Unlock Your Potential: Understanding and Recognizing Your Strengths for A Successful Recovery Journey
As human beings, we all have fears and insecurities that hold us back from reaching our full potential. But as Marianne Williamson said, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” It is essential to understand and recognize our strengths in order to let our light shine and give others permission to do the same. In this blog post, we will dive into the concept of strengths, the strengths-based approach in addiction recovery, and the difference between a fixed and growth mindset.
Understanding and Utilizing Your Strengths for Optimal Development and Performance
But first, let’s define what strength is. Alex Linley, founder and director of the Center of Applied Positive Psychology, defines a strength as “a pre-existing capacity for a particular way of behaving, thinking or feeling that is authentic and energizing to the user and enables optimal functioning, development, and performance.”
This means that our strengths already exist within us and are a part of our biological or psychological makeup. They are distinct from things that can be learned and are identifiable across different situations in our lives.
Using our strengths allows us to function at our best and leads to optimal development and performance.
When we use our strengths, we feel more engaged, alive, and in flow. Additionally, it’s easier for our brain to build on pathways that it already has rather than developing new ones. Think of your strengths as tools in your toolbox that you can pull out and use in different situations.
Achieving Success in Addiction Recovery: Harnessing the Power of a Strengths-Based Approach and a Growth Mindset
Now, let’s talk about the strengths-based approach and how it can help in your recovery journey. In the depths of substance abuse and early recovery, it can be difficult to acknowledge anything positive about ourselves. However, understanding and recognizing our strengths can help us to focus on our positive qualities and use them to build a better future. By focusing on our strengths, we can develop an optimal performance state of being and set ourselves up for success in recovery.
Another important concept to understand is the difference between a fixed and growth mindset. A fixed mindset is the belief that our abilities and characteristics are set in stone and cannot be changed. On the other hand, a growth mindset is a belief that our abilities and characteristics can be developed and improved. In recovery, it’s important to have a growth mindset in order to continue to learn and grow from our experiences.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Recognizing and Utilizing Your Strength
So, how do we recognize our strengths? The first step is to complete the activities listed before your first coaching session: read chapter 1, complete all the written exercises and questions inside the chapter, and complete the online strengths assessment at https://www.strengthsprofile.com. This will give you a good starting point to identify your own strengths and find examples of them in action.
In conclusion, understanding and recognizing our strengths is crucial in order to let our light shine and give others permission to do the same. The strengths-based approach can be incredibly helpful in our recovery journey, and it’s important to have a growth mindset in order to continue to learn and grow. Take the first step by completing the activities listed before your first coaching session and start recognizing your own strengths today. Remember, you are not alone in this recovery journey. If you need help or guidance, our team at Flow Recovery Retreat is here to support you every step of the way. Feel free to reach out to us for a consultation through Whatsapp, Messenger, Call or Email.