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Focusing On Our Strengths As Women
We need to develop ways of increasing our self-esteem, so that we are able to fulfill our own potential that we can give of our best to those people in our lives. We owe this to ourselves and to those around us and today we will discuss one of these techniques, namely the importance of recognizing and utilizing our strengths.
Strengths can be defined on two levels. On a rudimentary level, we have physical strengths. These may include being a patient and encouraging mum, being able to bring the best out in those around us, running a successful business or making the finest bolognaise our friends and family have ever tasted. The second, a more sophisticated strength, has to do with behaviours, thoughts and feelings. These are based on our motives and drives, such as courage, persistence, pride, enthusiasm or being a powerful persuader.
The following pointers are a good guide to become more self–aware which will enable us to recognize our strengths:
Listen to yearnings - Look within and find out what we yearn for. We could ask ourselves, “What are we attracted to doing?”
Watch for satisfactions - The emotional and psychological rewards, for example pride, are huge. “Does it feel good?” Watch for rapid learning - We pick up new information and competencies quickly. “In what way could we continue to learn even more?” We perform it with excellence. It comes naturally and we constantly improving. “How can we peak our performance?” We are filled with an innate passion and enjoy doing what we are brilliant at. We know we do it well and others applaud us. We experience a “Flow state”. We do it with ease. There are no conscious steps in our mind we are following. It is automatic and we are at one with the activity. We have no cognisance of time. If we think of doing something we love and are good at… Doesn’t time fly? Due to the deep satisfaction we feel, we have a desire to want to repeat those things we do well at.
So, when we are able to acknowledge our strengths, we will not only experience more joy in our lives but we will also be maximizing our productivity resulting in outstanding successes.
To conclude, think of three strengths that you would like to be more aware of. Consciously bring this awareness into your daily activities and see how, by focusing on these strengths, you are able to transform the way you think and feel about yourself. Then watch if there is a positive consequence in all the areas of your life! We are all unique and we must learn to utilize our strengths to enhance who WE are. It does not serve us to be attempting to endeavour to lead fulfilling lives by trying to do things we do not have a natural inclination towards. After all, this would be the same as trying to teach pigs to fly or fitting a square peg in a round hole! What a fruitless and frustrating exercise this would be.
Lastly, actively recognize the strengths and successes in those around you and give them a “pat on their back”. This gesture will increase the opportunities for them to compliment you, which in turn enhances your self-esteem. This uplifting cycle has another added bonus of building positive rapport between you. Further more, highlighting each others strengths and achievements improves troubled relationships. A small compliment goes a long way.
Source of article - Chantaul Jordan is the Director of Expressions - www.expressions.co.za .
She facilitates “Action Success”, a programme that enhances Emotional Intelligence,
as well as Speechmaster – Presentation Skills and Personal Development.
She can be contacted on 083 264 5036 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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