Learning

Strength Finding

Last week we all had to read “Strength Finders” and take a test online where you had to pick one phrase or the other depending on what you feel more stronger about. The test determines your top 5 strengths based on the answers. The test was given company wide and the results were compared within each group to see where our strengths lie. “From cradle to cubical we spend our lives we devote more time to fixing our shortcomings than to developing our strengths.”

strength finders image

The idea is building a team through strengths. One of the ideas in the book is if you spend your life trying to be good at everything you will never be good at anything. Society encourages us to be well rounded but this theory breeds mediocrucy – instead we should focus on what we are good at. My top five were:

communication: people with strong communication theme generally find it easy to put thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.

individualization: people strong in individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person, They have the gift of figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.

input: people strong in the input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information.

learner: people strong in the learner theme have a great desire to lean and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome excites them.

restorative: people strong in the restorative theme are adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it.

 

My oh my do we change

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A long time ago my “manfriend” told me you are going to change so much over the next 5 years. My 20 year old self thought he didn’t know what he was talking about – I am an extremely mature 20 year old. Oh boy oh boy was he right… the past 5 years have brought more than I ever could have possibly imagined… and I am better for it… I came across this passage of what Maya Angelou told Oprah she had learned by her 70th birthday…
  • I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
  • I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
  • I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.
  • I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life.’
  • I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
  • I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back…
  • I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
  • I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.
  • I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back…
  • I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn…
  • I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

look on the bright side

these are a few of the things I have learned:

  • different people should be held to different expectations in your life – this will prevent disappointment
  • time truly does heal all things
  • there are some people you cant change – which doesnt change how much you want to – but all you can do is support them
  • there are those few people in life you can 100% depend on
  • God gives the tough stuff to the people he think can handle it
  • there is nothing like the bond between family
  • men need to be loved – woman need to be wanted