I thought that inner strength meant enduring.

I thought that inner strength meant enduring.

I thought I was so strong for staying with the partners who kept flirting & cheating.

That I was so strong for dating-down and then blaming him for not showing up like a 10.

That I was so strong for my resentful attempt to adopt a religion I had no interest in.

That I was so strong for continually taking the blame in order to keep their approval.

But inner strength isn’t about shoving your emotions down in the favor of pleasing someone else.

It’s also not about getting upset at someone being what they are and commanding that they change to fit your preferences.

Both extremes are two sides of the same coin: Giving your power away to someone else.

Inner strength is about being honest about what you TRULY want for YOURSELF (not for others).

When someone’s unhealthy behavior isn’t changing, YOU focus on making your own behavior healthier… which sometimes means leaving.

You work on your own self-esteem, so you can choose someone you don’t need to change.

You stand up for your own beliefs, even when it means being an outsider.

You earn your own approval by letting others be responsible for the consequences of their own actions.