Ever been in a situation and been asked “What are your strengths?” It’s a great question, but it can sometimes feel awkward to answer as our culture often scoffs folks who flaunt their own skills.
So, what should you say in this scenario? What sort of answer are they looking for? While you’ll definitely want to reflect on this for yourself, you can also use others’ experiences to complement your approach.
Striving to become the best version of oneself can have a profoundly positive impact on mental health. When individuals set and pursue personal goals, whether they relate to self-improvement, career advancement, or relationships, it can foster a sense of purpose and fulfillment. This journey towards self-betterment often involves self-reflection, resilience-building, and acquiring new skills, all of which contribute to increased self-esteem and confidence. Achieving these goals not only enhances one’s self-image but also provides a sense of accomplishment and a boost in overall well-being. The pursuit of personal growth can create a positive feedback loop, where improved mental health encourages further self-improvement, leading to a more satisfying and fulfilling life.
The Reflected Best Self (RBS) is a powerful exercise that provides a 360-degree view of your strengths. Using this approach helps examine the impact you’ve made on people in various aspects of your professional and personal life. At the end of this exercise, you will be able to answer the question “When am I at my best?” and better see your strengths from an outsider’s perspective.
Ready to jump in?
1. List: Make a list of 8 to 10 people from different contexts in your life who would be able to provide a specific example of when you’ve been at your best. Make sure to diversify the people you ask. For instance, you could consider friends, family members, co-workers, mentors, coaches, teachers, or supervisors.
2. Ask: Ask each person on this list one simple question: “Can you describe a time or times that you have seen me at my best?” Make sure to keep this question open-ended. This will give your responder the opportunity to be specific about times you’ve demonstrated strengths.
Pro tip: Consider creating a standard online form to collect your responses. This might seem awkward – that is okay. To lessen the awkward feeling, you could offer to do the same for them so that you both benefit.
3. Identify Patterns: Once you collect all your responses, start looking for patterns in their responses. In most cases, there will be themes where responders mention a similar skill. This could be interpersonal skills such as empathy in conversations or a hard skill like creating a presentation.
Pro tip: You can create a chart to help you gather these in one spot. Consider making separate columns for the theme, when it happened, who shared the theme, and any interpretations or comments you may have on this theme.
4. Reflect: Create a “self-portrait.” This is where you combine your internal reflections on your own core strengths with the themes from your external responders. To create this self-portrait, write a 2-3 paragraph declaration. Start with the statement “When I am at my best, I…” Use the following space to succinctly outline times you’ve been at your best and what you’ve done in those moments. It’s important to write this down for two reasons. First, research shows that writing something down helps it imprint on our brain (so you don’t forget it). Second, you now have a great resource to go back to that won’t fade away.
The Reflected Best Self (RBS) is a unique exercise to help you gain awareness of your strengths, find your best self and bolster your mental health. While it might feel a bit outside your comfort zone at first, there’s no doubt you’ll reap the benefits in your personal and professional life.
*If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health, request an appointment with one of our professional mental health providers at Diversus Health today. If you need immediate assistance, call our crisis hotline at 9-8-8, or text ‘TALK’ to 9-8-8.