A show of strength is easy (relatively speaking). It is a short burst of inspiration, effort, and peak capability. It can often come from a sense of negative ego-pleasing, or a desire to show off. “Look at what I can do now,” it says. Which I fully admit can be fun. But it is more a display of peak ability or potential, than proof of any true transformation. Here’s why.
Consider the difference in these two scenarios. First, we have a woman lifting a car off the ground to save her child. Did she lift the car? Yes. Did she accomplish her immediate goal? Yes. Can she consistently repeat the action? No. In the second, a bodybuilder uses straps to pull a semitruck down a path. Did he pull the truck? Yes. Did he accomplish the goal of pulling it as far as he could? Yes. Could he consistently repeat the action? Yes.
The first aspect of identifying a true transformation must be if the action is repeatable. If it isn’t, it is a fluke, the result of specific environmental factors.
Now let us consider a less extreme example. It’s marathon day and two runners show up on the starting line. One has been training for months, while the other just happened to be in town for a conference and thought it would be fun to try. Both individuals completed the marathon, fatigued, but on a high. The difference doesn’t truly show up until the next day. One of the individuals wakes up, looking forward to a pleasant, easy day of recovery. The other wakes up with a sense of regret, questioning what the heck were they even thinking. I think we can all guess who was who in this situation.
That brings us to the second key aspect of transformation: consistent effort. For transformation to occur, something must change as a result of effort. In the case of the bodybuilder and the runner, both repeatedly applied effort and their bodies transformed as a result. Whereas with the mother and the casual runner, their bodies were never conditioned or strengthened by the effort. While they were able to pull off impressive feats, there was no net gain. As a result, no true transformation was made. It is most likely that neither would be able to repeat their accomplishments. Even if they did, it would most likely cause harm rather than any sort of positive progress.
It is important to be aware of the differences here as you choose and accomplish goals. Just as any partner in a relationship can tell you, doing something one time doesn’t mean you’ve changed. That is not to say that shows of strength can’t be a benefit. In fact, challenging preconceived notions of what we think we are capable of is absolutely critical to personal growth. It brings awareness to our potential. So please, never be afraid to push and see just what you are capable of, even if only for a moment. Simply be mindful of the fact that through consistent effort and action, one day, that moment can be made into many. When that happens, you will find yourself transformed.