Quiet Strength: The Power of a Gentle Response

Apr 17

By: Jessica Faith Graham

Published April 17, 2025

Have you ever noticed how true strength often shows up in the quietest ways?

In this post, I reflect on the power of Quiet Strength: staying grounded and calm—especially when life feels loud or overwhelming.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the kind of strength that doesn’t shout or demand attention—the kind that holds steady in the storm.

My mom used to be a teacher. You can see one of my favorite pictures of us from when I was younger. She once told me that when her classroom became loud or rowdy, she didn't raise her voice to quiet the class; instead, she grew quiet. With patience and a soft voice, she would gently ask them to take their seats.

She didn't raise her voice or compete with the class's noise level. She stayed calm and trusted they would align with her energy.

For anyone who has ever tried this method, it requires great strength and composure, especially in a room full of middle schoolers. She modeled the expected behavior. Sure enough, one observant student would start shushing the others and sit back down. Over time, the entire class would sit quietly, waiting to hear what she had to say.

I often ponder this. There are many times when I wish things could be different, whether personally, in relationships, within the community, or even more broadly in the political climate or global events. So what can we do when life feels loud or out of our control?
We know we can’t change others. And when we become loud or reactive, we often just add more noise to an already chaotic moment, which seldom alters the outcome. In relationships, if we insist on compliance or remain rigid and inflexible, we might achieve our goals but jeopardize the health of the relationship.

I believe this is where we remember that deep within us lies a quiet, patient inner strength that will guide us through tough times.

When I took a moment to do this exercise, I realized just how much I’ve grown. My life looks completely different than I once imagined. My journey has been full of unexpected twists, challenges, and lessons I never saw coming. And yet, despite it all, it’s beautiful in ways I never could have planned. Here’s how our conversation went.

Here are four ways I’ve learned to harness this quiet strength in my life:

1. Resilience

Remember, you are resilient. I believe this strength originates from a belief in ourselves and our ability to withstand challenges. I have faced many hardships in life. There were moments when I felt defeated and doubted I would rise again. But I have!

Reflecting on some of my toughest seasons in life, I have relied on family, friends, faith, my belief in God, and a strong self-care routine to help me get through it all.

2. Empathy

Being able to look at a situation from others' point of view has often helped me. There have been many times when I have not liked the actions of another person. However, I often realize they are operating in the only way they know how. It doesn’t excuse the hurt, but it helps me humanize their actions.

3. Kindness

Kindness—toward myself and others. I’ve said it a million times…I am kinder to others and myself when I control my reactions. This means that if I don’t explode like a bull in a china shop, I will feel better about the outcome. You get the point.

4. Optimism

Stay optimistic. Believe that you have the strength to walk through the rubble and reach the other side. You are still standing, and you will remain standing at the end of this.

Just like my mom’s quiet presence brought calm to her classroom, we too can choose to carry that kind of steady strength into the chaos around us. When you’re faced with a hard time or stressful situation, remember inside of you exists a strong, unwavering ability to get to the other side. Quiet strength isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom in action.

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