Are you so bent on self-improvement that you forget about the parts that are already improved? I know I do. If we are going to be truly honest with ourselves, we must put both our weaknesses under the microscope, as well as our strengths.
Sounds easy enough? Well, where do you excel the most? Are you utilizing these strengths at work? At home?
As I began to wrestle with these questions, I realized I knew less about what I was good at, then where I was lousy. Weird. You would think knowing what you are talented at, and then building upon those talents would be as simple and straightforward as a chef baking a pie. But how many of us must give ourselves permission to be truly talented at something? We spend so much time trying to bring that “D” up in math, we forget about the “A” in English.
“Each person’s greatest room for growth is in the areas of the person’s greatest strength” (Marcus Buckingham).
We must extend credit to ourselves where credit is due, than take time to build on those talents. It is in those places where we already feel the most apt, that we will actually approve upon the most and be able to make the biggest contributions. It is also in those places where your actions will make you feel the most alive. Instead of consistently beating ourselves up for where we fall short, what if we consistently built upon a strong foundation laying right in front of us.
“Building on your strengths isn’t necessarily about ego. It is about responsibility” (Marcus Buckingham).
Growing up in a Christian subculture where there is much more emphasis placed on being sufficiently cloaked in humility, it is hard to train myself that it is all right to build on my strengths. I think many Christians, myself included, immerse ourselves in a false-humility where we feel like we should never feel too good about ourselves, lest we be judged.
God has made me very specifically though, with distinct strengths and talents. Therefore, by failing to build on what he has given, am I not then failing to worship him by best utilizing his design?
Only by operating out of authentic personal being will I be able to offer sustaining, nourishing substance to others, as well as myself.
So what are my strengths? What are your strengths?
Be honest with yourself – the bad as well as the good. It’s freeing.
2 Comments
Paul, so well stated…”Growing up in a Christian subculture where there is much more emphasis placed on being sufficiently cloaked in humility, it is hard to train myself that it is all right to build on my strengths.” Thank you! Have you read/heard of the book Strengths Finder? It’s great at identifying the very thing you mention.
@Michelle – Thanks Michelle. Yes I have read and taken the Strengths Finder. It’s a great tool that has helped me clarify more of who I am and why. Did it do the same for you?