Continuing from last week’s post it’s true for so many of us that the idea something about ourselves is broken often comes from the negative stories we tell ourselves and the many messages that society, our institutions and/or people in our lives, well intentioned or not, tell us.

The idea of not being “good enough” also comes from living in a world more focussed on deficit fixing than on using our strengths. An example? Think back to Report Card day. When you came home from school with your report card did you and your family members celebrate the classes in which you were doing well, or was there some part of the conversation centered on “why can’t you do better in subject X” or “even though you don’t like subject Y and will probably never use it again” let’s figure out how to help you get a higher grade. For thousands of people I have worked with, their experience often resembles the latter.

Now, think about how different that conversation would have been if the goal was looking at the classes in which you were doing well, how those classes correlated to what you loved, came naturally to you and made you excited? What if the question became how do we get you involved in other classes or activities that also give you the opportunity to do what you do best? Then think about the impact knowing that early in life would have on future learning, in relationships, teamwork, career exploration and working in a career or careers that give you the opportunity to use your strengths every day.

This leads me to today’s question: What is something that’s always come naturally to you, where time flowed because you felt so engaged?

In next week’s post we’ll explore ways that you – no matter what stage of life you’re at – can start to focus on what you do best, your strengths and what makes you stand out.