My Top Five Strengths:
Input
This is definitely a strength that most people who I shared this list with identified with me. I am always looking for or thirsting for more information. On my phone two of my favorite apps are Wikipanion and IMDB. Whenever a question come up as to background on something, or if people are wondering where they know an actor from I can run to those apps. They meet my need to know the answer. I am constantly Googling or reading up on little things. My brain is filled with information that most people would not be interested in knowing, but it is what is huge to me. The action that I see taking with this is I have always been an “ideas guy.” I am always thinking big picture and thinking out loud. It fits with what I want to do. I just want to be involved with people and I love conversing with them. I can definitely use this strength in ministry or in any job I find myself in the future. A desire for information is something that can really help me to be a better communicator and think and present ideas different than other people can.
Adaptability
This is also something that is a very big part of who I am. It allows me to be very beneficial in whatever environment I am put in. I have always been the one who is able to think on my feet. When I am put in a stressful environment, I can always think on my feet. Some people are not able to think on their feet like that, and so high stress situations don’t work out for them and ministry will be incredibly aggravating to them. There also can be a downside to this strength. While I am able to think on my feet and work with what is happening, I don’t tend to be a planner. It is something that I have always struggled with. I am great with moving and adapting, but I am not always able to think ahead and plan. So one thing I will have to work on is making sure I have a team or person who is helping me formulate plans. I can role with the punches when I need to, but I need to be thinking ahead too so that I am not always having to think on my feet.
Empathy
I don’t know that all of this one is entirely true about me. I am not very good at perceiving when other people are down in the dumps unless I am exposed to them for a long time. The rest of it however I saw and other people saw that it rang true with me. For the most part I am all about helping people, and if you ask any of the pastors or mentors I have had in my life they will tell you that one of the biggest burdens that I have on my heart is that I want everyone to know that they are important and that they all play a part in this world. It is my hearts desire for everyone to know that they are valuable and that someone cares for them. I feel like in ministry I can put this one into practice very easily because this is the central thrust of the Gospel. However I will have to focus not to get caught up in other people. I tend to have the problem where when someone is hurting I cant let go until they are fixed, but that isn’t healthy for me or them, so I will have to be cautious to not fall into that trap.
Ideation
I and other people were surprised that this wasn’t the number one strength on my list. Most people saw me as defined by this one maybe more so than the others. Like I said before I am an “Ideas guy” and this probably has something to do with my upbringing because that is exactly who my dad is as well. I feel like this one will and has been easy to put into practice in ministry as well. I have been the one who is always coming up with new sermon series or topics from a quote or story that I hear. I have folders of sermon illustrations on my computer of random stories and facts because I can connect them to a higher purpose. I have always been on that people have wanted on their creative panels and teams. And just like this description of me said I am very much into politics, humanitarian aid and the arts. I think it is because of this strength that I relate so well to that category, and why it interests me so much. It is all about different original ideas and seeing things in different ways.
Connectedness
This is another one that I didn’t know that I saw in myself by the title, but once I read the description it hits dead on with me. I am very aware of the connections between people and events, and that is why I feel like I live my life the way that I do. I am not a huge rule breaker or rebel, because while people are thinking about knocking things off a shelf in a grocery store I am thinking about the person who will have to come by later and clean it up. I feel like more so than any other strength this helps me relate to people, because I can see their connection and I can understand the link we all have. So I can truly feel for them and be genuine in my heart for them. I am always trying to link people together and mentoring is something that is close to my heart because it is one of my core strengths. I am always looking for ways to show people that we are all the same and that we all matter because I can see how we are connected at such a basic and amazing level.
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