Do you have shortcomings? Want to play further to your strengths? Where should you start? And what can you do?
Below are 7 ways to help you work on your shortcomings and play further to your strengths. Whether you may be overly sensitive, too frustrated, too argumentative, just too lazy, or something else, you can improve using this type of strategy:
1. Think of 2 or 3 aspects of yourself that you want to work on, both shortcomings and strengths.
By jotting down your thoughts or having a conversation with a friend or loved one, you can begin to think of areas you would like to improve upon. Consider traits or habits that you might not be satisfied with or that you feel are keeping you from success. Record your strengths, too. Write this down somewhere.
2. Begin to suggest how or why you developed the unsatisfying traits or habits.
It might be simply that you’ve always been this way, or it might be because you recently lost a loved one or encountered a tough circumstance. Beginning to frame the reasons for unsatisfying traits or habits will give you a deeper understanding of yourself and help you envision a direction for change.
For strengths, remind yourself of all the times you’ve applied your strengths. Try and see what other avenues you could take to continue and hone these strong suits.
3. Remind yourself that there’s room for improvement and growth, while accepting that you face a difficulty.
Let’s say you are too critical of others, and that dampens your relationships. In order to work on this less satisfying trait, it is a good idea to tell yourself you can tweak your trait, while accepting that it might be hard for you.
4. Brainstorm ways to work on each shortcoming or regularly hone your strengths further.
Let’s stick with being overly critical. You can begin to be less critical of others by brainstorming ways to be more open and understanding. Jot these down and try to make them fun and creative. Remember to keep with your vision of change, as mentioned in step two.
For strengths, think of new projects or opportunities that will help you routinely hone your skill or talent. Start by taking one or two of these on.
5. Repeat steps or ways to replace the old trait or habit. For furthering strengths, make efforts to routinely apply your skill or talent.
When you set out to change a shortcoming, you’ll likely face difficulty. Repeating the steps or ways you’ve thought of can help you build courage to work on your shortcomings. Soon, with training, you can begin to feel the old habits sliding away and your use of the newly desired trait settling in. It might take more effort to be less critical, for example, but over time and with practice it should be easier.
With strengths, you’ll see the returns perhaps sooner, depending on how routinely you apply your efforts.
Keep working hard and look for motivation from those who know you best.
6. Be easy on yourself.
We all deserve more self-love. It can be easy to get caught up in dissatisfaction, and even frustration, with aspects you don’t find fulfilling about yourself. As Oprah said, however, “Nobody’s journey is seamless or smooth. We all stumble. We all have setbacks. It’s just life’s way of saying, time to change course.” Remembering that each person’s journey is difficult for them should give you the strength and perspective to promote self-compassion during your own journey.
It takes time to see results, whether you’re on a diet, looking to lose weight or build muscle, or what have you. In this case, being easy going but determined and focused will help you reach your goals.
7. Playing to your strengths can help you go far. Working on your shortcomings will help you tackle personal development, leaving you more satisfied.
Instead of concerning yourself with the success or strengths of others, focusing and building your own strengths can help you go far. Harness the power of what makes you feel good, what lets you shine. This will make your shortcomings feel more trivial, perhaps even more trivial than by actively working on them alone. While harnessing your own peak talents and traits, and while working to change your shortcomings, you can hopefully gain peak satisfaction.
Try these tips and hopefully soon you find and harness your power to feel great about yourself and feel successful!
The original version of this article, written by the author, was published on The Huffington Post Contributor’s platform.
Source/Credit for Photo Above: https://www.truity.com/personality-type/INFJ/relationships