Focus on Your Strengths, Not Your Weaknesses

Focus on StrengthsI think this is something with which all of us struggle. We tend to think about and work on our weaknesses more than on our strengths!

Think about it! If someone came up to you right now and said: “tell me what your strengths are.” You’d probably struggle to come up with more than just a few pat answers like “I’m kind, I’m loving, I have a good sense of humor, I’m especially good at expectorating! ” Right?

However, if that same person said “tell me your weaknesses,” you can probably rattle off a pretty long list of substantial things, like “I struggle with self-esteem, I’m not good a math, I’m afraid of failing, I worry too much about what other people think of me,” and the list can go on.

We can easily list our weaknesses because we’ve been taught to identify the weaknesses in our lives so we can try to improve them. I’m not saying we shouldn’t try to improve our weaknesses. I’m just saying it’s an inappropriate focus.

We tend to focus on the negative things in our lives, rather than on the positive. How many times did you come home from school with several good grades and one or two bad grades on your report card? What got the most attention? I bet you remember the criticisms more than the praises!

It is, however, important to remember that sometimes a bad grade can be the result of not being able to dedicate enough time to write to the best of your ability.

A friend of mine has a son who is in college and he always used to struggle to balance his studies with extracurricular activities. Nowadays though there are some useful resources out there such as collegepaperworld.com that can provide help and support with academic writing.

Since getting help with some of his work his entire outlook on studying has changed and he has managed to start getting the grades he needs to progress. So, if you, or your child, are currently struggling to get a paper, essay, or report written on time, you might want to check out the College Paper World website to learn more.

The better approach to our lives is to know what we are good at and to strengthen our strengths. In other words, know what you know, and know what you don’t know. Spend more time doing things and getting better at the things you know and let other people handle the things you don’t know or aren’t good at.

I don’t need to be good at accounting–I can hire an accountant. Maybe I can even look for a professional who does accounting near me! With their knowledge and experience, they might be able to help me with bookkeeping, auditing, tax filing, and other finance related tasks. I rather focus on something that I am good at and leave the rest to competent hands!

I know I’m not a good golf player, so I don’t spend hours a week trying to become one! Saying that though, I know a few people who use launch monitors, for example, as this allows you to track your golf ball. In that sense, improving skills in golf is important for some people, especially if they are passionate about it. Instead, I enjoy getting my golf fix by playing fantasy golf matches on the likes of FanDuel and other fantast sport gambling platforms, negating the need to be good at golf, but instead having as much knowledge as possible will do you far better when playing fantasy sports. Pick your strengths.

I know I’m a good writer, so I work on trying to become a better writer. I know I’m good at encouraging other people to become better, so I try to do that more intentionally. I know I’m a good father, so I spend more energy trying to become better in that area of my life.

I’ve found that as I focus my energy on the positive things in my life, internally and externally, the negative things, somehow, become less negative or, at least, less important.

So my advice to you and to myself, every day, is to know what you know; know what you are good at; know your strengths; know what makes you great (and everyone is great at something!) and focus your energy on those things. Look for the positive in yourself and in others and you’ll probably find it!

17 thoughts on “Focus on Your Strengths, Not Your Weaknesses

  1. Stephen Jones

    Hello Bruce – I found you on Twitter, and are now following you. I remember the first and only marathon I ran and did actually complete (in a little over 3 and half hours … whew!), which was the First Annual Heart of San Diego Marathon. I developed shin splints so severe, I never ran again. I tried to run again, but time and time again, the pain would return, and after a year I gave up trying and went on to other interests. Hey, it is what it is, and I have no regrets. Now I am 56, have gone through some up and downs with diabetes and blood clots, but I’ve conquered them because of positive thinking, persistence, and the discipline I earned from 6 years of military service. If we never give up, we can accomplish amazing things. Life is our journey, and we’re each on our own.

    All the best to you mate!

    1. Bruce Post author

      Stephen, thanks for the comment. I’m sorry to hear about your shin splints–I know first hand how painful those are! Keep up the good fight and keep accomplishing amazing things. Blessings!

  2. Elder Shawn Briscoe

    You have taken me back to the beginning; when I used to write on index cards and post them in my vision of sight so that I will be reminded of who I want be for the LORD. After reading your words of encouragement all day today on twitter. I’m feeling strengthened and motivated. I believe that I have found a true friend on twitter in you. I too love to encourage and motive people especially confirming in them who the LORD GOD has created them to be. I hope that you have some great motivators in your life who make themselves available via social medias; books; tapes/podcast; mp3; dvd/cds. We need to be ever encouraged and motivated just as much as we encourage and motivate others; maybe more.

    1. Bruce Post author

      Thank you Shawn! Yes, I am constantly surrounded and influenced by great people–constantly reading to stay motivated. I’m glad you consider me a friend and find my writing motivating–that’s why I’m here! Blessings on all you do!

  3. josh

    The whole idea of strengthening your weaknesses is learned during schooling and to a certain degree it is incongruous with the way life works. You hire people for what they are good at doing. I am all for self improvement and life long learning, but you really have to focus on your core strengths because otherwise you just become mediocre at everything.

    1. Bruce Post author

      Thanks, Josh! I’m currently reading The One Thing by Jay Papasan, which is all about focusing on one thing at time. Highly recommend it!

  4. Jonathan

    I shifted my paradigm to strengths based living after completing Gallups strengths finder program. What an amazing way to view the world. In fact I’ve used it in my business working within management teams and family owned businesses. Actually applied it to my whole family; parents and siblings and spouses with a 3rd party certified ‘instructor’; that changed our family dynamics. Enjoyed that experience so much that I partnered with that instructor to start a business. Knowing and enhancing our strengths allows us to follow our true north and live as God designed us.

  5. FI Journey

    I absolutely agree, thanks for the reminder. It’s good to take a look at my life from time to time and evaluate where I’m spending too much time worrying about weaknesses. Good perspective!

  6. Alanson Van Fleet

    Staying focused on strengths and positive emotions, to outweigh the negative, is key to high performance as a leader … and as a champion. Championship lessons for mindful #leaders. Thanks!

  7. Abdullah Kuloglu

    Your focusing on positive knowledge and motivating issues are highly benefical for me your other followers and readers.I will try to benefit from your writings next days.Thanks.

  8. Ian Knabel

    Thanks for linking back to this oldie but goodie. I really believe the the very core of your message is so powerful and can and will benefit so many people. Our brains (or mine at least) seem to naturally have a way of drifting to the bad, to the negative, to the depressing side of our lives if we don’t plot a very direct route and then work really hard to stay on track.

    Your writing, podcast, tweets etc are making it easier for me to stay on track.

    I thank you for everything you do and a massive congrats on the success of the podcast! I’m in the car for a while today and catching up on some episodes

    Keep rockin it Bruce

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