stengths = weaknesses in disguise

I'm in a class that I actually love. Organizational Behavior, Psych 330. I love it so much that I actually go....e v e r y t i m e. (I spaced out every time to see if you would read it slow in your mind and get my intended emphasis). It may also help that it's at 5:15 pm and only twice a week. I might fail when I enter the real world because the real world starts at 8:00 am. Not noon. Oh, and it's 8:00 am ... not 8:00-ish. I do better with -ish. Course, money will be involved, that is more motivating to me then boring lectures because I like shoes more than getting up, getting dressed, and walking to campus just to sleep in a chair instead of in my bed.

In this class we've taken a bunch of personality and strength tests. I love and hate these things.

I love them because:

1. There are no wrong answers. You can have things wrong with your personality, but you can’t be wrong about your personality.

2. They generate perspective.

3. They facilitate personal introspection. Aristotle said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.”

I hate them because:

1. People base their actions off of what they have learned. They act as if their shortcomings are okay because “that’s just the way they are…” ugh! Mosiah says, “The natural man is an enemy to God.” Learn who you are, work on becoming better and get off God’s enemy list! (That might be blasphemy...and you can't get off that list on your own...discussion for another time)

I took one that consisted of about 200 questions. It takes 24 different strengths measures them for you. If you’re interested go to authentichappiness.com and take VIA Survey of Character Strengths. You have to create an account, but they don’t send you hassling e-mails or anything. It takes about 15 minutes and then ranks the different strengths. The top 5 strengths are what you look at most and they are what motivates you. Here are my results (okay, don't read them all or you'll get bored and die. I put them on here for if you want to read them and think about where you are.):

1. Spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith: You have strong and coherent beliefs about the higher purpose and meaning of the universe. You know where you fit in the larger scheme. Your beliefs shape your actions and are a source of comfort to you.

2. Humor and playfulness: You like to laugh and tease. Bringing smiles to other people is important to you. You try to see the light side of all situations.

3. Creativity, ingenuity, and originality: Thinking of new ways to do things is a crucial part of who you are. You are never content with doing something the conventional way if a better way is possible.

4. Forgiveness and mercy: You forgive those who have done you wrong. You always give people a second chance. Your guiding principle is mercy and not revenge.

5. Perspective (wisdom): Although you may not think of yourself as wise, your friends hold this view of you. They value your perspective on matters and turn to you for advice. You have a way of looking at the world that makes sense to others and to yourself.

6. Appreciation of beauty and excellence: You notice and appreciate beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in all domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.

7. Hope, optimism, and future-mindedness: You expect the best in the future, and you work to achieve it. You believe that the future is something that you can control.

8. Judgment, critical thinking, and open-mindedness: Thinking things through and examining them from all sides are important aspects of who you are. You do not jump to conclusions, and you rely only on solid evidence to make your decisions. You are able to change your mind.

9. Social intelligence: You are aware of the motives and feelings of other people. You know what to do to fit in to different social situations, and you know what to do to put others at ease.

10. Honesty, authenticity, and genuineness: You are an honest person, not only by speaking the truth but by living your life in a genuine and authentic way. You are down to earth and without pretense; you are a "real" person.

11. Kindness and generosity: You are kind and generous to others, and you are never too busy to do a favor. You enjoy doing good deeds for others, even if you do not know them well.

12. Curiosity and interest in the world: You are curious about everything. You are always asking questions, and you find all subjects and topics fascinating. You like exploration and discovery.

13. Zest, enthusiasm, and energy: Regardless of what you do, you approach it with excitement and energy. You never do anything halfway or halfheartedly. For you, life is an adventure.

14. Bravery and valor: You are a courageous person who does not shrink from threat, challenge, difficulty, or pain. You speak up for what is right even if there is opposition. You act on your convictions.

15. Capacity to love and be loved: You value close relations with others, in particular those in which sharing and caring are reciprocated. The people to whom you feel most close are the same people who feel most close to you.

16. Gratitude: You are aware of the good things that happen to you, and you never take them for granted. Your friends and family members know that you are a grateful person because you always take the time to express your thanks.

17. Love of learning: You love learning new things, whether in a class or on your own. You have always loved school, reading, and museums-anywhere and everywhere there is an opportunity to learn.

18. Citizenship, teamwork, and loyalty: You excel as a member of a group. You are a loyal and dedicated teammate, you always do your share, and you work hard for the success of your group.

19. Self-control and self-regulation: You self-consciously regulate what you feel and what you do. You are a disciplined person. You are in control of your appetites and your emotions, not vice versa.

20. Fairness, equity, and justice: Treating all people fairly is one of your abiding principles. You do not let your personal feelings bias your decisions about other people. You give everyone a chance.

21. Caution, prudence, and discretion: You are a careful person, and your choices are consistently prudent ones. You do not say or do things that you might later regret.

22. Leadership: You excel at the tasks of leadership: encouraging a group to get things done and preserving harmony within the group by making everyone feel included. You do a good job organizing activities and seeing that they happen.

23. Industry, diligence, and perseverance: You work hard to finish what you start. No matter the project, you "get it out the door" in timely fashion. You do not get distracted when you work, and you take satisfaction in completing tasks.

24. Modesty and humility: You do not seek the spotlight, preferring to let your accomplishments speak for themselves. You do not regard yourself as special, and others recognize and value your modesty.

Now, I am no dummy....wisdom is my #5 strength. This test says that it ranks your strengths, but the last ones are really just my weaknesses! Modesty and humility….who are we kidding, that is definitely in last place for a reason. Industry, diligence, and perseverance…haha! That does not belong on my “strengths” at all. I used to think that I was good at setting goals and such, but I am NOT! I told best friend this and she laughed and said, “I could’ve told you that.” I didn’t know that I was so obviously not driven. Course, maybe I can still fool the world even if I can’t fool best friend. I also used to think that I was an awesome leader. I’ve since learned that my leadership style is more of a dictatorship (go here to see a picture of me as Hitler playing Risk!). I can stand up in front of people and tell them what to do without a problem, but motivate a lead…not so much. Other “strengths” (weaknesses) I found funny: #21. I am moderately reckless in everything I do. If there isn’t a chance of hating myself in the morning it’s probably not worth it. #19. I act on what I feel, even though it often makes me look like a good mental hospital candidate. I want something, I get it. Good thing I never got into using substances….pretty sure I would have 27 unhealthy habits that would be killing me at varying rates.

So, there are my weaknesses. Deal with it. That’s just who I am. Kidding. I’m learning to deal with my faults by using my strengths. I put on my rose-colored wonder woman strength glasses to work through what I lack. I take things that I am unmotivated to do and make it a task where I can exhibit “creativity, ingenuity, and originality” and add “humor and playfulness” to dull but necessary tasks. As I am put in positions of leadership or need to make important decisions without being rash I look at things through a paradigm of “spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith.” Cool, eh! I’m still working on it…I’m blogging instead of working on my research paper.