Skip to main content

Discover

Yesterday was one of my best work days ever.  It was full of moments of smiles, hand-over-heart sighs, hugs, joy.  I was helping a new chapter learn strengths language, asking them to view themselves and each other through a strengths lens and listen for ways to honor authenticity.  As we discussed ways to change conversations and encourage hope, I felt them doing just that for me.

Watching students discover their strengths is one of the most powerful parts of my job.  Regardless of their age, they have ownership of their good.  Even for just a few minutes before the universe starts reminding them of the not-so-good, they are basking in the sunshine of awesome.  I see it radiate in their faces and when I ask them for their thoughts - they use their own language to remind me how simple it is.  They are engaged.  They are excited about their own talents and curious about others.

An 8th grader yesterday so eloquently told me about his DISCOVERER strength.  When I asked him where he felt he got to use that strength best, he explained to me how he loved to take things apart.  Clocks, motors, computers, anything.  He loves taking them apart and then putting them back together.  I appreciated his openness in sharing with the middle school group - they can be a tough crowd.  But then we were discussing the strengths question:  What challenging goal is on your mind? and this student did exactly what I could spend days trying to teach adults:  he applied his strengths.  He explained he does the same thing with a problem or a goal:  he takes it apart and then figures out how he is going to put it together.  His mentor can help him do that.  "It's pretty easy," he said.

And it really is that simple:  when we know and apply our unique strengths, we are much more likely to honor the strengths of others.  The ripple effect of that is incredible, and it is privilege as adults in young people's lives to give them reasons to celebrate their unique awesome.  

What would happen if we all did a little more of that?  A little more awareness of our own strengths, a little more appreciation of the good in others?  I think it would make our days move a little easier.

Go discover you today.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Strengths Activity: DBT House

The featured activity this week has become a recent favorite of the TeamMates Strengths Team. I learned of it by attending the Green Hills AEA Conference this past summer. The breakout presenter, Louise El Yafoori, taught on mitigating culturally sensitive trauma. This activity comes from the practice of Dialectical Behavior Therapy. While it can be used in very targeted ways for working with certain groups of kids, we found it a powerful reflective exercise that we all could benefit from. We facilitated this activity at our annual strengths day at the Gallup campus this year and the results of this learning and self reflection were highly impactful. Consider doing this activity with your mentee as a way to deepen the conversation around strengths and talent by incorporating discussions of values, role models, support systems, and more. Activity Instructions:  On a blank piece of paper, sketch out a house. Your house should include: a foundation, walls, windows, a door, roof, ch

Achiever: Fulfillment from Accomplishment

People exceptionally talented in the Achiever theme work hard and possess a great deal of stamina. They take immense satisfaction in being busy and productive. Clifton StrengthsFinder We are excited to hear from Stephanie Pravecek about Achiever this week. Steph is the Events Coordinator for TeamMates and leads with Achiever, Responsibility, Discipline, Consistency, and Relator. People with high Achiever are hard workers, list makers, and doers. It is very difficult for Achievers to take a break when there is a task at hand that needs to be completed.  Once one task is complete it is on to the next and then the next. Achievers set out each day to accomplish at least one task but, there is much more fulfillment when multiple things are crossed off the “to-do” list for the day. This does include weekends and vacations, as REST or RELAX are not words you often hear in the vocabulary of an Achiever. As a guest blogger this week, I am going to put more of a personal ton

Strengths Activity-Strengths Collage

Conversations are a great way to recognize, own, and develop our strengths. But sometimes, I find my mentee and I have the best dialogues when we are doing something kinetic. This week's featured strengths activity is hands on!  In the picture above, you see a great example of this week's activity, a strengths collage! Our own words and descriptions of our strengths are powerful, just like strengths conversations, but sometimes, when we look to other's words, we can help expand our understanding of our talent. In addition, sometimes our words just don't "cut it", and pictures or images might evoke a more accurate feeling regarding your talents. Through this activity, you and your mentee will look to magazines, newspapers, and advertisements in order expand your strengths language as well as practice strengths spotting.  What you will need:  A piece of card stock or journal page Various magazines, newspapers, or advertisements.  Glue Scissors