Have anyone asked you what your strengths are? Then, what was your answer? Do you make things up about something you don’t even really know about? Or do you really know your strengths?
Even when you go for the interview and the interviewer asks that one famous question, “what are your strengths?” You keep blabbering on and on about something that might make you look cool in front of the interviewers. Even it doesn’t really make sense to you. But it doesn’t matter. As long as you get the job. Right?
After the times passed, you surely realize that the strength you talk about is not your strength. The job you got is not something that excites you, and even worse, you are not even interested in that.
But, in your mind, as long as you get paid regularly, it is enough for you. And no, there is nothing wrong with it!
There are so many people out there that tend to put so much value on comfort zones. Which is convenient, predictable, and doesn’t require so much effort for them.
That will be the ultimate goal that many people go after. But then again, try to think; is there anyone who likes anxiety, discomfort, pain, stress, etc.? Is anyone crazy enough to suffer from this to get where they want?
These things are usually considered bad things for many people, and many will want to stay away from them at all costs. But for the successful people, it is their training pitch to get the best out of them.
If there is nothing like these things, can you know what your strengths are? Can you become a stronger person? And more importantly, can you become a successful person?
“Sometimes You Have To Get Knocked Down Lower Than You Have Ever Been To Stand Back Up Taller Than You Ever Were.”
– Anonymous
“The Strongest People Are Not Those Who Show Strength In Front Of Us, But Those Who Win Battles We Know Nothing About.”
– Jonathan Harnisch
But how do I know what my strengths are? As I said before, these questions mess with many people’s minds. So, What are your strengths? And how to know your strength? Let’s explore it.
How to know your strength?
1. Don’t be afraid to try new things
The first step to knowing where your strength lies is to give you a chance to try new things. Be fearless, and don’t be afraid of it! If you wait until the feeling disappears, you might be waiting forever.
Just try it! Maybe the ‘new’ things are where your strength lies. I cannot guarantee it 100 percent. But, as long as you try, it’s worth it. Trust me, only by trying comes realizing.
“You will have to experiment and try things out for yourself, and you will not be sure of what you are doing. That’s alright; you are feeling your way into the thing.”
– Emily Carr
“Life is worthwhile if you try. It doesn’t mean you can do everything, but there are a lot of things you can do if you try.”
– Jim Rohn
2. Things that most people complimented you with
Listen from other people. This is the easiest method of how you get to know what your strengths are. Because sometimes, we don’t realize what we are good at until somebody tells us. Or maybe you have already noticed, but you don’t have confidence enough to talk about it.
That’s why you need someone to push for you or confirm that this is a strength that you possess, that this is what you specialize in, and that this is your right path.
You might be asking, what if I never got complimented on anything? If this happens, you can try to seek advice from someone close to you; what do they think of you? What is your greatest strength? Then, try to think whether the compliment matches reality or not.
But, please bear in mind that not all the compliments are genuine. Sometimes your haters can praise you for the wrong things to see you fall. That’s why you should ask your real friends and supporters. Ask your true friends, or mentor. Then you’ll know your strengths.
“Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”
– Muhammad Ali
“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”
– Oprah Winfrey
3. Do something that you love
Thinking on things you love to do might be the way to know your strengths. Your interest might be your strength. And for some people, they use this strengths as the source of living.
Can you imagine doing something you love for the rest of your life? Something that makes your life exciting even more! What would you do if you were given a chance to do that? Surely you will go and fight for it!
But then, not everyone has opportunities to do that, right? Most of the time, ordinary people like us will be given choices. Whether to have a hard, rough, and thorny road by doing something you love. Or play it safe by an easy, smooth and boring path even though it is something you’re not even interested in.
As I said, people will most of the time choose something more convenient for them. But a life with a smooth and unpaved road without ups and downs will never make you stronger. You will become more fragile and shattered when the storm comes.
Thus, your daily life will never be the same if you do something you love and are passionate about. It will only become more and more interesting each day.
If you’re worried about the storm hits, you have to trust yourself by resisting and enduring them. Along with time, you’ll become stronger. And maybe in one fine day, you’ll be talking about it in front of millions of people and inspiring them.
“If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.”
– Roy T. Bennett
So, try to think about what your greatest strengths and weaknesses are. I’m pretty sure your life will become more memorable! Know your strength, know yourself.
