M7 Strength Test

As we as humans grow in life we are faced with moments in time which mold our character, personality, and develop our strengths as a person. I recently took a Strengths test online found here. A Strength test is a multiple choice test which predicts your top characteristic strengths. Examples of these strengths include: bravery, integrity, learning, love, leadership, forgiveness, hope, etc. The Strengths test provides you with better, more in depth, knowledge of yourself. In addition to providing strengths, it also reveals weaknesses. Both are essential in knowing because they both provide further clarity to who you are as an individual. My top strengths resulted in kindness, love, and citizenship. This in was surprised me, but also didn't. The one that did not surprise me was love. I have always been one who gives love and seeks to receive love in return. I was, however, surprised by citizenship. Citizenship is defined as someone who thrives with social responsibility and is a team player. Despite being independent, enjoying being alone at times, and also selfish at times, I still see moments where citizenship shines through in my character. Lastly, as I look at how I interact with friends and strangers alike I do notice kindness shining through in my life. I do enjoy showing kindness to any and all people. I do have my moments, though, where kindness is not always used. Who doesn't lash out or have a melt down every-once- in-a-while though? We are college students and human! Its to be expected. 

After taking the test I was further challenged with applying my strengths to my daily life. I had to find three new ways to use my top three strengths this week. I decided to tackle kindness first. To show kindness I chose to pay for a man's coffee at Starbuck's on Monday. He was a sweet older man who in return we very grateful that I had shown kindness to him. Although my deed was small it warmed my heart to know I had put a smile on his face and given him some happiness. Next, I chose to show love. This was a little more difficult because love is so easily poured out everyday. I can't compromise going one full day without displaying any act of love, it comes natural to people to show love. Because of this I wanted my acton of love to be bold and big. My opportunity came when my aunt asked me to join her on a mission trip to Costa Rica. This is not the first time she has asked me to join her on a mission trip. However, I had declined all the previous requests mostly because the dates overlapped with other events, but also because mission trips challenge me to get out of my comfort zone. I've always been intimidated by mission trips because I never truly felt qualified enough to preach God to people of different backgrounds and languages. However, my aunt explained to me that preaching isn't what these people needed, it was love. I knew, then, that I couldn't pass up the opportunity. It would be wrong of me to not share love, one of my top strengths, to those in need of it. In addition, the mission trip will be a wonderful and fulfilling was to show love to my Savior. My last strength to accomplish was citizenship. To express citizenship I chose to pick up litter that I saw throughout the week and throw it away in a trash can. You don't truly realize how much people litter until your the one picking some of it up. Some places I found litter was in a parking lot, in my yard, on side walks, and at different places around my college campus. I made the pledge that if a piece of trash was within walking distance that I would throw it away. Picking up litter was not a job I particularly enjoyed, but it did give me a new sense of pride for my city and college campus. These were both places that I called home and I, along with other citizens and student, need to treat these places as so. 

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is something I think everyone should be aware of. In addition, discovering ways to use your strengths throughout your everyday life is an eye-opening experience. You learn to better love yourself and the people and places surrounding you!