Instead of Thin, Try Strong
Dear Collective,
My mother found a quote recently that she really liked, and it’s been sitting with me all week. It’s simple, but it hits a nerve: "Instead of getting thin, try to get strong."
I’ve been a fan of this idea for years. We are seeing a massive shift in society right now where more women are getting involved in strength sports and resistance training. It’s a huge part of why We The Collective exists. I truly believe that being around strong people will eventually make you stronger.
But as I thought about that quote, I realized it’s about much more than just a fitness goal. It’s about challenging the "norms" we carry around in our heads. My mother has worked out on and off for big chunks of my life, even testing fad diets as we all tend to fall for now and again, but she really has found change in strength training. “I see new muscles!” is a paraphrase of something she said a couple weeks ago, and probably why this quote stood out to her.
Most of us have a singular lens that we use to view our progress. We have these pre-packaged thoughts like "I’m supposed to weight a certain amount or "I’m supposed to look a certain way." But what happens if we take a different approach? What if we look at those same situations from a perspective of capability instead of appearance?
Try switching from a regular thought process and swapping it for something a bit more empowered.
Instead of "I have to," try "I get to." Instead of "I need to be smaller," try "I want to be more capable." Instead of "I failed," try "I just discovered my current limit."
When we change the language, we change the outcome.
We often think the goal is about what we can remove from ourselves. We think we need to be less of something to be better. But the masterpiece is rarely built by taking things away. It’s built by what you add. It’s built by the strength you develop, the resilience you gain, and the courage you show when you step into the room.
If you’ve been chasing a goal because you think you’re "supposed to," try looking at it through a different lens this week. Instead of fitting a mold, try building a foundation.
This week, look for one "norm" in your head and challenge it. What is one thing you usually say "I have to" do? What happens if you decide that you "get to" do it instead?
Let’s be the good for one another by being the strongest versions of ourselves.
With Strength and Wisdom,
Charlie We The Collective Fitness