Discovering Your Strengths: How to Use Them to Create a Fulfilling Life

Understanding and using your strengths is a transformative step in creating a life that feels both fulfilling and aligned with your true self. Many of us move through life unaware of our greatest capabilities, often focusing on what we think we lack rather than what we excel at. By discovering and focusing on your strengths, you not only increase your capacity for personal and professional growth, but also experience greater satisfaction and fulfilment in all areas of life.

Identifying Your Strengths

Before you can use your strengths, you first need to identify them. This is often the most challenging step, as many of us struggle to see our strengths clearly. Start by asking yourself a few reflective questions:

1. What activities or tasks come naturally to me?
2. When do I feel most energised and engaged?
3. What do others often praise me for or ask me for help with?

To get a well-rounded view, ask trusted friends, colleagues, or family members what they see as your strengths. Sometimes, others can identify qualities in us that we may overlook. In addition to self-reflection and external feedback, consider taking a formal strengths assessment, such as the CliftonStrengths. These tools can provide valuable insights and a structured understanding of your strengths.

1. Take a Strengths Assessment: Use online tools like CliftonStrengths to get an in-depth report of your top strengths.
2. Ask for Feedback: Reach out to at least three trusted people in your life and ask them to identify what they see as your core strengths.
3. Journal About Your Strengths: Reflect on moments when you’ve felt truly in your element. What were you doing? How can you tap into those feelings more often?

Using Your Strengths to Create Fulfilment

Once you’ve identified your strengths, the next step is to actively incorporate them into your daily life. Whether in your personal relationships, career, or hobbies, using your strengths will lead to a greater sense of accomplishment and joy. For example, if you have a natural talent for problem-solving, you could volunteer to take on challenging projects at work. If you’re empathetic and a good listener, find ways to use this strength in your personal relationships by offering support to friends or family in need.

1. Create a Strengths-Based Action Plan: Write down three ways you can use each of your strengths in different areas of your life (e.g., at work, in relationships, in personal hobbies).
2. Set Strengths-Based Goals: Align your goals with your strengths. For example, if one of your strengths is creativity, set a goal to take up a creative hobby or find a job that allows you to use your creative talents.
3. Review Regularly: At the end of each week, reflect on how often you used your strengths and the impact it had on your life. Adjust your action plan as needed.

Focusing on Strengths vs. Fixing Weaknesses

It’s common to spend a lot of time and energy on improving weaknesses, but research shows that focusing on strengths can have a more significant impact on well-being and performance. This doesn’t mean you should ignore your weaknesses, but rather that your strengths should be the foundation upon which you build your life.

1. Shift Your Focus: When setting personal or professional goals, ask yourself how you can leverage your strengths rather than focusing solely on overcoming weaknesses.
2. Celebrate Your Strengths: At the end of each day, take a few moments to reflect on how you used your strengths and how they contributed to your success or happiness.
3. Invest in Strengths Development: Consider taking courses, reading books, or attending workshops that will help you further develop your key strengths.

If you’re ready to dive deeper and unlock your full potential, I invite you to explore my coaching program, Finding Your True North. This transformative journey is designed to help you discover your true purpose, heal from the past, and open yourself to new possibilities. With personalised guidance and actionable steps, you’ll gain clarity, resilience, and the confidence to live a life that truly aligns with who you are. Take the first step towards a more fulfilling life—learn more about the Finding Your True North coaching program today.