There is a concept in Tai Chi known as internal strength. What it means, G-d only knows.
To me, strength is just as subjective as qualities like beauty or talent- it depends who chooses to define it.
This is what I have learned from the Strongman, the Broadway dancer, the Olympian, the Fencer, Gymnast, Veteran, Survivor, Ultramarathon Runner: No one is naturally strong at everything, and most true forms of strength come with a healthy dose of humility.
Of the 3 women in my community who are amputees, one is a rock climber who is perfectly elegant when riding horses. One is a powerful stage performer, who verifiably has the most robust voice in the room. And one is a writer, whose strength is behind her voice- I’ve seen her silence a room when speaking to an audience about her own body. Each of these women are, no doubt, a force.
The strongman I work with is so so strong, and I have observed that he takes every single piece of advice in rehab. He cares as much about building from the ground up- safety, intention and character- as he does his external physical body. He is fluid and grounded, barefoot and receptive- his strength is so much deeper than the muscles on his back. Or maybe I should say, his strength takes root in something so much deeper.
Nei Jin. In Tai Chi, internal strength requires a softness, or Son. It is described as something like fortitude. It comes through the eyes, and there is a bit of a glow. Sometimes, it can be intimidating to look at it, like looking directly at the sun.