Using Your Strengths to Support You in Unimaginable Ways!

Have you ever noticed that when you use your gifts, life seems less of a struggle?

“Live life with ease,” is my steady mantra.

Visualize yourself floating down a river, allow the current of nature to carry you. Relax your body, surrender and allow your mind to be carefree. Acknowledge the passing trees, rippling water, admire the flowers enjoy the landscape! This floating, this watching, is effortless and the effortlessness conserves your energy.

When at ease, energy flows abundantly like a river. Being comfortable is a strength. Implementing your Strengths can be gentle, smooth and effortless when you yield to them.

Can you recall a time when life became hard and you felt tired doing work outside your wheelhouse?

I recall being in the third grade having to write a school paper; oh, the dread. Dyslexia affected my spelling and words jumbled up in my head producing anxiety.

But thanks to my mom, she knew one of my strengths was my voice so she decided to record me as I recited what I wanted to write.

Voila! A story was born, without all the tears and self-doubt. Without a looming belief that “this is too hard!” We hit rewind a lot until we had the first draft! Keep in mind this was way before computers, Siri or Dragon software.

The story earned me an A. I not only survived the English assignment, but I excelled at it! My writing voice was unique and it finally took to paper. The hallmarks of good writing were there! Victory!

Connecting and partnering helped me overcome the writing adversity.

Dr. William Larkin states “Your weaknesses change very little over a lifetime, maybe 3-5%. Your strengths, however, are infinitely malleable. Shine the light on your weakness, and they will grow, shine ‘the light’ on what is positive about you and you will become ‘the light’.”

Are you ready to become the light? Then let’s discover your Strengths.

In the book Strength Finder 2.0, Tom Rath helps you identify your Top Five Strengths through an inventory of questions. The questionnaire only takes a few minutes.

We all have things we dislike doing. I have a client who procrastinates, avoids, ignores, and eventually feels overwhelmed. Yet, these unresolved issues create even more significant problems down the road. Insecurities I developed in grade school around writing took years to unwind.

Once the client learned ways to utilize his strengths, the anxiety subsided.

He found alternative ways to deal with pesky tasks and difficult conversations by calling up his strengths. He found new ways to deal with problems directly rather than dodging them by utilizing his strengths.

The results of my Strength Finder 2.0 Inventory nudged me to maximize my time and effectiveness through delegating. My Strengths are in the big picture arena: problem-solving, visionary thinking and creating. When I acknowledge I am better at the big picture than the small details, it becomes easier to give the details to someone else to work out - someone who excels at detail work.

Dealing with Conflict

Life is full of challenges! A significant challenge in all relationships is the inability to effectively cope with conflict. Avoidance is not the answer nor an option if you want to maintain healthy relationships!

How can you address conflict with less anxiety? Use your Strengths! For example, focus on your sense of humor, creativity, and empathy while approaching controversial topics if those are your Strengths.

Practice your way to success!

Keep your five strengths in a visible place (preferable one page or sticky notes). Put them on your computer screen, desk, refrigerator or wherever you know they will nudge your attention.

Recognizing, remembering and practicing your strengths every day is key to strengthening your gifts. Practice allows your strengths to be readily available. The old saying, “practice makes perfect” comes to mind…. Now, go play with your Strengths.

Here at Lutopia we offer practical applications that connect you with your strengths on a deeper level. We have virtual groups where you can match up with accountability partners and find a mentor. We offer breakout sessions and seminars to enhance your Strengths.

You are welcome to set up a complimentary 15-minute consultation regarding coaching for your Strengths?

Writing is my therapy! L

Authored by: Lucinda Shore