Strong.

What is it that makes a person say I will make myself strong (invulnerable).

Once again it is fear.
Fear of being overpowered, fear of being bullied, fear of going under, fear of humiliation.....

During the 1980s it was notable that many men in the gay community practiced bodybuilding.
This was to make themselves strong.
They felt so threatened by AIDS and society's reaction to AIDS that they felt they had to be stronger mentally and physically.

This at first seems a kind of answer to life.
But this leads to power struggles and tests of strength which are counter-productive to our development.

The better response is to open our heart to those around us.

To do this we must overcome our fears.
Fear of strangers, fear of sickness, fear of commitment.....

And in doing this we develop our hearts and increase our capacity to love.
Even to love our enemies.

It is this Love which is the cause and the purpose of life.