I think the inner strength that I have helps me stay calm.

The cricketer Vijay Shankar, tested in the crucible of sport and expectation, once declared: “I think the inner strength that I have helps me stay calm.” In this brief but profound reflection lies a truth as ancient as the mountains: that true mastery is not found in outward power, but in the inner strength that steadies the heart when storms rage. Calmness in the face of pressure is not weakness; it is the highest expression of control, the mark of one who has conquered himself.

To speak of inner strength is to speak of that invisible fortress within each soul. It is not built in a single day, nor is it given as a gift. It is forged through trial, discipline, and endurance. It grows when we suffer loss but rise again, when we stumble yet refuse to surrender, when we labor quietly in the shadows long before the light of victory shines upon us. This hidden strength is what allows the mind to remain unshaken when others tremble. It is the anchor of the spirit, keeping one steady amid the crashing waves of life.

And what does this strength yield? It yields calmness. In the game of cricket, as in life, moments of great pressure can cloud judgment and ignite panic. The one who has cultivated inner strength does not allow emotion to master reason. He breathes deeply, stands firm, and acts with clarity while others are consumed by haste. This calmness is not indifference, but supreme focus. It is the eye of the storm, where peace reigns though chaos swirls all around.

History offers us a shining example in Mahatma Gandhi. Surrounded by the might of empire, facing imprisonment and violence, he did not rage or despair. His inner strength allowed him to remain calm, to speak with quiet conviction, and to lead a movement not with the sword, but with the steady power of nonviolence. The world, astonished by such composure, found in him a force stronger than armies. His life proves that calmness is not passivity, but the highest form of power.

Vijay Shankar’s words remind us that inner strength must be cultivated if we are to endure life’s tests. The athlete faces the roar of the crowd, the pressure of expectation, and the agony of failure. The ordinary person faces the trials of work, relationships, and the burdens of daily living. In both, the truth is the same: without inner strength, we are tossed like leaves in the wind; with it, we stand like oaks, rooted and unmoved.

The lesson is clear: do not seek only to build muscles of the body or wealth of the hand. Build also the muscles of the spirit. Strengthen patience, discipline your mind, and train your heart to endure hardship. For in times of pressure, it is not riches or titles that will save you, but the calmness born of inner strength.

Practical wisdom follows: each day, practice silence for a moment. Breathe deeply when anger rises. Reflect upon your struggles not with despair, but with gratitude for the strength they build in you. When chaos comes, remind yourself: “I have weathered storms before; I will weather this one too.” Such practices weave calmness into the very fabric of your being.

So remember, O listener, the words of Vijay Shankar: “The inner strength that I have helps me stay calm.” Let them guide you to cultivate the hidden fortress of your soul. For calmness in the storm is the mark of true power, and the one who holds peace within cannot be defeated by the tumult of the world without.