What makes you emotionally strong?

[sheddie]

Did any of you watch The Pride of Britain Awards tonight on TV? I think some of the people make you feel very humble.Did you hear the lady say - I quote:- " Women are like old tea bags, put them in hot water and watch them turn strong". It got me thinking what does make us women strong?

[SummerSkye]

I think most women are more emotionally strong than men. We have to be able to cope with bringing up children, the loss of children and life in general. Many men who lose a partner after years of marriage often follow close behind yet a woman will make a new life for herself and carry on. I think in the pattern of nature more females are needed than males so we are better equipped for survival.

[dinger]

Sheer willpower and determination to carry on .

[Crocus]

Hi, yes I sometimes think that we don't actually have much of a say when it comes to emotional strength. We've got to have lots, to do what must be done. We had a situation here during this week when the last assignment of the year for one the boys had to be finished. A model had to be built explaining building methods, costs had to be worked out, etc. etc. and eventually hubby had to help because son didn't manage his time very well! It caused so much stress for hubby, because a lot of marks depend on this assignment. This model got finished a day late, fortunately with the consent of the teacher. But I'll tell you, the emotional stress it caused! It took hubby about 2 days to get back to normal again. I of course stressed because of the assignment, son and hubby (and injection!!) but carried on - as dinger said: "sheer willpower" :D

[eleanor2]

i suppose we are in the thick of everyday family life a lot more than the men.we become hardy to everyday emotions.yet the men bless em have all their qualities to.

[sheddie]

I think on the TV debates etc. women now seem to be much stronger than many of the men they are speaking with. Did Margaret Thatcher change things to do you think or when we look back to the work women did in the war and Emily Pankhurst have we always had to be strong?Do you think we all have resourses of hidden strength?

[Crocus]

I think we might have hidden resourses of strength. Maybe it's something or someone we are not aware of, a friend, a mum, your gran, a sister. Experiences I think, forces one to get stronger over a period of time. It's like building, you build the first row, and when it's completely ready, you build the next row, and so you carry on. If you take the women during war times, they had to stay home, be there for their children, for another, and hold the fort, so to speak. Try to make a safe haven for the children and for themselves and when husbands returned from the front. I don't say that men don't have emotional strength, I just think that were are "better equipped" for our task in life.

[gothfairy]

There are many situations in life which we look at and think we would never cope if it happened to us. But we would, we do and we will continue to do. We have those 'inner resources' already mentioned, but at times, they are hard to find it has to be said.

What makes me strong is the events in my life to this point, bloody-mindedness not to let anything and anyone get me down, get the better of me, and a sense of humour goes a long, long way.

[keepersdaughter]

Everyone has their own story and personal challenges. The difference between how men and women handle stress, challenges and emotional issues is still a mystery to me. When I became a mother I developed all these protectives urges and emotions that I had never experienced before. Suddenly when you have little ones that rely totally and completely upon you, this whole other part of you develops. You have to be strong for someone else. I know my husband I have strengths and weaknesses in different areas. He is very driven and disciplined, partly thru. character - the most A type of individual, (though is very easy going in many areas) - and partly thru. training. He is former military and has been to war in two conflicts. Whether he personally agrees with policies, etc. he is of a certain mindset where he just does what needs to be done. Yet he avoids all personal type of conflict and any emotions, he can't handle that - hard to explain to put fully into words - but I think that may be true of many, if not most men.

I have had to face up to many situations I could never in my wildest dreams have imagined. And quite simply, there has been no choice but to keep on walking straight thru. Unfortunately, I've had to cope alone for the most part since I've had no family around or close friends since we moved so frequently. I've learned to rely on myself. I do often sometimes wonder and ask why certain things have happened and there is no real answer. I don't know if it makes you stronger, or a bit numbed. It's important to try and not become hardened.

Life throws challenges at all of us in different ways at different times, I think how we handle it plays a part in who we are (or maybe who we become). We are often forced to take things/situations on and, hopefully, we learn and grow from it.

[sheddie]

I have learned such a lot from this post and I thank you all for your input.

[sunflower]

I think what makes me strong is firstly I know that Jesus loves me, secondly, I love myself. Now I know that sounds strange but, I had an extremely difficult childhood, with 11 changes of school and the same number of places to live. When I was about eight, the night before being sent away yet again, I made a promise to myself that even if other people did'nt love me, I would love and remain faithful to myself and be my best friend. After all we are stuck with ourselves. Where ever I go...I go as well!!! so it is important to love and respect yourself. So I think, this has made me strong, though when I say strong I do'nt mean that I have always been on top of situations. Just that I have managed to , as the song goes 'pick myself up, dust myself down and start all over again' lots of love Sunflower xxxxxxxxxx

[Crocus]

Hi Sunflower, that is so true and I so agree with you! Crocus. x

[dinger]

is knowing what can happen to anyone else can just as easy happen to me so when I get a knock back I get up and fight back in another way.by trying to always stay positive.

[Katelb]

You are so right sheddie ,that program made one feel very humble.I think your analyses keepersdaughter is spot on,and where we might not always like being tested by 'life' we come out the other side a stronger being ,a bit like the lady in sheddie's post.

[Crocus]

I've been 'paging' through some of the older threads and this one caught my eye.
Sheddie asked the question what makes us emotionally strong and she put this thread on in November 2007. We are much stronger than we think or even know. You too dear Sheds! xxxx

[Rose]

What makes us strong? Bloodymindedness!! Put one foot in front of the other and keep going till one achieves the goal.

[dragonfly]

Thanks for bringing this up Crocus, I have not seen it before and I enjoyed the coments especially sunflowers 'I love myself'. I think a lot of us are so busy looking after others that we forget about ourselves and are usually more critical of ourselves than anyone else.

[Crocus]

Yes we always look after husband, then kids, lastely us.

[Katelb]

A very good point sunflower,if you can't love yourself ,even just a little,how are you going to love other people.
Crocus,I think your words are spot on too,it seems the right thing to do somehow to put others before yourself, particularly family and friends but I think if you keep it in perspective and treat yourself sometimes as well ....even if it is only a little time to yourself...then it works.

[bonnie]

I wouldn't be able to cope without martin, kayleigh and family. they are my support.

And of course my RM pals.