The Truth About Strengths & Weaknesses part 2
The second way we mistakenly deal with weaknesses is:
Pretending the weakness isn’t really there.
This has long been the misunderstanding of those who want to put a positive face of our weaknesses. If we pretend our weaknesses do not exist they will not be a problem for us. We try to motivate people to “conquer” their weaknesses, to “overcome” them and to refuse to have limits. Remember that limits are not negative thing when you see the power of strengths. A river with no banks is just a swamp.
I want to look at three myths that we have all heard and many times believe. I know that I have told people these same things many times. It was not till I began to understand what strengths really were that I was able to accept the banks I have and become a river flowing with more power than I thought possible.
Myth One: You must have balance.
We have been told that to be successful you must have balance. All areas of life need to be in the right place and the right time. A balanced person knows how to work, rest, learn and grow all at the same time. We struggle to see that we are not extreme in any area of life.
Here is the truth; do you know what happens when something is in perfect balance?
_____
∆
Absolutely nothing! All movement stops and there is nothing happening. We need to be able to get off balance so we can have movement, we can grow and develop as a person. Let’s face it; some people are very active by nature. They get a lot done and still look for more. It is their strength, and yet people are telling them to hold back and do not do so much. After all they need balance.
Myth Two: We should be well rounded.
This is the idea that a successful person knows a bit about everything. They have a part of them that is a reader, part a worker, part a learner, part in the arts, part in ministry, and part in health and so on. These people are not well rounded they are worn out.
Being well rounded is good if you are a pumpkin, but for a person we will by nature excel in a few areas, not in all. Best to be great at a few things than mediocre at a lot. This is why we need each other, I do not have to be good at everything, I have you to be good at what you do, and the next guy to have his strengths. Together we fill the whole round picture.
Myth Three: You can do anything if you try.
This, of all the myths out there (I am talking about three but there are hundreds) is the most damaging to people. Please listen and understand this. You can do whatever you were created to do, what your talents and strengths are, but you cannot do anything. At least, you can not do it the way everyone else does.
You are a unique person with your own learning style and abilities. Just because someone else had success in an area does not mean you will by doing the same thing. Best example, diets.
Let me ask you this, how many diets work? Answer: all of them. They just do not work for all people. You need to find the one and style that works for you.
As I quoted Marcus Buckingham in part one, “…you are the greatest teacher about you and your strengths.” Discover what you are strong at and where your talents are then celebrate that strength. Work at it and become great at it. Yes, you need to manage your weaknesses and build them where you can, but do not think they will be the thing that puts you over the top. That will be your strengths. Once you find what you do best you can do great things. Ask yourself the question Jim Collins presents in his book, Good to Great, what can you do better than anyone else in the world? The answer may surprise you – or maybe not so surprising. You were after all created for greatness. I believe in you.
Pretending the weakness isn’t really there.
This has long been the misunderstanding of those who want to put a positive face of our weaknesses. If we pretend our weaknesses do not exist they will not be a problem for us. We try to motivate people to “conquer” their weaknesses, to “overcome” them and to refuse to have limits. Remember that limits are not negative thing when you see the power of strengths. A river with no banks is just a swamp.
I want to look at three myths that we have all heard and many times believe. I know that I have told people these same things many times. It was not till I began to understand what strengths really were that I was able to accept the banks I have and become a river flowing with more power than I thought possible.
Myth One: You must have balance.
We have been told that to be successful you must have balance. All areas of life need to be in the right place and the right time. A balanced person knows how to work, rest, learn and grow all at the same time. We struggle to see that we are not extreme in any area of life.
Here is the truth; do you know what happens when something is in perfect balance?
_____
∆
Absolutely nothing! All movement stops and there is nothing happening. We need to be able to get off balance so we can have movement, we can grow and develop as a person. Let’s face it; some people are very active by nature. They get a lot done and still look for more. It is their strength, and yet people are telling them to hold back and do not do so much. After all they need balance.
Myth Two: We should be well rounded.
This is the idea that a successful person knows a bit about everything. They have a part of them that is a reader, part a worker, part a learner, part in the arts, part in ministry, and part in health and so on. These people are not well rounded they are worn out.
Being well rounded is good if you are a pumpkin, but for a person we will by nature excel in a few areas, not in all. Best to be great at a few things than mediocre at a lot. This is why we need each other, I do not have to be good at everything, I have you to be good at what you do, and the next guy to have his strengths. Together we fill the whole round picture.
Myth Three: You can do anything if you try.
This, of all the myths out there (I am talking about three but there are hundreds) is the most damaging to people. Please listen and understand this. You can do whatever you were created to do, what your talents and strengths are, but you cannot do anything. At least, you can not do it the way everyone else does.
You are a unique person with your own learning style and abilities. Just because someone else had success in an area does not mean you will by doing the same thing. Best example, diets.
Let me ask you this, how many diets work? Answer: all of them. They just do not work for all people. You need to find the one and style that works for you.
As I quoted Marcus Buckingham in part one, “…you are the greatest teacher about you and your strengths.” Discover what you are strong at and where your talents are then celebrate that strength. Work at it and become great at it. Yes, you need to manage your weaknesses and build them where you can, but do not think they will be the thing that puts you over the top. That will be your strengths. Once you find what you do best you can do great things. Ask yourself the question Jim Collins presents in his book, Good to Great, what can you do better than anyone else in the world? The answer may surprise you – or maybe not so surprising. You were after all created for greatness. I believe in you.
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