Persons living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) experience strengths not only despite, but also because of their illness. However, these strengths are underrepresented in the research literature. Inner strength is one such example of a strengths-based phenomenon that has not yet been characterized in persons with MCI. Inner strength is one’s internal process of moving through challenging circumstances. This dissertation study used realist, qualitative methodology to explore the experiences of inner strength in persons newly diagnosed with MCI and describe the impact of family care partners and external factors on those experiences. Results from nine dyadic interviews demonstrated that experiences of inner strength in persons newly diagnosed with MCI were explained by three themes, Me with MCI, Vacillating Between Seeking Relief and Dwelling in It, and You Get Through It. The role of family care partners in supporting inner strength was explained by three themes, Me as an MCI Care Partner, Redistributed Self, and Reciprocal Family Support as a Source of Strength. Finally, two themes Comprehensive Strengths-Based Care, and Fear and Stigma Impact Sociocultural Community explained the role of external factors in supporting inner strength. The findings of this dissertation confirmed and expanded the guiding conceptual framework for persons with MCI. Key takeaways were that inner strength was impacted by cognitive impairment, therefore people newly diagnosed with MCI needed support in identifying their inner strengths. Second, family care partners reinforced their loved one’s inner strength but needed support themselves. Third, healthcare systems did not identify strengths of participants with MCI and participants made suggestions for improvement. Fourth, social integration was important for inner strength but negatively impacted by stigma and fear. This study was limited by the homogenous sample. However, there were important implications for designing strengths-based interventions and identifying representative research methods for persons with MCI. Future research should focus on expanding the sample, adapting measures of inner strength, and developing strengths-based interventions.