The “Weakness=Strength” Entry

Hello everyone!!!!!

Happy Sunday??

I hope you had an amazing week and I hope April was good to you.

April saw a lot of good news and growth for me. I’m very grateful and excited for the month of May.

RANDOM FACT FOR THE WEEK: Basketball is only for tall people right? Wrong!!!

The shortest person to play in the NBA was 5ft 3 inches. His name was Muggsy Bogues. At the time he was drafted in 1987, the average height in the NBA was 6ft 7 inches. Despite his height, he was an amazing player. According to Quinton Wash writing for the NBA, “He used his diminutive height to his advantage, whether it was by weaving around taller defenders, putting the basketball where it couldn’t be stolen or setting up teammates with only passes they could receive”.?

This week's fact inspired today's newsletter.

One of my favourite quotes is by Nathaniel Branden; The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.

I feel like I’ve used this quote a million times now?? but it just shows how important it is to me.

You can't help yourself without knowing yourself.

That’s the first step to making life easy. If you don’t know who you are, people will tell you who you’re not.

The reason peer pressure affects you so much is that you don’t know yourself.?

Some people are sad today simply because they’ve gone down paths that don’t belong to them in the guise of “everyone is doing it”. But that’s an entry for another Sunday.?

Today we’re talking about understanding your strengths and weaknesses.?

Do you know that your weaknesses can become strengths??

Walk with me.

The word weakness in this context means a person's disadvantage or fault. Now, weaknesses can be changed into strengths. In a lot of cases, you just have to find a way around them and they can be used to your advantage.

Let me give an example.

I can’t count how many people have been shocked at how detailed my to-do lists and schedules are and how many reminders I’ve on my phone. It’s not because I’m over-serious.?

It’s simply because I get distracted and forget easily. Knowing that, I’ve to intentionally make sure I’m focused.?

I can only do that with a to-do list, schedules and reminders. Immediately I think of something, I write it down because if I let it pass for a few minutes, I might forget.

Now the bad part of forgetting is I can’t cram to save my life.

However, I've found many ways around it.?

I can’t cram for exams so I know I have to study and fully understand what I read. Once I fully understand, it sticks to my brain forever. You can wake me up at 3 am and I’ll tell you what I learnt 3 years ago.?

The same thing for public speaking. I can’t cram so I make sure I understand fully. Fully understanding helps me speak better because I use my own words and give my own examples.?

I might have to do tons of research for a small speech, but I deliver it perfectly.?

I might have to spend longer studying and doing research, but I never forget what I learn.

I still easily get distracted, but the reminders around me always keep me in check.

The weaknesses are still there. But, because I’ve found my way around them, you see them as strengths.?

People that have watched me speak only see that I’m a good speaker. They don’t see the hours of research I had to do for the small speech. You see my work rate but don’t see how many reminders and alarms I have to ensure I’m focused.?

Your “weaknesses” are pulling you down because you let them. There’s always a way around them.?

Everything is possible as long as you decide it is.?

You can work on yourself and find ways around your disadvantages. Remember that a disadvantage doesn’t mean you can’t succeed, it just means it might take you longer and more effort to.

Just like Muggsy Bogues mastering skills to play basketball despite his height. You too can turn your weaknesses into strengths.

First, be aware of your weaknesses and then, you can learn to use them to your advantage.

This new week, decide to not let your weaknesses weigh you down.

I wish you a productive week!

See you next Sunday!

Your trusty growth partner,

Dee?