What are your “weaknesses” that are actually strengths? Or those of your friends or acquaintances.
No need to share details of names or places, if you wanna keep it anonymous that’s fine. I’m just curious what we’ve all discovered as our perspectives have changed over time.
Share some of the strengths you see in yourself or the people around you, when you focus on a positive perspective
I’ll start:
I have ADHD. I was diagnosed several years ago. (The psychologist who did the assessment said, quote, “You have an extreme case of ADHD.”)
I did the assessment because I wanted to finally understand what was making it so hard for me to do some organizational things that seem to come easily to others. It helped - after the assessment, I felt more self-aware, more confident, and I was able to make changes to live my life in a way that works for me (and for the people around me, so I can find my place where I can be useful to myself and others).
As I’ve learned more about ADHD, I’ve discovered a few things:
I have strong loyalty. For people who can handle me being scattered with my time and attention at times, the relationship is honest and loyal.
I have a good instinct for meeting new people and developing connections in new places. I can connect with someone very quickly. This is useful in business and in other spaces where exploring and developing new connections is important.
I can adapt to just about anything. I have never met a situation that I couldn’t brainstorm a solution to. (That doesn’t always mean the solution is possible in that exact moment, but the point is, nothing is impossible.)
I am imaginative and innovative and creative - intensely. My mind is like a web of connections, forming connections between things in my past, conversations and experiences I’ve had, and my present situation, and I am always dreaming up new ideas. This skill has been helpful for me in business, because it helps me stand out in the market, which helps me charge a premium price for my services.
What a cool idea for a thread!! I like what u wrote
I think for me… a weakness that has turned into a strength is that I can be very vocal and loud. In the past my mouth has gotten me into a lot of trouble. But now… i use my voice to advocate. I dont shy away from speaking my truth or when it comes to advocating for others, especially my son. Im not afraid to speak up and i thank my loud voice for that
That is so important. Voice matters, and living in your space and owning your space (and your voice) is so important in life, but I think especially in family and in sobriety. It lets you be your full self, for you and for the people you love
I listen. People say no one listens anymore and no one I know does but I do. It can be a curse because I’m emotional and don’t always like what I hear. But I absolutely listen to everyone.
Listening is such a crucial skill. To be able to get out of your own head and listen to other people, to see them for who they are, no more and no less - it’s so important I think listening is really more powerful than anything money can buy. It doesn’t cost a penny and it is life-changing.
It is late and feel like sharing. My weakness is to always be the servant in relationships. I am the support system for those close to me. I am never a leader and don’t want followers. This behavior allows those who recognize this trait in me and want to conquer with cruelty to achieve just that.
On the positive side I am a super personal assistant/caregiver knowing a need before asked of me. In the business world those who deserved my services and appreciated my skills were rewarded with a long term business associate. Unfortunately those days have passed and trying to regain my confidence and to be respected once again.
My weakness was that I had anxiety what people think of me and how I am perceived. Had a violent father and had to watch every move I make and how people are behaving to „not get beat up“.
Because of that trait I have a very high emotional intelligence and can sense what the other one thinks. Because of that I am one of the best in sales in my industry which helped me build my businesses and deal with people in a good way.
It’s interesting how our childhood experiences shape our adult behaviour and thinking. I work in sales as well and I also have a preoccupation (at times ) with how I am perceived. But you’re right, it does come with an awareness, a social and emotional awareness
I’m a generalist, I always refused to get overly specialized in what I do. I know where my talents are - and where not. My curiosity makes me doing some horribly untalented things sometimes, that’s fun and mostly the results aren’t even that bad (compared to a complete fucked up failure, not to quality standard ). For instance making holes for planting trees with my wonderwuzzi’s digger attachment.
With this weird mixture I have three university degrees, I worked in biomedical research, as IT teacher, in communications, as mangement board member of a NGO and now I’m an organic farmer only to mention some.
It’s a blessing, my friends call me the all-knowing, all-seeing Trash Heap (remember The Fraggles?), as my personal experiences also cover decades of financials and real estate topics and I have a checklist for nearly everything, from babyshower to case of death.
Sometimes it’s a curse to have many interests. I have to prioritize and always miss the parts that have to step back. The scientific & university stuff has been on hold for years now and I do miss it. But I’m getting really good with the farm stuff and have fun, so it might have to wait for another year or two until routine allows adequate time for it.
My quirky, weird brain paired with tenacity and curiosity is a real asset (and drives me nuts sometimes )
Yeah, I have a big heart, a big mouth and an explosive temper. Latter not used much since the main source of outbreakes aka ex-husband left my life. So I guess one of my strengths is to explode on bullshittery
This is awesome I think those things go together a lot. There’s a vital energy to it, and that is a force of life and learning and growth.
I think the search and the curiosity and the questing mind is one of the unique capacities that people can have. It seems to make for unique and helpful mixtures of knowledge and capability, mixtures that would not develop to their potential in other ways. I bet you bring perspectives to the table, in your projects, that are informed by your eclectic experiences.
My weakness is that I’m not career motivated or driven to succeed in work which impacts me financially. I don’t see the point in squandering healthy years behind a desk, I work part time and I don’t care too much about progression as long as the work is interesting enough and not stressing me out or impacting my health.
The plus side is that I have more time to experience hobbies and also to relax. I don’t need flashy cars or houses or materialistic things or massive holidays abroad, I’m happy with my home and really value what I’m lucky to have I feel like there’s so much to explore and do in my own country that it’s enough to fill a whole lifetime so I don’t feel a massive need to travel (although do occasionally)
Really the whole “productivity” or career fixation is kind of odd, don’t you think? I think so. It’s fair enough if it floats your boat but honestly, what would be bad if everyone just slowed down a bit and refocused on more human-to-human connection? (instead of human-to-object connection, which is the focus of materialism, of which careerism and “productivity” obsession are symptoms) Nothing would be worse, and a lot of things would be better.
Happy to hear you like to savour your home. I appreciate that too. It’s nice to have that peace of place, to be happy where you are; it’s one way to savour life.
I think listening is really more powerful than anything money can buy. It doesn’t cost a penny and it is life-changing.
). For instance making holes for planting trees with my wonderwuzzi’s digger attachment.
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