A friend of mine asked me a great question–a question that may well have crossed your mind; he asked me, “Why Strength?”
“In a world obsessed with health, why not just promise people more health?”
Valid point. I get it. Trust me, if I were not crystal clear on my reason, I too would opt for the easier way.
No question, leading with “Strength” is a hurdle because for to many it means big, giant, huge muscles, or something similar. Once you know the deeper, fuller meaning of Strength— or strength with a Big-”S,” as I call it, everything changes.
watch this brief video:
Are you with me? Ready to raise your standard to Strength?
For additional texture on Strength, if offer this quote from Strength for Life, p.8:
“What health is no more than the absence of disease, Strength is the presence of abundant energy–a capacity to be a force in your world. It includes health and at the same time is so much more; it’s being healthy and flowing with energy, power and confidence.”
Clearly, Strength is not the path for everyone. For those who are struggling to get healthy, health is the driving vision as it should be. And then there are those for whom good-enough is just the way they do life. But for the achievers, the drivers, those on the eternal path of self-improvement, Strength is already a way of life.
Until Next Week…
Stay Strong,
Shawn
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| About the Author | |
| Author, innovator and expert in Life Performance for two decades, Shawn Phillips is as respected for his physique as his wisdom. Working with his brother Bill (of Body for LIFE fame) he helped create the performance nutrition giant, EAS. For a "how to" guide to a Lifestyle of Fitness Freedom, check out Shawn's most recently instant best-selling book from Bantam BooksStrength for LIFE, called by Next-Level in Transformational Fitness, Here. |
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4. May 2009 at 9:25 pm
You make it so clear to understand. I love the way you go beyond average knowledge to wisdom-conversion. From beyond what everybody likes to talk: from simple health concepts to EXCELLENCE of life.
You are a reformer of Fitness.
5. May 2009 at 12:14 pm
Wooo… Thanks Catherine.
I like the “Reformer” title… interesting. Very insightful.
And you, for getting it, for taking the ride, deserve your own round of applause. Fact is not everyone is ready for a different, more integral approach to fitness, from the inside out.
I never cease to be amazed at how many people continue to approach fitness, dieting, nutrition and such the way a 4 year old approaches the big purple dinosaur, Barney: With mindless awe… wandering towards the latest shiny promise of effortless freedom as is the great One herself is calling them.
So many myths, mis-truths, and flat out gimmicks are sold as Truths, as the real deal. I think people must choose to become more aware and take more responsibility not for knowing everything but having the basic common sense to question, to look for razor blades in the apple and recognize when they are being sold-out and where they might actually find some help and support.
To Your Strength,
Shawn
5. May 2009 at 10:32 pm
GREAT. I had the pleasure of learning more about you and your work back at the BFL Challenge 2000. You were kind enough to encourage me by phone and Emails. With your coaching , I did the program and at the age of SEVENTY I placed in the top SIX percent!! Now, at age EIGHTY I enjoy a very active lifestyle because I have, as you just put it, the STRENGTH to do anything I want, including very active sports, regular attendance at the health clubs, and the ability to go dancing when so many of my peers are fast asleep. I still work part-time in my chosen profession and now teach a college class “Fire Your Boss” for adults who want to start a home based business. I am ALIVE every day. Thanks again, for ALL YOU DO. Dr. jay
7. May 2009 at 6:25 am
Shawn, How does a person know where they are on the continuum you describe?
7. May 2009 at 2:10 pm
Paul, it’s a feeling… a felt sense. Check in. Clearly, there’s no absolute place you are but a position one arises from. The real point of this is simply to be aware… to know that there is a continuum. Once you understand this you’re ahead of 99.9% of people on earth.
Here’s to life with exhilaration!
Shawn
7. May 2009 at 8:22 am
Shawn, Strength. I love the way you put it relief is like tolerence. Relief is better than anxiety but relief is life without moving upward or forward. I don’t have the pain. I am relieved, but what do I gain? Exhiliration, great!
I have been blessed in many ways in my life with all aspects.
I think one of my greatest strengths was writting a grant for my school and I had to list a bunch of short term goals and long term goals for this club I had started. Some of them were simple ex. create a website for the group,gain some national attention,create and host a fitness event, make my club bigger and better in many ways etc…) but were just ideas. Once I placed them on the paper something started to happen. I didn’t didn’t get the grant and I didn’t read over it again for a year until a friend of mine had recommend I resubmit the grant again. Again, I didn’t get the grant but as I looked over my short term goals and long term goals from my first grant writting I realized that I had accomplished almost ever goal I had written including building a website, hosting a race, and gaining national recognition from Runners World e-mag runningkids.com and had done it with out the grant money. When I was creating this picture in my mind of what I wanted it became a nessesity and I wouldn’t accept failure. I had road blocks but I looked to the recovery point. I didn’t hit the rock. I went around, under, over, whatever had to be done to make it happen. I now have a dry erase board in my office I call it my board of success. I write it and I make it happen.It is constantly changing. I have a great Physical story also but you can actually read it at arnoldsportsfestival.com news letter where I was interviewed and pictured for running The 2009 Arnold Pump and Run 5k in Columbus,OH.I feel strength in many areas in my life.
7. May 2009 at 8:52 am
Hi Shawn
I would like to ask your advice. I just turned 59. I am an avid endurance athlete. I am not very fast but have run, biked and swam for years. I have competed in several marathons, sprint tris – one half IM a few years ago. I have a dream of completing an Iron Man race during my 60th year. I would like to be leaner. I have weighed this weight for many years – give or take 5 or 10 lbs. I even competed in BFL a two years ago, became one of the featured challengers but because i love cardio exercise so much, it is hard for me to stick to the plan and consequently, i don’t eat as well as i should so i am not as lean as i would like to be. I also have felt a bit sluggish when i have been running lately – probably due to not enough rest time. I love full strength but have a hard time actually drinking it so i mix it w/ sugar free vanilla pudding and eat it that way – i am sure that is a no no. I guess i just want to know what i can do to get ready for an IM in a year.
Thanks
Mary C
7. May 2009 at 10:42 am
I just received your book but I have followed the Body-For-Life plan for years. I spend many, many years in a bad relationship that took a real toll on my mind, body and spiritual well-being. When I discovered that true strength is more than a physical state I discovered true freedom. I eventually left the relationship and even though it has been a tough road financially I have taken the ups and downs with strength–strength from within. I also found that when I found my strength within I had the courage to transform my physical state too.
I have gone from 180lbs to my current weight of about 130lbs. I love being in the gym and ‘feeling the burn’ because I know that my physical determination comes from within. I now push myself beyond limits that I never dreamed I could. I cannot say that before I made the switch that I was weak, I think that I just did not know how to tap into the inner strength that I had! Thanks to you-guys for showing me the way and helping me to become a strong women–inside and out!
7. May 2009 at 11:17 am
Hi Shawn – I notice strength more now in my confidence to do my work as a wellness coach. I have been doing a lot of cholesterol/BP/Glucose/BMI % body fat screening lately and I have noticed my ability to be clear, listen with deeper presence, and ask questions that elicit change talk has increased. And my work has become easier. Your tone and style of writing has helped me clarify my motivation and vision as to why to remain strong. For me this vision comes from the incarnational love my Christian experience reveals to me. I want to remain strong in every way because I have been blessed with so much and the only way for strength to really increase in the world is for me to do my little part as a “relay station” for the source of all strength, presence, and being.
By the way I understand we are both Van the Man fans…rave on, rave, on!!
Peace and All Good,
Alan
7. May 2009 at 12:36 pm
Health is necessary to keep me alive. Exhilaration is what I live for.
For people in my shoes, health isn’t really that hard to maintain, but it gets to be a pain at times, and I’m not always that good about it. Now I don’t have a weight problem, but I do have type II diabetes. So, I have to work out, eat right, and medicate to keep my blood sugar down. The better I eat and work out, the less I have to medicate. (Check online to see what will eventually happen to my health if I don’t.) Just doing the ordinary things gets depressing, since there are some do’s and also some do-without’s.
So, I want to *do* some exhilarating things. I joined a nation-wide team that does charity bike rides against blood-related cancers. My favorite strength moments come in places like Lake Tahoe, where I’ll be riding again this year for the third time. We ride 100 miles, including up to Inspiration Point (aptly named), and later up to our highest point at Spooner Junction. Getting up there means sharing hand-shakes, hugs, and kisses with my teammates, and of course, getting to ride back down again toward Tahoe’s sparkling blue mirror below. Last year, I reached both peaks thinking I still had more climbing to do, because my conditioning was more than adequate for the task. For a 48-year-old man who isn’t an athlete by trade or talent, this is flying.
If it weren’t for moments like this, I wouldn’t be nearly as good at maintaining my health, because the day-to-day stuff would just get me bored and depressed. So, I hear you, Shawn!
8. May 2009 at 12:36 am
I just finished with a 15 hour day on 4 hours of sleep and I am rejuvinating with a tall glass of full strength. I have two more days of this before my work week is over and if it werent for full strength I don’t know where I’d be. It’s my life line and my moment for myself each day.
8. May 2009 at 8:50 am
I had ALWAYS wanted to compete as a female bodybuilder. A few years ago I found the most amazing trainer and nutritionist. I can not say enough about my trainer. He had such faith and confidence in me that I finally had to let go of all the negative body image and defeating self talk. He was strong for me until I found strength for myself. I took 1st in my first show and 2nd place in my second show. Doing the work to become stage ready was, at times, an overwhelimg journey. Conquering the fear(physically and mentally) was true freedom. Freedom, confidence and strength from the inside out.
8. May 2009 at 9:31 pm
The distinction you make here between health and strength grounds my goals to get stronger, leaner and fitter than ever before in my life. You are doing an amazing service to us all in the depth of your insights and nuances of your distinctions.
Thanks Shawn, my exhaustion from tonight’s workout suddenly transformed to exhiliration.
11. May 2009 at 12:28 am
Hi shawn,
Strength for me relates to power, having the capacity to act. It is having the energy to do things in life, those things I want to do.
I feel strength when my sexual energy moves up throughout my body. I feel high and confident and able to act as I want to. I feel strong when I can voice. Say what and how I feel. Get heard. I feel sure of myself then. At the very least I can hear myself out. This feels good.
Cheers,
Pierre