You’re stronger than you think (and knowing your values help you prove it)

The other day, my son came off his bike. It didn’t look like a major accident at first, but he was in a lot of pain and couldn’t put weight on his leg. An hour later, still in tears, we found ourselves heading to Accident & Emergency.

When we arrived, I tried to help him walk to the entrance, his arm over my shoulder, but it was no good. He just couldn’t manage it. So — in the middle of the hospital car park — I decided to carry him.

Now, my son is half my body weight and rapidly catching up with me in height. He protested the entire time, telling me there was no way I could do it. And, if I’m honest, a month or two ago, I probably couldn’t have. But this summer, having recovered from a gnarly hip bursa issue, I’ve been working on my fitness and strength training, so I channelled my best squat technique, crouched down, and lifted him up.

As his legs wrapped around my waist, I carried him through the car park and up the ramp to the entrance.

He kept insisting, “Mum, you can’t do it!”

And I just said, “We’ll try and see. I’m stronger than you think.”

(You’ll be glad to know it wasn’t a fracture in the end — just a strained muscle and a battered ligament. He was well entertained by the X-ray experience and now has an excellent story to tell.)

So What Did This Teach Me?

Aside from the fact that my glutes have never been so grateful for all those squats, it reminded me of something powerful:

👉 We are so often stronger than we think.

It’s not just about physical strength. It’s about resilience, problem-solving, finding courage when the people we love need us, or stepping up when life throws curveballs. Of course, developing the right skills helps too. Bravado and belief alone is rarely enough to create success.

And often, the key to accessing that hidden strength is having the right motivation.

For me, in that moment, it wasn’t about testing my fitness or not embarrassing or injuring myself in the gym. It was about helping my son. That purpose overrode my doubts and pushed me to try something I normally wouldn’t have believed possible.

This is why I’m such a big believer in knowing your values and what gives you energy. When you’re clear on what matters most to you — family, health, growth, connection, purpose — it becomes your fuel. It gives you the “why” that helps you push through challenges, big or small.

When your actions are aligned with your values, you’ll surprise yourself with what you can achieve.

So next time you’re doubting whether you’re strong enough — physically, mentally, or emotionally — remember:

✅ You probably are.

✅ The right motivation can unlock strength you never knew you had.

✅ And you, too, are stronger than you think.