Weekly Prompt #10: How would focusing on your strengths and accomplishments make you feel?
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This week's prompt is: How would focusing on your strengths and accomplishments make you feel?
Let's take a moment to reflect and share how focusing on your strengths and accomplishments make you feel. Please know every tiny to big strength or accomplishment counts. Share your thoughts with us.
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@ASilentObserver
Hi Obs! πβ€οΈ Thank you for the forum post and asking us all this thought provoking question. π
Focusing on my strengths (and playing to them) and accomplishments makes me feel good. This for me is "positive self talk". Oh, the things we tell ourselves, lol. π
I love providing positive affirmations for others, giving credit where credit is due. With that, I can't forget about me in the process. I too am deserving of positive affirmations and so there can be times that we have to provide these for ourselves. I am responsible for me. π
No wee bit of kindness is ever lost on me. β€οΈ A word of kindness for me from another moves me and very deeply and is never forgotten. I am so very grateful.πβ€οΈ However, I understand that I can't go into life doing things or behaving in certain ways with the intentionality of being rewarded for it. I walk a path of authenticity and doing the right thing should be the reward, in and of it itself. These are the things that help me to sleep well at night. I know I did it, I know I did a good thing even if no one ever see's it. Yes, this makes me feel good! π
I'm a big fan of Jordan Peterson. I heard something from him once that was titled "Do you want to know how to be miserable"? He said the best way to be miserable, as a human being, is to only focus on yourself. To focus on your needs and yours only. To focus on what it is that you don't have instead of what it is that you do.
7 cups asks that we acknowledge our strengths and play to them as well as acknowledge our weaknesses and work on them. Sounds like a great plan! π I like to have what I call my "gratitude moments" at the end of each day. Part of that can be being grateful for our strengths and accomplishments and knowing that these are true gifts that we have that can help to work in our favor.
Again, thank you for this amazing forum post today. *high fives* π and *hugs* β€οΈ
@SparkyGizmo Thank you for sharing your thoughts on practicing self-compassion. I can hear how deeply you value acknowledging your strengths and the moments of joy or accomplishments that keep you feeling grateful.
@ASilentObserver
Thank you for asking me Obs! πβ€οΈ
I think I mentioned a bit of how these practices bring me a greater sense of peace above. I'm someone that is not boastful, I do not "pea-***". I'm truly a very down to earth person and I have a tendency to "lay low" and just do good things with out seeking reward for doing so. I happen to be someone that is highly self governed or at least try very hard to be that way.
It's like "what would you do if no one were watching"? Would you still do the right thing? Some times doing the right thing is much more difficult than doing the wrong thing. The wrong thing many times can be the easy way, self serving way, hedonistic way, etc. Doing the right thing and knowing that you did it even if no one else does, can still bring a sense of peace to ones heart. β€οΈ One can sleep well at night knowing that their moral compass is not broken. Doing the right thing can bring painful moments, however, it's worth it in my opinion to know that one has a high degree of integrity.
Being able to face ones self in the mirror does bring a sense of inner peace. Walking a path of authenticity brings inner peace.
Being highly self governed requires one to not have to be babysat, watched or to sit and constantly request approval from their superiors. Many people just don't have time for that- to sit and feed the ego of others for a job well done. Many times your good deeds won't be seen. And one needs to accept that. β€οΈ
You do a good job for the sake of doing the job and doing it well. If you want to be loved, well..........go and buy a puppy, lol π. If I sit and wait for someone to commend me on a job well done, my strengths and or accomplishments, then, to myself I say "hey self, don't turn purple because that moment might not ever come". (I choose to not hold my breath and wait for that as again, I just might turn purple, lol π)
I am not someone that is highly ego driven. I am not attention seeking and I don't demand others to tell me that I have done well. This to me is the wrong path and is requiring as well as expecting wayyyyy too much of others. For me, this would be using others as a tool for my inner peace and giving them an additional job to do. I am not the responsibility of others. Asking for these things could also lead to a great deal of disappointment if those kind words never come. β€οΈ
I have to have those moments that I acknowledge my strengths. I have to do it for myself. This is part of self love, self acceptance and this is the beauty of me πβ€οΈπ If I didn't feel good about me, confidence in myself in any way, then it would be very difficult for me to operate in the way in which I do which is providing positive affirmations for others.
People who feel horrible about themselves are quite limited in giving appreciation to others around them. I never want to be that person! Any kind word for me, is truly embraced and so very greatly appreciated. πβ€οΈ They are meaningful, others opinions of me do matter. I hang onto those kind words in times when I don't feel so very confident in myself.
*high fives* π and *hugs* β€οΈ
@ASilentObserver
How would focusing on my strengths make me feel?
Being the center of attention would make me uncomfortable for two reasons.
1. I don't like being the center of attention unless I chose to be there by my doings.
2. Not a fan of tooting my horn for attention.
@Barltik2065 Being in the spotlight can feel overwhelming when you prefer to stay in the background. I understand wanting to avoid unwanted attention while also longing to feel recognized. How do you find the right balance of sharing your talents while maintaining your privacy?
@ASilentObserver
The only way I have found thus far that works for me is to disassociate myself.
@ASilentObserver
Much like my values, I don't know what my strengths are.
As for my accomplishments, the last one was in 2015. Remember them is a sad thing. I don't feel capable of doing them anymore. I am also not sure if I want to.
@Gettingbettertoday It sounds like reflecting on your values and strengths has brought up feelings of doubt or lack of confidence. What were some of the important accomplishments in your life that made you feel a sense of capability? I'm curious how you see your talents and gifts. What sort of impact did those 2015 accomplishments have on you at the time?
@ASilentObserver
2015 was the results of years of work. It made me money, I was engaged with interesting people allowed me to travel.
All my old work is sitting on a shelf. Right now I don't feel like I have the energy or creativity to finish them.
@ASilentObserver
Hi, ASO,
What do you mean by "focusing?"
@purpleTree4652 By focusing means reflecting on your strengths and accomplishments, how they make you feel?
@ASilentObserver
How would focusing/reflecting on your strengths and accomplishments make you feel?
If I was doing this publicly, it would make me feel like I was bragging. If I was doing this privately, it would help me to see that I am doing good and doing all that I am able.
@ASilentObserver I think trying to focus on our accomplishments can be really beneficial to our confidence and self-worth. That's something that I really struggle with and it can be hard to remember everything you've accomplished when you feel that you are "behind" in life. Sometimes I think making a list of your accomplishments is a good way to be reflective and remember how great you are! π
@fruityPond7887 Making lists of accomplishments is such a wonderful way to boost confidence. I'm curious, what are some other techniques you've found helpful for improving self-worth? It's clear that you have a caring heart and compassion for yourself, which will serve you so well.
@ASilentObserver Thank you Obs! I try to find time to do activities that I know make me feel confident and try to keep my anxiety at bay. I know that socializing, exercising, and getting enough rest are very important for my overall well-being! π
@ASilentObserver
Focusing on strengths and accomplishments can make you focus on the positive aspects of your life which automatically cuts down on your time getting drifted to negative thoughts resulting in double positive impact.
Despite knowing this, it isnβt always easy to make your mind work as per what you deep down know is healthy and beneficial for it. But yes, we can keep trying.
When I focus on my strengths and accomplishments, the first thought that crosses my mind is that they're not enough. I have overcome many things, and I am proud of the strength that I do have. But it just seems I don't have enough, that I am still lacking. I need to have more mercy with myself, but I just wish I was better at overcoming situations and growing into a better, wiser person.
@ASilentObserver
It would make me feel happy because I will be thinking about things that are positive and reminds me of what I can do.