Strength is not controlling others,

but controlling oneself.

It’s not hard to be a bully.

You just tell yourself that you’re smarter, bigger, more capable than others. So cloaked, you now lord it over everyone. You stride to the front of the line, pushing aside those in your way. Dismissive of other’s views, you demean their ideas while your minions praise yours.

Bullies think that they’re strong and powerful, towering over their targets who cringe in fear of the next tirade, or worse. But bullies are so wrong.

Strength isn’t the ability to make others cower in fear and submission. It isn’t about creating havoc by turning moral standards upside down.

Strength is holding steadfast to moral codes when others are dismissing them. It’s standing firm in the face of temptations and using our influence to do good, not harm. It’s, one moment, admitting we need help, and in the next, seamlessly offering a helping hand to those in need.

True strength is an inner virtue, not an external spectacle.

Care about the person by . . .

We don’t have to know everything.

So relax. 

Being well informed—others seem to expect it of us, and we expect it of ourselves. News of the latest political crisis delivered to our smartphone, the final episode of a popular TV series, editorial opinions in the newspaper, local news on the radio.

How did we get to this point?

Who decided it was so crucial for us to know about, well, everything.

And why do we buy into such thinking?

Yes, we need to know enough about our world to remain aware of the things directly affecting us and those we’re responsible for. But why spend valuable time and energy on the things that don’t affect us or that we have no influence over? Why do we feel we need to offer an opinion on whatever people are talking about? Is it due to not wanting to appear ignorant? Or are we trying to fit in? Or trying to be helpful?

Whatever the reason, being smitten by (perhaps addicted to) constant updates steals our time and wastes our energy.

As Nancy Reagan advised: “Just say no.”