Are You Wondering if You Are Living in Your Strengths?

If you are effectively living in your strengths then chances are you are happy. If you are living in areas in which you are weak, and perhaps wondering what on earth your strengths are, then you could definitely find more happiness by finding out your strengths. When you are clear what your strengths are, then you can figure out how to use them. When are using your strengths constructively every day, you will find more satisfaction with yourself and with your life. Let’s look at the first step, how to find out your strengths.

An easy way to figure out your strengths is to take the Gallup’s StrengthsFinder. The StrengthsFinder can be accessed online by purchasing the book Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham & Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D. A unique code allows you access to the StrengthsFinder assessment. After taking the assessment, you will be given your top five strengths. While there are other ways to determine your strengths, this is an effective, focused, straightforward way.

Once people get their strengths, they sometimes dismiss them because their strengths seem so obvious to them. The situation is almost like our health. When we have it, we are fine. It is only when we lose our heath that it becomes a concern. If you have your strengths and are living in them, you are fine. Now you have words to describe who you are. Once you have your strengths, you now can sit with them to more fully understand who you are.

Once you more fully understand who you are, you can figure out how to live your life to suit you. A great example of living his strengths in the short term is Alex, my 18-year-old step son, who just returned from a convention in Anaheim. He is very strategic. He used that strength to plan each day at Disneyland. This strategy included having two time-stamped and time-limited fast passes for working the lines on different rides. He also went on all of his preselected choices at least once. He was definitely the leader of his group of Disneyland attendees.

A long term example is a few years ago, when a client of mine was hired for all of his strengths. However, over time he grew uneasy about his work. It turns out that through reorganizations and new bosses, his job had morphed away from his strengths. What to do? Go back and figure out how to use more of his strengths. The process of just coming to the conclusion of looking to use more of his strengths brought relief.

What does this mean for you? If you are looking for greater satisfaction and more happiness, look to your strengths. When you are living in your strengths, you will find yourself resonating with life. You may even be delighted by how much fun it is to do something and notice how long you enjoy being involved. It is then you will understand the importance of living in your strengths.