I don’t care how strong you are. I’m a strength coach, but how much you squat, bench, and deadlift really doesn’t matter that much. It’s because feeling strong matters so much more than being strong.

Lifting heavy things is a vehicle to feel stronger—one of my favorites. But it’s not the only one.

Instead of focusing solely on being strong every day, try focusing on feeling strong every day. It’s a game-changer. And you don’t have to set a new PR in the gym to do it. If you want, you can feel strong without weights, plates, bars, or bells.

Do something daily that makes you feel strong.

At the end of the day, feeling strong matters more than how much you can lift. And I want to dive into my favorite ways to feel strong every day.

4 Sure-Fire Ways to Start Feeling Strong(er)

1. Physically Feeling Strong

Get stronger and you’ll feel stronger. It’s that simple. But you don’t have to work at max loads or set new records to make it happen. Here’s a workout that made me feel strong:

I love Mondays. (Weird, right?) I'm all about hitting the ground running at the beginning of the week. With everything, but especially with training. Here was my workout today (warm up not shown): Deficit Deadlifts 3×4 Block Pulls 3×2 KB Complex: (I did five rounds with minimal rest.) – Row x 8 – Clean x 6 – Front squat x 4 – Push press x 2 Excuse me while I go eat all of the leftover brisket from last night.

A video posted by Ben Johnson (@_bentrained) on Aug 1, 2016 at 12:59pm PDT

Does yours have to be like that? Nope. Find what types of exercises make you feel physically stronger and crush your workout.

2. Spiritually Feeling Strong

Even if you’re not religious, you are spiritual. And your spirit—just like your body—needs nourishment. My favorite way to provide that is meditation. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a monk to reap amazing benefits.

It can help you clear your head, focus your thoughts, and create space between the mind and the stresses of life.

Something as simple as 10 minutes a day can make a huge difference. Try snagging an app like Headspace and start feeling spiritually stronger today.

3. Feeling Strong Connections

Connecting with people is one of my favorite things. Ever. Friends, family, the random girl ringing me up for froyo—it doesn’t matter who. I love connection. Feeling strong connections makes everything more meaningful and fulfilling. And connecting with people is simple:

Brighten somebody’s day.

Super easy, right? Hold the door open someone. Give a stranger a compliment. Smile at that person walking by. Text that friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Reach out to a family member to tell them how much you appreciate them. Do something—anything—to brighten somebody else’s day and you’ll inevitably invite stronger connections into your life.

4. Mentally Feeling Strong

When was the last time you exercised your mind? Most people know they should be physically active, but doing something outside of your daily routine to be mentally active matters too.

My favorite is reading.

But it hasn’t always been that way. I never used to read. (Like not even growing up. I didn’t start reading Harry Potter until after my 26th birthday.) When I finally started reading—after college—my life changed. Dramatically.

You can read anything. But if you’re looking for some book ideas, my friend, and fellow bibliophile, Tanner Baze, publishes a monthly reading romp. His latest list had some fantastic books.

Remember, I don’t care how strong you are. I really don’t. I care how strong you feel. And I want you to do something that makes you feel stronger every day.

Today, instead of focusing on being strong, focus on feeling strong.