KATHYRN RUNGRUENG
What does it mean to be strong?
Strength is the art of balancing resilience, flexibility, courage, and a zest for life at any given point in time. It doesn’t come down to a singular definition, but rather one that has many different pieces working together in synergy. For example, being strong can mean both active and passive endurance; a measurement of strength may simply be your attitude and how you respond with grace in times of struggle.
A misconception of strength is that it equates to rigidity. Like metal legs on a table, it may seem more powerful to be firm, fixed, and unbending in the face of adversity. But life itself is not static, and even the strongest of metals will eventually suffer cracks. Strength is the ability to bend and to grow in all scenarios.
Most of us are avoidant. We are wired to run away from pain and situations where we may fail. Having the courage to face challenges head on with the belief that you’ll come out the other end stronger than you were, is a strength in itself.
In Thai, we pray for each other to have Gamlang Jai, which means “strength of heart.” It’s the ignition that powers the light, your spirit, within you. You must do everything in your power to not let the light go out. When it dims, you must do everything to fight fearlessly for your light to stay bright. It takes discipline to be strong.
How do you find strength?
I find strength by reminding myself that I have choice in everything, from my thoughts to the way I process situations. Knowing that I have the freewill to decide where I put my attention to helps me overcome and shift my energy to welcome in gratitude, even in the face of adversity. Life is about saying “I get to” and live in a state of abundance, where I already have everything I need.
Where do you think your strengths lie?
If I didn’t go through what I did, I wouldn’t be as strong as I was today. Now, I embrace challenges and situations that test my strength. Like muscles in the body, strength doesn’t atrophy unless you allow it to. The wear and tear can be painful, but also necessary training to exercise for growth. This way, you’re prepared to tackle any kind of hardship that lies ahead.
I seek for a life filled with positivity, beauty, and love knowing fully that there will be hardships. I want to inspire others to do the same. What’s incredibly hard, is the discipline. It’s an endless act of not letting obstacles define you and permitting only positive thoughts that can strengthen your spirit.
In what ways do you wish you could be stronger?
I’d like to find more acceptance in my imperfections and not allow people’s opinions and perception of me affect me as much as it does at times. I would be stronger if I was more disciplined to remind myself to stop taking on the responsibilities of others, especially when I know a relationship is toxic.
How do you give others strength?
I give by simply being there for someone, with curiosity, compassion, and kindness. Experiences shared with me teaches me how to love them better, without judgement of what they are going through. While I might not have a solution to a problem, I can only reflect back my own relevant experiences if it seems helpful. Vulnerable moments like this call my own strength to stay present and optimistic for those around me.
I want to create a culture in which we fail and not be afraid to talk about it. It’s important to share how strength lies in the variety of failures we all experience. What it comes down to is that if you’re not failing and being honest with yourself, you’re not getting any stronger.
That being said, merely speaking about failures isn’t enough. At the core, having strength means to embody a zest for life and not let anything break your spirit.
We can easily fall into becoming passive observers of our own lives and drown in a victim mindset. Know that you are strong with everything you have. We all need to be our biggest cheerleader, not our biggest critic.
Gamlang jai