> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://go.strongenoughtobegentle.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://go.strongenoughtobegentle.com/principles/strong-enough-to-be-gentle.md). # Strong enough to be gentle What does it mean to be mentally strong? Here is a part of an interview where Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime in the Transformers movie discusses mental strength. He heard it from his brother, a marine: “If you’re going to be a hero Peter, be a real hero. … There was a seriousness in him. The way he talked…there was a smoothness in it.” “Be strong enough to be gentle. Be compassionate.” {% embed url="" %} Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime in the Transformers movie discusses the strong enough to be gentle concept {% endembed %} Similar to [Clear is kind, unclear is unkind](/principles/clear-is-kind-unclear-is-unkind.md) the Strong Enough to be Gentle concept has two aspects: 1. **Self:** Are you strong enough to be gentle to yourself? Do you enjoy what life has to offer? Is your self-talk (internal thinking) lifting yourself up or putting yourself down? Sometimes, people say things to themselves that they would never say to others, like "I'm not good enough" "I'm a failure" or "I suck". Would you say what you tell yourself to a friend? 2. **Others:** When you get in any situation, think: am I strong enough to be gentle? What does it look like? Another way to think about it - imagine you're playing with a puppy. The puppy is cute, small, cuddly, and excited. It runs all over the place, jumps around and wags at you. You are much stronger than the puppy, but you pick them gently, you play with them slowly and both enjoy the process. Imagine if you can extend the same gentleness, calm, and clarity of mind to yourself in situations that are stressful. Imagine if you can do it when others are stressed or upset. That's strong enough to be gentle. For me - super hard to achieve, for now. An example to set the bar high: B.A.C.A.: Bikers Against Child Abuse {% embed url="" %} B.A.C.A.: Bikers Against Child Abuse video {% endembed %} ## **🔧Tool: Strong Enough to Be Gentle** When you're in a loaded situation ask yourself: "Am I being strong enough to be gentle? To myself? To others? It's Ok if I'm not and I'd like to learn." --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://go.strongenoughtobegentle.com/principles/strong-enough-to-be-gentle.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.