To be successful in any area of ​​your life, you will need a goal and the necessary tools to achieve it. Those tools are your strengths (whatever type they are), the talents that you put into practice and that make you stand out in some aspect.
In the 90s, psychology took a turn and he also began to study other aspects that he had previously ignored. That is to say, he began to understand this discipline as something more than the absence of mental pathologies, and gave way to positive psychology, which has a lot to do with these strengths...
They had realized that emotional balance and well-being It was not only the absence of mental disorders, but something else was needed. They thus went from searching for and treating mental problems to also giving importance to happiness and self-realization.
It was then that Martin Seligman, the father of Positive Psychology, along with Dr. Christopher Peterson, investigated what are known as universal strengths that were common across cultures, races, and times.
What is a fortress?
An strength It is nothing more than a psychological characteristic of a person, just like weaknesses. But in this case, they are positive and can help you in numerous situations in life.
Like weaknesses, it is not something static and constant, but rather they arise when various situations arise. In addition, they can be trained to improve and enhance them to help you on the path to happiness and emotional well-being.
By example, a person is not always kind. It's something that arises at certain times. Some people have this strength more developed and show it more easily than others, but they are not always in that state... You can have certain ups and downs for various reasons and that does not mean that that strength has disappeared.
How to identify a strength?
Being able to identify your own strengths is not always as simple as simply observing yourself. Some may be hidden from you and only others can clearly recognize them. Something similar to what happens with weaknesses.
In order to find these strengths that you have, you can follow these tips:
- Is there anything you're really good at? It is the greatest indication that you have great strength. Those activities in which you feel fulfilled and comfortable with yourself.
- Ask others. You can ask others who can identify some of your strengths. If they speak to you frankly, they will be able to make you see some things that perhaps you yourself did not recognize as your own.
- To explore. Explore beyond what you usually do. Sometimes you have skills you didn't know you had because you haven't done anything different. Routine will only reveal some of your weaknesses and strengths. Try to change and new things will also appear before you.
- Identify your differences. Being different, or being the odd one out, is something that is usually quite frowned upon. But the truth is that it can be a great strength. Observe what you do differently from others, some of those differences can reveal your weaknesses and strengths. For example, imagine that you do a job and you usually do it in a more agile and intelligent way than your colleagues. It may be because you stand out for your intelligence and creativity...
Steps to strengthen them
Once identified, you can work on them to strengthen them. As I mentioned, just like a muscle, they can be exercised to improve them.
To enhance your mental strengths You just have to apply them, that is, practice with them so that they become more and more powerful. To do this, only apply those strengths that you are really good at and this will increase their impact.
It is important that you also evaluate the consequences to apply your strengths. For example, if you are really good at helping others and you have managed to help many people whose lives you have saved or improved, that will comfort you and strengthen your determination to continue down that path.
In addition, you will know if you are really taking full advantage of your strengths or if you can squeeze them even more. If you have the feeling that you could have done more, then you are certainly not fully exploiting your strength.
What are the strengths?
As I mentioned, you must identify them and I have already given some keys to do so. Furthermore, you already know the definition of strength, however, with more specific examples of the most notable strengths you will be able to recognize them in yourself more clearly.
Creativity
La creativity It is a strength that allows you to produce original ideas or behaviors, and adapt better to the environment. This can also allow you to make decisions that are different from others, stand out or look for previously unimagined solutions.
It can be applied to a multitude of fields and applications, from invention, engineering, to other much less technical aspects of life, such as helping others or facing challenges in a different way.
To enhance it, you must spend time thinking and imagining about what you are really good at and passionate about. Sometimes stress or lack of time is the biggest enemy of this strength.
You have to think beyond the usual or traditional to have revolutionary ideas and innovate. Curiosity is another strength that can form very interesting synergies with creativity.
"When inspiration comes, may it find me working."
Pablo Picasso
You should not give too much importance to the risks or you will finally end up scrapping your idea. And above all, don't give up. Wonderful things are not always discovered the first time, some great creatives have made mistakes a thousand and one time until they achieved success. Therefore, resilience is another strength on this list that contributes to creativity.
Other ideas, however, come from moments in which you are not even thinking, or in dreams, and even after brainstorming exercises.
Curiosity
La curiosity It is somewhat stigmatized and is often confused with being a gossip. But it's not the same. In fact, it is often said that "curiosity killed the cat«, but the truth is that it is a really positive strength.
Curiosity is a symptom of intelligence, of wanting to learn, of being open to change, and will lead you to learn. And what better thing than to learn, to improve your knowledge and wisdom, being able to apply it to improve many aspects of your life (work, economic, survival,...).
Mental flexibility
For your life to really change for the better it is necessary to want accept that change. Some people complain about their current situation, but they are immersed in a comfort zone and do not want to leave it. They seem to follow that bad premise that says "The bad known is better than the good to be known«.
Only those who have this strength and are open to new things can take on these changes to progress. Besides, They are also more receptive to criticism to improve even more.
See if you are too rigid and don't like changes. If so, try to open yourself a little more and take on a challenge or change. You will see how it nourishes you and it is not as bad as you thought!
Courage
One of the most negative weaknesses was fear, therefore, one of the most powerful strengths is his "alter ego", that is, the bravery. With courage you can take on great challenges and face the challenges that come your way in life, as well as overcome obstacles with much more determination.
To strengthen courage you just have to work on it, like the rest of the strengths. Dare to do things that scare you (little by little), and you will see that you are overcoming them without a problem even though you thought you were incapable. That will reinforce your courage with each achievement. You will even be able to see that that adrenaline, those "tickles" that you feel in your belly when you do something are almost addictive...
Resilience/persistence
One of the biggest mistakes people make is to try something once or a few times and give up. If you give up in the fight to achieve the goal you have set for yourself, you will never achieve it. That's why it's important perseverance, resilience...
"I hated every minute of training, but I kept telling myself: 'Don't give up, suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'"
Muhammad Ali
Give up The first stone you encounter on the way to your goal will mean that you will never get down the road. If you stumble and fall a thousand times, then you must get up a thousand times to continue. By dint of continuing you will end up achieving it.
Water is much softer than rock, right? Instead, the coastal cliffs have been literally crushed by the waves into fine sand. But this has not been done in a single day, it has been done little by little, with perseverance, blow after blow until transforming the hardest stone into dust...
Integrity
A veces you try not to be the different one, blending in with others. That leads you to do things you don't want to do, or say things you don't mean. This is a serious problem for yourself, since you will always try to please others, you will live for them and not according to your principles.
«Obsequium Amicos, Veritas Odium Parit» («Servility produces friends, the truth, hate.")
Latin maxim of Terence.
One of the greatest strengths of a worthy human being It is the one who is genuine and does not care, the one who is authentic, who has honesty, is transparent, faithful to his ideas, with honor, who seeks justice. But unfortunately now he is not very well regarded...
But do you really want to do what others expect of you? Or do you want to live your life the way you want to?
Love
The world would not be the same without love. One of the most wonderful fortresses of all. Develop your capacity to love yourself so you can also love others. Promotes attachment and reciprocal care for others.
In addition, doing great good for others is one of the strengths that the more it fills you and fulfills of all those present on the list. According to Eric Fromm, there are four basic elements to make up love: care, responsibility, respect and knowledge.
Hay only one love, although it can be expressed in many ways. Like mother-child love, love for your partner, love for a pet, etc. But you must differentiate love from attachment or affection for a person, although it is quite complicated...
social dexterity
To be able to move in society, the strength of having social skill. This will make you surround yourself with people who will accompany you on the journey of life, open many doors for you (even the heart of your soul mate), and will serve as support in bad times.
But to achieve that they also have to take care of themselves. other aspects such as empathy for others, assertiveness, knowing how to forgive, understand, have compassion, kindness, be grateful, practice active listening, help others altruistically, and develop good emotional intelligence.
Leadership
It's a fortress especially important for the workplace and business, but also outside of it it is practical. It can help you on a day-to-day basis to make decisions that will bring you closer to taking the step towards change, achieving new goals, and achieving what you dream of.
"The leader takes people where they would never have gone alone."
Hans Finzel
Be careful with leadership, it should always be accompanied by a good dose of other strengths, such as common sense and prudence. Otherwise, you will be the one leading the way to disaster…
Have a person great strength and leadership By your side you can also help yourself in problematic situations. Since you will be able to take the helm and steer the ship towards a good port. It is the opposite of having those "lead people" who cling to you to stay afloat, but who gradually drown you with them.
Learn to clean up your environment and surround yourself with the right people. Although it may seem harsh, sometimes it is better to cut certain ties. You are not to blame for what happens to everyone, but those harmful people They seem to try to blame you or burden you with some of their problems.
Humility and modesty
No matter how many strengths you have, you always have to be humble. The humility and modesty They are two qualities that can help you a lot socially. Furthermore, it is something that requires a lot of self-esteem to develop.
Sometimes, some people try to stand out from the rest, they want to be the center of attention, monopolize all the praise, etc. That it only generates rejection by the rest. What good then are those other strengths if the people around you distance themselves?
Self-control
Having the ability to manage certain aspects of life is another great virtue. That is, having a good self-control. Only then can you regulate your own emotions, behaviors, and impulses. But that does not mean hiding your feelings, emotions (especially negative ones like anger) or problems, as it could be counterproductive.
Hope
Hope is the last thing you lose, as they say. Despite this, many people who have been waiting for something for a long time or who fall into depression end up becoming discouraged and losing hope. esperanza to achieve what they are after.
"Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but by a lack of meaning and purpose."
Victor E. Frankl
The strength of hope keeps you motivated, be optimistic about the future, have some incentive to continue fighting for, to keep moving forward and not give up on the particular fight you are fighting. That is, it is good fuel for resilience and perseverance.
Sense of humor
Sometimes it's not so much what happens to us but how we take it. Not all people are affected by the same event in the same way, and that should tell you that it may be because not everyone takes it the same as you. He sense of humor and optimism They can help you not be so affected by negative things.
Bad times are better spent with a sense of humor, and life is enjoyed much more fully with a positive philosophy. Help entertain others and make them smile, and do the same. Laughter therapy works!
Spirituality
Be spiritual It does not mean believing in strange things, or necessarily being religious. Spirituality can go beyond that, and seek meaning in your life, a purpose. Believe that everything has a meaning to help you move forward. Something that can be a good complement to hope.
Take advantage of your strengths
You must know work on your strengths so that they are enhanced even more. Just like a muscle, if you work them, they will become more powerful. Furthermore, you must take advantage of those strengths for your daily life, for your work, etc.
Know that a talent is not much use without practice. Just as knowledge does not equal wisdom, since wisdom is doing it. In fact, strengths are the sum of talent + implementation.
For example, some people have an innate talent for singing. On the other hand, if you do not practice it, nor take advantage of your voice, it will be of little use to you. The same happens on a mental level, although it is something more intangible. What I'm trying to say is that don't leave them stored away without taking advantage... Make them bring benefits to your life!