Turning Weaknesses['wiknəsɪz] Into Strengths
by Steve Pavlina
Some of my most rewarding personal growth[ɡroθ] explorations[,ɛksplə'reʃən] have involved[ɪn'vɑlvd] turning weaknesses into strengths. Nothing proves[pruv] to me the value of investing in personal growth more than reflecting upon[ə'pɑn] a strength I can leverage['lɛvərɪdʒ] with ease[iz] and remembering what my life used to be like when I was weak[wik], timid['tɪmɪd], ignorant['ɪɡnərənt], incompetent[ɪn'kɑmpɪtənt], or powerless in that same area.['ɛrɪə]
Some skills that I regularly apply today used to be personal weaknesses, especially writing and speaking. I wasn’t naturally good at those skills when I was younger – just the opposite[ˈɑpəzɪt; ˈɑpəsɪt]. I committed[kə'mitid] to improvement over a period[‘pɪrɪəd] of years, and that made a world of difference.
There’s something extra['ɛkstrə] special['spɛʃl] about applying skills in areas ['ɛrɪrz] of life that I used to deliberately[dɪ'lɪbərətli] avoid. For some reason, all the obstacles ['ɑbstəkl] and limiting beliefs I had to overcome to turn those weaknesses into strengths make it even more fun and rewarding to apply those skills. When I was younger, a stage[stedʒ] used to be a scary['skɛri] place. Just visualizing['vizjuəlaiziŋ] a stage would make me nervous['nɝvəs]. Now I think of a stage as a high-energy place to connect with people and have fun.
Another rewarding side effect of turning weaknesses into strengths is feeling a lot of love, respect, and admiration[,ædmə'reʃən] for your past self who tackled['tækl] those weaknesses. Knowing that my past self was able to commit to learning and growth in spite[spaɪt] of fear[fɪr], resistance[rɪ'zɪstəns], obstacles['ɑbstəkl], and setbacks makes me feel a special connection to him. This in turn makes me feel more connected to my future['fjʊtʃɚ] self since my decisions[dɪ'sɪʒən] today will determine his strengths and weaknesses. I get to decide which weaknesses he’ll inherit[ɪn'hɛrɪt] from me and which strengths he’ll be gifted['ɡɪftɪd] with.
Someday my future self will reflect upon his memories of who I am now, and I want him to remember me with fondness [fɑnd] and appreciation[ə,priʃɪ'eʃən]. I want him to feel grateful for all the effort I invested into making his life better. I want him to remember how intensely[in'tensli] I cared. That’s how I often feel about my past self, and it’s a beautiful feeling. I want to continue weaving that feeling of gratitude and connection throughout the tapestry['tæpəstri] of my life.
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