When most people hear the word strength, they think about power. Muscles. Loud voices. Maybe even someone standing tall, taking control of a room.
But I’ve learned something else—through life, pain, fatherhood, faith, and the mat:
Real strength doesn’t always roar.
Sometimes, it whispers, “I’m still here.”
This week, I’ve been sharing pieces of my journey—not just from the past, but from the inside.
From what it’s taken to rebuild my life through self-control, self-discipline, and self-respect.
These are the parts of the Power of Self that no one can give to you—and no one can take away.
What Inner Strength Really Looks Like
It’s the moment a child stops, breathes, and chooses a better response.
It’s the quiet “I’ll try again” after a setback.
It’s the decision to treat yourself with kindness after years of tearing yourself down.
Inner strength doesn’t always show up in the big moments—it’s forged in the small ones.
The in-between.
The choices no one sees but change everything.
It’s when you stop reacting out of fear… and start responding with purpose.
The Strength That Changes Generations
When I look back to who I was—angry, reckless, running—I know that version of me didn’t need punishment.
He needed guidance.
He needed to know there was another way.
That’s the strength I try to pass on now—through my work, my writing, my teaching.
Because when a child learns that their strength doesn’t come from being the loudest in the room…
but from leading themselves with character,
you’ve planted something that lasts.
That’s the kind of strength that reshapes homes, classrooms, friendships… and families.
The Living Strong Kind of Strength
Living Strong doesn’t mean living perfect.
It means living on purpose.
It means learning from your story, instead of being ashamed of it.
It means getting back up every time—whether it’s after falling short or simply falling behind.
And that strength…
It starts with the power of self.
Final Thoughts
As we close this first week of the Power of Self series, I hope you’ve taken one thing away:
Strength isn’t something you show—it’s something you build.
From the inside out.
From breath to breath.
From one honest choice to the next.
We don’t wait for life to hand it to us.
We train it. We model it.
We pass it on.
One child.
One family.
One decision at a time.
Let’s keep building that kind of strength—together.
Let’s keep Living Strong.
— Peter
