by Amy Bobo
Studies reveal we are generally most satisfied with life when we spend 80% of our mental energy working toward our positive goals and 20% addressing problems. However, when the inevitable problems arise, it can be very difficult to keep our focus centered on what’s going well. The negatives can easily consume all our attention and demoralize our spirit, particularly if the issues are regarding people, personality, and performance.
Enter Strengths Finder 2.0.
This book by Tom Rath of the Gallup Organization provides readers with access to an online testing form to accurately pull out one’s top five personal strengths. Because of the nature of this online test, you must rate yourself quickly - without over-thinking - and place yourself on a continuum between two different pairs of strengths. For example, on the right side of the equation the statement might be “I am generous.” And on the left, “I study to gather as many expert opinions as possible.” You rank which of the two statements sounds more like you. If you doubt the efficacy of self-reporting, they have empirical data to support the accuracy of their instrument, and over 2.5 million people have taken the survey.
Overall, this book gave me a fresh appreciation for valuing a variety of skills and a new perspective on some great ways to restructure around the positives - in others and in myself. The 18-page report also provides helpful pointers on working with others and the types of strengths to seek out in others to balance you as you consider potential teammates. Even if two people display the same strengths, the report will suggest different areas for growth based on the degree to which those strengths are evident.
So what does this have to do with Bent Tree? As members of the body of Christ, we have been blessed with spiritual gifts, unique functions, and different kinds of wisdom. We need each other, and we are created to bring Him glory. By serving with our strengths, we increase our opportunities to serve with joy. Yes, sometimes God calls us to serve in our places of weakness to experience a deeper dependence on Him, but there is a joy in serving Him with the gifts and talents that are uniquely yours. To quote Eric Liddell, whose story was made famous in Chariots of Fire, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
Some of us may feel that we already know where our talents lie, but…you might be surprised; I was. I knew I was good at generating creative ideas, but the online test did a very interesting job of synthesizing my highest five areas together and helping me uncover unique expressions for my inner motivations. I was also surprised to note that some traits I had expected to see on my list of strengths were absent. Hmm… what does that mean? Honestly, it was rather freeing. Truly, the strengths that rose to the top ARE the things I naturally LOVE to do! Without guilt or prodding.
So if you are in need of a motivator to help you refocus on the positives, or perhaps you are unsure how to serve in a church setting, or maybe you’ve experienced a lay-off and suddenly you need to re-evaluate your marketability, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Strengths Finder 2.0. You just might find a new way to experience Paul’s invitation to join together as the Body of Christ.
Romans 12: 3-6 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
Strengths Finder 2.0 is available at The Crossing Kiosk.
