Our greatest strengths are our greatest weaknesses

The thought of our strengths being weaknesses does not make sense or does it. Sipping a cup of tea and thinking about this, made me realise how true this statement really is. We all have great strengths and weaknesses which we prefer most of the time not to discuss the latter as who really wants to run around, waving their arms in the air in a lumo dress stating your biggest weakness, well I certainly dont.

What is your greatest strength and if you really took time to think about it, could your ultimate strength be seen as a weakness? According to Wordnet web a perfectionist is a person who is displeased by anything that does not meet very high standards. How can this be seen as a weakness, shouldn't everyone strive to be a perfectionist? Not everyone is a perfectionist, some individuals are happy with just completing a task, not putting 100% into the task whereas a perfectionist will spend hours ensuring the task is completed even if it means pulling an all nighter and having a moment of being a coffaholic. Being a perfectionist could be seen as a weakness, because one may not have time to enjoy the small treasures of happiness in life because you are so engrossed in ensuring that things are perfect all the time, which in reality can be very exhausting, trust me. There is nothing wrong with being a perfectionist but one needs to know when to take a step back, realise that you have tried your best and give yourself the credit that you deserve.

Working in an environment which involves interacting with a number of very different people on a daily basis requires you to be empathetic as individuals have their own needs, worries and trying times. Listening to individuals share their worries, concerns about work, family and life can be trying at times as you want to be a good listener and hopefully give crediable advise. Being empathetic,being in touch with people their emotions, you may consider this to be a strength as not many people have this natural ability however this strength may be seen as a weakness. Being too empathetic may allow people to take advantage of the situation, so one needs to be aware of your strengths and realise that strengths can indeed be seen as weaknesses.

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