I’m doing a considerable amount of recruiting right now, and one of the questions often asked by recruiters is what are your weaknesses. I also notice that the question is regularly asked in organizations that are doing their annual planning, or doing reference checks on new employees. I’ve never found the question to reveal anything substantial because it doesn’t create a foundation for growth.

You don’t make someone strong by calling them weak, and you don’t make yourself strong by blaming the circumstances of your job, relationships, or life as if they have the power to make you weak.

I know this might sound like ignoring your weaknesses, but I’m not talking about ignoring anything. I’m talking about where you place your focus.

If you want to be great, build on your strengths.

Let’s look at what you can accomplish by building on your strengths.

You can shift from the notion that you can’t handle something that is happening in your life right now. Instead you can meet a breakdown in your goals or relationships, business or personal, with a pause to consider what’s possible.

When you give in to any disadvantage, you are meeting an impasse in your thinking rather than a block to your progress.

I’m reminded of the light hearted repartee in the movie Bird Cage, when Nathan Lane’s character was so upset about crushing some toast while he was practicing being macho, until he realized that he could just make more toast!

I know in the real world it’s often more complex than making more toast. But why not open your mind to where you want to go? Sometimes we are so struck with ideas of limitation that it renders us incapable of considering what we can do. The notion of abundance is not just about toast or money and things, but is about your resourcefulness in coming up with what could be done. It’s what gives you power over present conditions. And one very present condition is how you think about what is happening in your life right now.

I had a favorite mentor and coach, Dr. Peggy Bassett, who would delightfully remind me about the power of thoughts by having me say, something wonderful is happening to me right now. It always makes me smile. Are we going to think in ways that open up something new and wonderful, or are we going to think in ways that limit our options?

So here’s the practice for this week:

1. Don’t accuse, blame, or complain. The absence of this gang of 3 allows the space to identify strengths to build on.

2. Don’t generalize. Whenever you think that you’re incapable you are comparing yourself to someone else. If you want to feel bad compare yourself to another. Of course I could probably say the opposite is also true, if you want to feel better compare yourself to someone who is worse off than you! Either way comparison takes you off course. Strength comes from practice, not comparison.

3. Own your feelings, but don’t think that’s the truth. Feelings come and go. Sometimes you need a shove to get moving in the right direction. The shove can come from any direction if you pay attention, and say thank you to feedback.

4. Go for a run or do strenuous exercise when you find yourself moaning and groaning about life. When you’re focused on breathing hard, you won’t be able to focus on any weakness in yourself or others.

5. Savor everything you do. It’s such a gift to be alive. Take a moment to appreciate your strengths and what you bring to your job, relationships, and to the world.

6. Understand that the world is better off because you’re in it!

This week notice your strengths. What would someone who loves you say about you? I would say that you are resourceful. Build from that.

My love goes with you as you work with this Uplifting Moment.