People exceptionally talented in the Discipline theme enjoy routine and
structure. Their world is best described by the order they create.
Clifton StrengthsFinder
People high in Discipline like structure and order; they
thrive in an environment where they know what is to come and what is expected
of them. Their meticulousness with details and order makes them highly
productive individuals. They follow through on things because each step is planned.
Because of this, those with Discipline are seen as stable and reliable
individuals.
Every once in a while, we like to share a story of a real
person who knows and owns their strengths. This week, I would like to share a
bit about my mom, Erika. This fall, after years of my own personal discovery, I
worked with my family to discover their strengths. My mom, not at all to my
surprise, led with #1 of Discipline, followed by Relator, Analytical,
Responsibility, and Achiever.
Monthly Meal Plan |
My mom is meticulous in planning out life. There’s a small
desk in my parent’s home. At which, every Sunday afternoon, my mom sits down,
opens the cookbooks, and plans the meals for the week. Then, she moves onto
balancing the checkbook. And then she moves to another desk, downstairs to work
on her planner. Yes- work on her planner. Always being a scrap-booker and
stamper, my mom quickly jumped on the Happy Planner/Erin Condren planner train.
Each week, she spends countless hours stamping, measuring, and placing stickers
in the perfect way to beautify her planner. Then, throughout the week, she will chart the weather as it occurs, record her workouts and health measurements, and check off her to-dos (as any Achiever would).
Planner Layout |
Planner Layout 2 |
When I was growing up and experiencing this, I would laugh,
finding it so funny how much time she would waste on these activities. For me,
it seemed weird that she was planning out life, when she could be using that
time to live it. After reflecting on my
own strengths (Discipline is my #34-dead last), and learning hers, I realize
that this is my mom at her best. She thrives by having this set aside time to
plan and orient herself to the coming week. Every time she goes out of town for
something, she always takes an extra day off of work when she comes back to
have this time to reorient to life.
It isn’t weird, it isn’t off-putting, it isn’t wasting time
at all; it is Erika at her best. By naming strengths and relating to people
through a strengths lens, we see differences as positive uniqueness. When I
facetime my mom each week, instead of rolling my eyes when she shows me a new
stamp for her planner or a new layout, I find I am genuinely interested in what
she has to share. And it sure isn’t because of a new-found fascination with
stamping, but it is because I love my mom and although these things can see
trivial to me, they matter to her.
-Tess
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