Skip to main content

Strengths and Weaknesses

Albert Camus once wrote, "At 30 a man should know himself like the palm of his hand, know the exact number of his defects and qualities, know how far he can go, foretell his failures--be what he is. And, above all, accept these things."

I do not believe I know yet how far I can go--indeed, perhaps like others, I somewhat fear finding out-- but I have understood myself better as I've grown older. I am definitely better at accepting myself than I once was, but I have more to do in this area. In any case, it is important to understand your strengths and weakness so you can choose those endeavors that depend on your strengths, and avoid those that depend on your weaknesses (or, at least, understand why you are less effective in those endeavors than in those that depend on your strengths); and more importantly, so you know why you behave as you do, and so predict this behavior in your relations with others. More specifically on this last point, you can be sensitive enough to your weaknesses when relating to others to notice when those weaknesses surface. Because of this, I believe that knowing yourself will render a life of greater peace than would be the case if you did not. With that said, here are a few of my strengths and weaknesses (Note: I created this list a few years ago. Since then, I think I've changed somewhat in both my strengths and weaknesses. I don't believe that I am as empathetic as I once was, for instance, but I do believe I am less guarded.).

Strengths
1. I am positive. I look for ways to see a situation in its best light. Difficulty is meaningful to me, and I believe God uses it for our benefit.

2. I am empathic. I try to understand the emotions, circumstances, and perspectives of others when they talk to me. This trait has encouraged me to be more of a peacemaker than a fighter. Part of the reason for that is because I myself need peace. It is of the utmost importance to me to feel at peace about myself and the things I do.

3. I am responsible. I hate feeling like I have failed myself or others, so I make it a priority to follow through with the things to which I have committed.

Weaknesses
1. I avoid conflict. Since I value peace so much, conflict is difficult for me. I tend not to communicate the things bothering me, because I can't be sure that the problem isn't my doing in some way. At the same time, I'd rather try to solve things on my own than let others see that I am in need.

2. I am selfish with my time. I can become resentful when I perceive that others are taking too much of it.

3. I am guarded. With some, I avoid any type of intimacy (friendship or otherwise) either because I don't believe they will accept me, or because I take on others' problems too easily.

Probably, weakness one has influenced weakness three. In short, I am guarded because I refuse to communicate my thoughts.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Nice Guy Fallacy

I read part of a poem recently by one of my favorite poets. It reads: I envy not in any moods The captive void of noble rage The linnet born within the cage That never knew the summer woods. I envy not the beast that takes His license in the field of time Unfetter'd by the sense of crime To whom a conscience never wakes. Nor what may call itself as bles't The heart that never plighted troth But stagnates in the weeds of sloth Nor any want-begotten rest. I hold it true, whate'er befall I feel it, when I sorrow most 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all. At base, Tennyson contrasted a life of risk, and consequent pain, with one of security. He sides conclusively with the life of risk, and says he fails to envy those who have faced no hardship. I agree with him; and, for good or ill, his words are just as relevant today as they were in the nineteenth century. Like then, there are those today who choose to live their lives with as little risk as...
2 comments
Read more

Savior

This wasteland cold and dark runs free Its fearful creatures speak to me One fateful day one nudged my hand To set my eyes upon a tree He knew I could not understand For I was in his native land His signs became our common speech To lead me through the deadly sand Now stuck I saw him me beseech He could not lift me out to reach The firm foundation of a cave Outside the boundaries of this beach Withal, the beast became more brave To risk his own my life to save To carry me, its life it gave To carry me, its life it gave. This poem was inspired by Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." That poem, like this one, has four four-line stanzas of eight syllables per stanza. Its rhyme scheme is AABA BBCB CCDC DDDD.
Post a Comment
Read more

Ghosts

Exercising at a gym seems to be pretty important in our culture, but it's kind of weird to see the social dynamics when you're there. Usually, if you're running an errand, you see others doing the same thing, going about their days and focusing on what's in front of them. The same thing happens at the gym, only everyone is relatively stationary. They don't really go anywhere, except from one machine or area to another. One might think this lends itself to lots of interaction between members, especially since they're all there for the same purpose, but it isn't true. Not only do people generally avoid talking to one another, but they also avoid even looking at one another. It is as though there is no one else there, even though there are dozens on any given day. Most people follow this unwritten rule, unless something in the environment-- say, two people wanting to use the same set of weights-- gives them common ground to interact, or unless they've alr...
2 comments
Read more