It's tough for us to recognize our strengths, due to our tendency to focus on our flaws and imperfections. Though this can assist us in improving them, identifying and embracing our strengths is also vital. Knowing where you excel and where you need help can help you balance your personal life while also enhancing your work connections. It will also assist you in choosing a degree of study or career path that you will enjoy and give your all to. 

This blog post will cover what strengths are, their importance and how to identify your strengths.

What are your strengths?

Popularly, strengths are defined as activities or deeds that you excel at.

This is the most common definition but whilst doing research we found that your strengths aren't limited to this only. In her article, Lyn Christian, author and founder of soul salt inc, stated that strengths aren't limited to talents or activities that you're naturally good at, but are unique abilities that can be nurtured. She went on to define strengths as "any aspect of yourself that can grow and expand when exercised and challenged.

• Something you excel at and enjoy doing 
• Something you can do repeatedly while maintaining a strong track record
• And anything you excel at that makes you feel more energized"

We also believe all these factors are met when considering what your strengths are.

Why is it important to identify your strengths?

• Firstly, consider this: it's far easier to hone what you're strong at and become a master at it, right? Thus, the first advantage of finding your strengths is that you can become an expert.
• Second, knowing your strengths: will aid you in determining which roles you are best qualified for. Because you appreciate and are passionate about what you're doing, using your skills in those tasks can help you work more efficiently. Knowing your strengths is the first step toward enjoying using them. 
• It promotes personal growth and self-awareness: Those who are aware of their strengths and use them regularly gain greater success in a variety of areas in their lives. They are happier, have higher self-esteem, and are more likely to succeed in their endeavours.

So, now that you know why you need to, how do you go about identifying your strengths?

Steps to find your strengths 

Strengths can involve skills, ability to work in certain contexts, resources, character traits or abilities^[1]. Here are a few things you can do to identify your strengths:

1. Evaluate yourself: Think about the activities you enjoy doing. Ask yourself why you do. Does it enable you to connect or help other people? Does it enable you to use your imagination in creative ways? The qualities that help you enjoy these activities can also be characterised as strengths.
2. What are activities you find motivating? What doesn't feel like work, but is?:^[2] Things that others around you don't necessarily enjoy doing but you do. For instance, I enjoy cleaning and organising things while my sister doesn't. I often do so regularly and time seems to fly by whenever I do. It doesn't feel that long because I enjoy it. While she often stops halfway to "rest" and ends up leaving the task completely, I take it up and continue until it's all done. Which activities hopped into your mind as you read this?
3. List your skills: You can look through a list of work skills in this article if you find it difficult to think of any.
4. Take a look at activities you learn quickly: perhaps at a considerably faster rate compared to others with a similar experience level.
5. Inquire from others: It's easy for us to be blind to some of our strengths. Getting feedback from people you trust can help you realise areas that you're doing well or great at. They might mention things you have already itemised and many might say one recurring activity or skill, if so that might be your strongest strength.
6. Take strength and personality tests: Personality tests can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. These assessments can assist you in learning more about yourself and better understanding your strengths and weaknesses. Collect the results from several online tests. Then go over all of your results to see if there are any patterns. This will assist you in identifying your strengths and qualities. Some popular ones you can take are the; VIA Character Strengths Assessment (free) or Truity Myers-Briggs Type Assessment (free or $29.99).

In Conclusion

After learning about strengths, the importance of finding them, and how to find yours, I hope you're inspired to finally put a label on the activities and abilities that make you unique.

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