Unveiling Your Strengths: A Journey of Gratitude

Throughout life we are all conditioned to compare ourselves to others; might it be the unconscious competitiveness that teachers and parents placed on us to be better than other students or our siblings or to compare ourselves to our coworkers who did something amazing or got the promotion we desired. Truth is we are always comparing ourselves to others, consciously and unconsciously.    

The only person you must compare yourself to is you.

When you look at yourself in the mirror and observe your strengths, you realize that the only person you need to compete with is yourself.  The you from yesterday; not you from 10 years ago.  When we compare ourselves to who we were yesterday, we are competing with the most current and up-to-date version of ourselves.  When you compete with you from 10 years ago, you are competing with a memory and an image that no longer suits you.  Think back to who you were 10 years ago – physically, mentally, and emotionally you were probably less mature, had more physical strength, and thought that you were superhuman in some way.  While you may not have the same physical strength today, you most likely have a more seasoned outlook on life, a more mature lifestyle, and a less naïve way of thinking.  These are your strengths!   

I encourage you to write down your current strengths. If you are having trouble finding your strengths or desire to see more of your strengths, please read on.  To find strengths you must start with gratitude. After all, if you cannot see the greatness that is going on around you, how can you see the greatness within yourself? 

Gratitude begins with recognizing, feeling, and appreciating all things in your life.  It can be something as small as being able to watch the sunrise one morning to starting your dream career.  No matter how big or small, give gratitude to God or whatever higher being you believe in.  The more you give gratitude, the more you will begin to see the positive environment that exists around you and in you.  For example, when the warmth of the sunshine beams on your skin or clothing, smile and give thanks.  By smiling and giving thanks, you are triggering your brain to release dopamine, which then relates a positive outcome to the warmth of the sun on your skin.  Likewise, when someone compliments you, you lose a pound, or something good happens, smile and give gratitude.  

The more gratitude you will feel, the more you will begin to see the greatness around you and within you.