Strengths or weaknesses?

We struggle with our limited ability to understand people all the time. We know that a balanced view can come only when we look at both strengths and weaknesses in ourselves and others.

Yet we end up having imbalanced views and perceptions—be it our children, team or ourselves.

If we are the optimistic kind, we tend to look at strengths alone and end up setting unrealistic/unattainable goals and expectations from ourselves and others. This leads to eminent failures and disappointments. Similarly, as pessimists, we focus on our weaknesses and end up in depression and helplessness.

How to look at both sides of the coin?

✅ Start with yourself. Follow it up by doing the same for people who matter in your personal, professional or social life.

– Take a paper and do this for each person. Draw a vertical line. On one side, note the strengths and positives of the individual and on the other, their weaknesses which trouble you.

– Make another list mentioning each weakness and how you can complement it with your own or someone else’s strengths.

Although this exercise may sound cumbersome, but will be worth your time. Try it, you would have profound realisations following this exercise.