Turn weakness into strength.

United States
August 11, 2007 4:45pm CST
By recognizing and admitting your own weaknesses, you begin to move beyond them. When you're clear and honest about what you need to work on, you can make real progress. When you identify a weakness, you've found an opportunity. By exploring what's holding you back, you can create a realistic and workable path to success. Weakness is nothing to hide from or to be ashamed of. For in each weakness is the promise of real strength. From each weakness there is much that you can learn. By understanding your limitations, you can find a way around them. Instead of constantly fighting against your weaknesses, work on getting rid of them completely. Then all your time and energy can be put into moving quickly ahead. Have the courage to look clearly at your weaknesses. What you'll see in each one is the potential to create powerful, effective new strength. ~Ralph Marston _________________ I personally find this one of the most challenging aspects of life. Most people, once they recognize a weakness in themselves, adjust to the weakness and live as though it was the norm. The challenge is once the weakness is identified, instead of adjusting to it, turn it, manipulate it, explore it, work around it, learn from it, alter it, see it as an opportunity to better yourself. It isn't an easy thing to do, but it may be one of the most rewarding things you ever do for yourself.:D
5 people like this
9 responses
• United States
11 Aug 07
Great words of wisdom from Ralph Marston, and great words of inspiration from you, CraftCatcher. People will do well by themselves should they heed these words. Thanks for bringing this up.
2 people like this
• United States
12 Aug 07
I love to be inspired by deep thinkers. Keeps me on my toes to make sure that I am constantly examining my life and my character. I try very hard to improve myself a little bit every day. If everyone on earth who is trouble did the same it would be a much less troubled world. So I try to keep it on people's minds and if I can reach a few then I'm happy. Thanks and you're welcome. :D
• India
11 Aug 07
Ya dear, your true when we recognise our weakness we can look forward can rectify what's wrong with us. The very important thing is it increases our self-respect. Human without self-respect is just characterless.
2 people like this
• United States
12 Aug 07
I agree, you can't have respect for others if you don't respect yourself first.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
12 Aug 07
GUess I worked around them for to me I dont see any weakness in me but then again I may have not reconized it as a weakness and just went on about what ever I was doing
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
12 Aug 07
Oh I dont see myself as one and if ya want to pick brain lol ya can might not find a thing in there lol your welcome
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Aug 07
You are such a joy Lakota. You have a great way of looking at yourself and life in general. I'd love to sit down and pick your brains someday. You remind me of one of those silent philosophers who would never see themselves as such. Thanks hon, :D
@diansinta (7544)
• Indonesia
23 Sep 07
It is so beautiful. I already copy and paste this in my email. And every time i down i will read this. Thank you for sharing this, dian from Bali island.
• United States
23 Sep 07
Thanks diansinta! I too read it on a regular basis. It inspires me to always try to be more than I ever dreamed I could be. I hope it does the same for others. Best of luck to you! :D
@RobinJ (2501)
• Canada
14 Aug 07
This is a great topic,for so many years I was not able to say no to people and was always taken advantage of.I hated it. I finally learned to stand up for myself, and say no if it doesn't fit in with my plans. It was only after I found out how badly I was disliked because I wouldn't say no, that I learned it is OK for me to say no I can't or won't do that. I honestly believed that if i gave my all people would like me, in fact they had absolutely no respect for me as I was not respectful of my self. It was a hard but excellent lesson.I am not one bit sorry for having to learn it I only wish I had learned it years ago.
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Aug 07
That's so wonderful Robin! You are correct, people don't respect a "doormat", they use a "doormat". It took me a long time to realize that people will only treat you as badly as you let them. There's not a darn thing wrong with standing up for yourself and saying no. I'm very proud of you.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Thanks for sharing this craftcather. I totally agree. I have quite a few weaknesses that I am trying to learn about, and work around it, and even eventually getting rid of it. It's not easy but admitting that it is a weakness is a good start and then trying to identify the best way to get over it or work with it, is something i try to do.
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Aug 07
That's great maddysmommy! So many people try to ignore their shortcomings instead of working on them. The first step to overcoming anything is to acknowledge that it exists. It only makes sense. :D
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
13 Nov 07
A long time ago when I was looking at my strengths and weaknesses, I decided that one of my strengths is persistance/determination. When I got to looking at my weaknesses, I discovered I was stubborn and hardheaded! My strengths used in the wrong way or at inappropriate times became my greatest weaknesses.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Jul 08
That's phenomenal wisdom! I should adopt those ideas. I'm always trying to better myself. But sometimes I'm guilty about letting things go and adjusting. Real change begins once you open your eyes and heart to the truth. Thank you for the insightful post. Be well. Your friend. BeautyQueen
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
23 Sep 07
Responding to an epic thread. Totally right Craft. Even yours truly, the walking library has flaws. I actually like trying to solve them though or at least mitigate the effect they have. For one, public speaking. I think I'll always have trouble with this one, but several times having much more practice and recallable info really lessens the blow. Plus I've found interaction a bit better for public speaking, walk, talk and approach if you can, its great. Another example, cravings. I have them from time to time. Sometimes I do spoil myself, but many times I've gotten my negative side to impose real discipline and counter it. Its actually pretty great, took a lot of effort, but its great. So in one way or another we have flaws, we have shortcomings, we have weaknesses, we have vices. To err is to be human. But instead of blaming, excusing or just living with it, one can rise above whatever problems they want. Many times it takes hard work, and there are times you may want to quit, but that's how self improvement works. Its never easy.
1 person likes this