Finding Your Strengths
“We all have different gifts, so we all have different ways of saying to the world who we are.”
It is essential to learn about your unique strengths. These will help you to be successful in resetting and starting again. In short, you will be more successful if you use strengths-based strategies.
But, it can be hard to know one’s strengths. This is especially true for ADHDers. Because of the fickle nature of ADHD and because our brains are wired differently from most of the world, our strengths get lost in the day-to-day shuffle. They might even be hidden away by ourselves because we throw dirt on our accomplishments and only see the negative parts of ourselves. However, I have yet to meet anyone who does not have any strengths. You have strengths. You do. You just need to find them.
Characteristics of a Strength
So, what are your strengths? How do you find them? My training to become an ADHD coach spent some time on strengths and how one discovers them. They gave us a list of characteristics of a strength. Here is how I make sense of that list:
A strength is something you are naturally good at doing, but not all talents are strengths.
A strength is a talent that drives you into action; you naturally look for ways to use this talent.
A strength brings you satisfaction. It is important that you feel satisfaction from that talent. If it only brings someone else satisfaction, it is not a strength.
A strength calls to you. You are drawn to use it.
A strength is fun.
A strength is easy or the right amount of difficult to use.
A strength is inherently important to you.
A strength is something you cringe at when others do it poorly.
A strength is something you are better at than most people.
A strength is an area where you and/or others are confident you will do well.
A strength is an area where you know a lot.
A strength is an area where you learn quickly.
A strength is an area where others ask you for help.
A strength is something that others request you to do.
A strength is something you use in the same way over and over again. You receive consistent results and do not mess with success.
A strength is something you have used so much that it has ignited a passion within you.
Round up the Usual Suspects
There are also several areas where it is quite common for those with ADHD to excel. Many ADHDers are creative. The areas of art, writing, acting, and music are loaded with ADHDers leading the way. We might not be able to succeed in school or at an office job, but we can dominate in the fine arts. Furthermore, we make great inventors. We think not only outside the box, but we also think outside the room in which the box is located. When it comes to crunch time or crisis mode, ADHDers thrive. If you want something done last minute, find someone with ADHD. We have plenty of experience doing things at the last minute.
Consider Coaching
If you need help finding and/or implementing your strengths, a coach may be able to help you. To learn more about coaching with Reset ADHD, click here.