If we could give you 1 strategy guaranteed to enhance your relationships in your community, workplace, intimate relationship, and even with yourself, would you want that?
All of the people we coach would answer a very loud and strong, “yes.”
Focus on what’s strong; rather than what’s wrong.
That’s it!! Applying that phrase is all you need.
Last spring, I met Peter Kenyon from Australia (Bank of Ideas). Peter travels the world, speaking to organizations and working in communities to support them to believe in themselves. In doing so, they create meaningful change using the ABCDE model (Asset Based Community Driven Effort). Peter uses the phrase, “We need to focus on what’s strong; rather than what’s wrong.”
It’s so simple, yet application of it takes dedication, commitment, and hard work. Unfortunately, it is too easy to look at, talk about, and focus on the faults, inadequacies, and what we don’t have. It becomes habitual and definitely occupies many hours for citizens at the coffee shop. It happens in my own community of Sangudo, and others where I work.
When community citizens get together and have conversations about what’s strong (their abilities, talents, and resources), amazing results occur. We’ve experienced this in Sangudo, and I could give you dozens of other community development success stories.
Focus on what’s strong; rather than what’s wrong.
It occurred to me that this exact same phrase has been powerful in my personal life. Years ago, my mind was continually filled with thoughts, and sometimes spoken words, such as:
- “I’m not smart enough.”
- “I’ll never be able to do that.”
- “I’m too shy.”
- “I’m …” (you fill in the blank with your own)
Each time I would think/say those statements, they reaffirmed my smallness and insecurities. Through much hard, mental work I learned how to override these limiting thoughts and to utilize my strengths – to focus on what’s strong, rather than what’s wrong. As my self-confidence and self-esteem continues to increase, I am able to learn and accomplish things I would never have considered in the past. I experience great satisfaction, happiness, and fulfillment.
Focus on what’s strong; rather than what’s wrong.
This phrase can also be powerful in a couple-relationship.
Like most couples, Carol and I went through a fun and amazing “honeymoon” stage. BUT, like most couples, the orgasmic bliss began to dwindle as I realized that Carol was not the perfect person I thought she was. I started seeing her faults and weaknesses. The more I noticed and focused on them, more appeared and they all became bigger. I was building a brick wall of guck between us. Each time I identified another weakness, I placed another brick in the wall. Over time, the wall became so big that I lost sight of Carol’s strengths, talents, and the amazing qualities she has – yet they were still there on the other side of the wall.
When I reflect back, I was actively searching for more weaknesses. In some sick unconscious way, I believe it helped me feel stronger or “right,” or justified in how I treated Carol. The ludicrous part is that Carol was making a big list of my weaknesses and building a brick wall too – a double wall of guck between us!
Any of this sound familiar to you? When you think about it, what bricks have you built between you and your partner? Do you need to apply 1 strategy guaranteed to enhance your relationships?
Focus on what’s strong; rather than what’s wrong.
Carol and I enrolled into intense personal development training and coaching. We did it together. I don’t think we’d have had the courage or long-term grit to keep on with this kind of work on our own.
With support, we realized that the bricks were our own made-up stories about the other person. We began to take the walls apart, one brick at a time. The bricks were heavy and it was hard mental and emotional work. Working together, it was much easier because we could support each other.
As we began to focus on what’s strong, rather than what was wrong, we began to see the real, genuine, loving, powerful human being on the other side.
We’ve been working on this for years, and it still takes conscious effort to override the part of our brain that likes to go into old filing cabinets and find the guck. It’s weird, yet in times of stress or overwhelm, it can be too easy to fall into the old habits.
That’s why we’re so passionate about supporting couples to experience more joy, happiness and love in their relationships.
Focus on what’s strong; rather than what’s wrong.
- Regardless of the quality of your relationship with your partner, what might happen for you if you focus on what’s strong, rather than what’s wrong?
- What would it take for you to begin making a list of your partner’s strengths, traits, abilities, and talents?
- What would it do for you to verbally acknowledged one or two of those things you admire?
- How does it feel for you now when you think about those qualities that were, and still are part of the human being you originally fell in love with?
- What might happen for you now if you consciously, consistently and persistently watched for, even searched for more amazing abilities and traits, and added them to your list?
- Who is in control of doing the above listed points? Yup, the person you see in the mirror.
Here’s another gem. What your partner thinks, says, or does is not in your control, so you can let that go of feeling any responsibility for that.
Focus on what’s strong; rather than what’s wrong.
OK, here’s where the proverbial rubber meets the road. When, specifically, are you going to begin applying this strategy?
If you are challenged by this, you are not alone. Call us at 780-785-9479 and we can have a conversation about it.
