Wednesday, March 4, 2009

what are your strengths

In the past two days, I've met with 70+ 15 and 16 year old students individually to talk about graduation requirements, course selections, and future plans. With each one of them, I've asked them to tell me their strengths. It is so interesting to hear their responses. Some actually stared at me blankly or blushed and said they didn't have any. How sad! If this was their response, we talked until they were able to tell me at least 3-4 strengths. It was so good to see the relief on their faces when they realize they did indeed have strengths to talk about! This is a conversation I believe parents should be having regularly with their children. Kids need to know what they are good at and what positive attributes they have to contribute to the world!

I went on to tell them everyone has strengths and it was important for them to really dig deep, focus in on those things they are good at and the good within them. Then, as they get to know themselves over the next few years, they should explore career paths and jobs that will allow them to use a majority of their strengths on a regular basis. I firmly believe those happiest and most fulfilled in their jobs and life in general are those who get to use their strengths/gifts/talents regularly!

I truly hope that with these conversations I've planted the seed to help each one of them begin to grow into the person they were meant to be!

Instead of a yogathought for the day, here are 3 questions of the day for you:

1. What are your strengths? (Don't be shy--list them all!)
2. Do you get to use the majority of your strengths on a regular basis?
3. If not, how can you incorporate more opportunities in your life to use your strengths and talents--both personally and professionally?

Namaste'
Yogadiva

3 comments:

HappyYogaMama said...

Hi! I am enjoying your blog so much. At the end of December, I decided to study the yamas and niyamas in 2009. Your Focus, Action and Mantras are so helpful. Thanks for sharing. Namaste.

Leslie said...

HappyYogaMama,
I am so glad to hear you are enjoying my blog! It really means a lot to me. You are very welcome!
Namaste'
Yogadiva

Anonymous said...

Hi Yogadiva,

I enjoy you blog very much, and with this post, you've touched on something which I believe is rife amongst teenagers, girls especially.

How can it be that in a world that offers such opportunity and choice, teenagers cannot say what it is that they'd like to do post-school?

I believe the reasons are complex: a mixture of peer pressure (don't stand out, don't say anything that might make you different from your friends), subtle cultural pressure (having an idea about a career or job might cast you as unattractive, uncool, nerdy), and go against the image-focussed, dumbed-down moment we live in: it's better to be good looking with no idea, than have an idea ... oh so ugly those girls with ideas in their heads!

How did we get to this? A place in which the Paris Hiltons of the world are role models for girls' behaviour after 40 years of gains in female equality.