If I were to ask you to name your strengths, could you do it?
Years ago, if you would have asked me to do the same, I would have hemmmmmed and hawwwwed around and would have been speechless. Then I would have proceeded to give you a list of all my weaknesses. Can you relate? Ooooh, I knew them well.
We all focus on our weaknesses. We try to strengthen our weakness. We let our weaknesses tell us we can’t do something and feel inferior. Our weaknesses hinder us from stepping into our purpose.
But what if, just what if, we only focused on our strengths? What if we worked on strengthening our strengths and becoming better at them? What if we recognized those strengths and realized they are so important to our purpose?
My life changed when I read Now, Discover Your Strengths. You have got to get this book or any in the StrengthsFinder series. The newest one out is StrengthsFinder 2.0. Each book comes with a test that will reveal your strengths. This information is invaluable! Let me just say this, your strengths are your strengths. I’ve read every book and taken every test and guess what…..my strengths are still the same.
Note: Buy a new book. The book has a code you will need to take a computerized test. The timed test takes about 20 or so minutes. Make sure you have some quiet time to complete it. (I read the beginning of the book until it tells you to test, then take the test. After that the test will reveal your top 5 strengths, then I only read about those. These books give invaluable information about your strengths. If you get the StrengthsFinder 2.0 it will also send you an email with information about your strengths.)
I can’t express enough how this revelation changed my life. First, I was floored that the test was so accurate. Second, I was excited to know I had strengths. (silly, I know!) And third, I was amazed that what I thought were weaknesses in my life were actually strengths; I was just looking at them wrong.
Knowing those strengths has helped me realize that I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139) with strengths and weaknesses. And when I focus on those strengths and move toward areas where I can use them more freely then I know I’m living more on-purpose.
Are you ready to know your strengths?
Get the book, take the test, and then let me know your top 5 strengths.
Oh this so goes along with the talk I did on Saturday. Thanks for sharing. My talk went really well. I added a few more things to it. I posted the talk on my blog. I read a book by Joyce Meyer recently about this same thing. About focusing on the things you do the best and not getting bogged down with things you know you won't ever be that great at. I am going to get this book.
Blessings,
Janice
This book helped me to focus on my strengths and not my weakness.
Like you, I tried sooo hard to improve my weakness, to the point of almost giving up in the leadership that I was placed in.
this is a must read and do!
love~Tammy
I LOVE this comment, "Our weaknesses hinder us from stepping into our purpose." So, so true. Thank you for this post (and for your comment on my blog which guided me to yours). I'm going straight to Amazon after posting this comment to purchase StrengthFinder 2.0. I look forward to reading more in your series!
Thanks – our strengths are so overlooked. Think about it . . . why is it so easy to focus on those weaknesses???
Deb – can't wait to hear your feedback from StengthFinder 2.0. Get ready for life change.