at you.

Have you ever observed with admiration how some individuals through resilience have overcome difficulties, surmounting obstacles and pushing beyond limits to reach their goals while others just head on the path of frustration and self pity without looking back?

Inner strength gives you that ability to rise up and put the pieces of your life back together after falling.

It is that which gives you courage to look at your vision so big and so mighty and declare, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"

It is that boost of energy that floods your inner man anytime you work on your natural gifts, inspiring you to fulfil your life's goals.

This inner power comes naturally in some people while for others it has to be developed like any other skill.

To build inner strength you have to:

• Affirm your unique abilities. Look at those qualities that make you unique and different from others and begin to affirm them. It may be your sense of humour, your assertiveness, your administrative power, your creative thinking, your great interpersonal abilities, relationship skills, your beauty prowess, your generosity, whatever it is affirm it to yourself over and over again. Make an affirmation dose of it repeating it morning, afternoon and evening.

• Accept and appreciate yourself through your moments of weaknesses. You are not perfect that is why you can't always get it right. Seize the opportunity to learn and become better through the circumstances that you find yourself. Never crucify yourself for missing it, don't give up on becoming better at a skill, keep giving yourself a push towards perfection and watch your life get better by the day.

• Appraise yourself. Not for the purpose of self condemnation but to celebrate your wins and improve on areas of deficiency.

"We should every night call ourselves to an account: What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed! What temptation resisted? What virtue acquired?" - Seneca
Self appraisal helps you work on areas of your life that need improvement.

• Discipline yourself to do the things you find yourself resisting but are useful and important to your life's goals and refuse unnecessary desires that rob you of your time. Disciplining yourself also involves challenging those habits that would not lead to success.

• Do what makes you happy and brings you joy. Your sense of fulfilment is activated when your natural strengths are freely expressed. Give expression to your natural talents and let a whole new door of opportunity open to you.

• Expect the best and look out for the best in life. Why should you always expect that things would not turn out fine for you? Do away with that pessimism and focus on the positive side of life. Disappointments will happen but look out for the blessing in it. Adopt a positive attitude to the challenges of life so that instead of lamenting you're able to make meaning of the lessons offered by these challenges to move your life forward.

• Seize the opportunity prayer offers to be energized by exchanging your weaknesses for God's strength. You cannot neglect the place of supernatural help through grace in accomplishing your goals, prayer presents that chance, so spend time in prayer and let God's grace rub off on you.

Build inner strength, flourish within and then without.

ACTIVITY:
• How has your inner strength helped you through life to this point?

• What new thing(s) have you discovered about yourself that you would like to build on?

Your thoughts are welcome here or by e-mail to flogun29@gmail.com

COWARDS DIE MANY TIMES BEFORE THEIR TRUE DEATHS.
A brave man dies but once!
Never be afraid to confront the unknown.
Be a risk taker.
No venture. . . no success!

Once you become a success in life. . .failure is never an option.
If you fall. . .get up. . .you are not dead!
Inner strength comes from within only. . .

LOVE YOURSELF FIRST BEFORE LOVING OTHERS!