Serving the Sherman Oaks and Studio City communites for over 30 years
Serving the Sherman Oaks and Studio City communites for over 30 years
Strength is like a personal asset—the more you have, the better off you are. But if we dig a little deeper, how can we truly know that we are strong?Simple answer: by feeling strong.Now, you might argue that strength is measured by how much weight you can lift.Yeah… right. You couldn’t be further from the truth.
I have been training for over 25 years. Prior to that, I spent my entire young adult life as a professional athlete—competing, pushing limits, and performing at the highest level.This is not something I have studied. This is something I have experienced.
Now, fast forward.I conduct approximately 40 sessions per week—and that’s a conservative estimate. Including an additional 60 sessions led by trainers working alongside me, I am exposed to roughly 100 training sessions every single week.
Week after week, year after year. Do the math. That’s over 130,000 sessions I have either coached directly or observed. That is not an opinion. That is not a theory. That’s real-world, hands-on data. And here’s what I have learned: In all those sessions, fewer than 5% of people say, “I feel strong,” after lifting a certain weight.
I don’t guess; I’ve seen it. Strength Starts in the Mind. Let me ask you something:
If you feel weak, would you attempt to lift something heavy?
If you feel out of shape, would you sprint up a hill?
If you feel unintelligent, would you still try to solve a complex problem?
If you don’t feel confident, would you still start a conversation with someone you’re attracted to?
Most likely, no. So why would strength be any different? If you don’t feel strong, you won’t be able to access your strength—because, in your mind, it doesn’t exist.
The Hidden Strength You’re Not Using
Strength is like an inheritance from a distant relative—or an unclaimed winning lottery ticket. If you don’t check the ticket or are unaware of what you’ve inherited, your life will not change. The same applies in this case. If you don’t realize you have strength, you won’t use it. If you don’t use it, you won’t grow it.
Why Feeling Strong Is So Difficult
Feeling strong—especially after years of feeling weak—is not easy. In fact, it can feel entirely unfamiliar. Most people don’t even know what it means to feel “strong.” So, they default to what is familiar. Feeling weak. Feeling out of shape. Feeling “not good enough.” Even when they improve physically, they remain the same mentally. According to research from National Geographic, 80–90% of people who lose weight regain it within 3–5 years. That’s because people become stronger, but never truly feel strong.
How Do You Learn to Feel Strong?
1. Work with someone who understands what true strength looks like.Find a professional—someone with real experience—who can assess you objectively. If they tell you that you are strong, then you are strong. Believe it. Accept it. Stop arguing against the evidence.
2. Pay close attention to your performance.Notice how you feel when: You complete a workout. You move gracefully. You are handling something challenging. Strength is already present—you just haven’t identified it correctly.
3. Understand what true strength feels like.Most people are pursuing an idea of strength that does not exist. Strength doesn’t always manifest as something extreme. It often feels controlled, stable, capable, and confident. Strength is quiet. It’s settled. And because of that, it often goes unnoticed. If you have spent years feeling the opposite, this will initially feel unfamiliar.That is normal.
4. Stop reinforcing the old identity.If you constantly tell yourself:“I’m weak”
“I’m out of shape.
“I’m not good enough. …you will continue to reinforce that reality. Your actions will reflect your identity.
Final Thoughts
You don’t become strong first and then feel strong. You begin by recognizing strength—and that recognition enables you to harness it. Feeling strong isn’t a result; it’s a gateway.And once you access it, everything changes.
4367 Woodman Ave, Sherman Oaks (Moorpark & Woodman)
12735 Ventura Blvd, Studio City (Ventura Blvd. & Coldwater Canyon)
