Sometimes life hands you lemons. Other times it hands you your favorite birthday cake. Yesterday, I got the cake.
Yesterday’s challenge was to focus on the words we use and how changing a question can change our perspective. For anyone who uses Microsoft Outlook, yesterday provided a wonderful opportunity to practice. I had the day off but wanted to get a few things done. When Outlook stopped working, I got irritated. Then I learned Microsoft was having problems around the world, and there wasn’t much I could do about it. So I asked myself yesterday’s question: “What’s good today?” Well, I had the day off, and now I really had the day off. Problem solved. It’s interesting how much we let technology control our lives.
Today’s challenge is about appreciating your strengths and talents. If you’ve ever been in a job interview, you’ve probably been asked to identify your greatest strengths. For many of us, that’s a surprisingly difficult question. Self-reflection is hard, and self-promotion can be even harder. I’m not suggesting you need to strut around like a peacock, but there’s nothing wrong with recognizing what you’re good at and being grateful for those abilities. Maybe you’re a good listener, a problem solver, a teacher, or someone who makes other people laugh. We spend plenty of time thinking about our shortcomings. Today, spend a little time appreciating your strengths.
But here’s the second part of today’s challenge. Ask someone who knows you well what they believe your greatest strengths are. It might be your spouse, a friend, a family member, or a coworker. Don’t argue with their answers or brush off the compliments. Just listen. You might discover that the qualities others appreciate most about you are things you’ve always taken for granted. And while you’re at it, consider how you might use those strengths to make someone else’s life a little better.
Tonight, take a few minutes to journal about your strengths and talents. What makes you uniquely you? How did your list compare with what someone else told you? Were there any surprises? And how might you use those strengths to help others?
