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Leverage Your Strengths, Tame Your Saboteurs

saraparrode

We all start with good intentions when setting goals but staying consistent can be tough. What if the key to sticking with your goals isn’t about willpower, but about using your natural strengths? By focusing on what you’re already good at, you can build a sustainable and enjoyable path to success

Leverage Your Strengths, Tame Your Saboteurs.
Leverage Your Strengths, Tame Your Saboteurs.

Why Strengths Matter for Consistency


No matter how much we love what we do, or how much we believe in what we’re doing, we all have those days when we just don’t feel like running, going to the gym, swimming (for me), eating healthy, journaling, the list goes on.  That’s absolutely fine!  When it’s just a day, two, the problem is when it completely derails us and getting back on ends up feeling daunting. 


What to do, either to prevent this from happening or to get back on track?  Recruit your superpowers!  We all have them.  Curiosity, creativity, love of learning, perseverance, fairness, leadership, humor. Here’s how strengths help you stay on track:


  • Strengths make tasks feel more natural and enjoyable.

  • They reduce resistance and increase your likelihood of sticking with your plan.

  • Using strengths builds confidence and momentum.




How to Identify Your Strengths


One tool I use in coaching is the VIA Survey, a free strengths assessment. You can access it here: https://www.viacharacter.org/account/register.  Other suggestions are to:


  • Reflect on past successes: What tasks felt effortless or energizing to you?

  • Ask trusted friends or colleagues for their perspective.


Applying Your Strengths to Goals


Here are a few examples of how strengths can support your goals.


  1. Strength: Organization

    • Use it to create detailed plans and schedules for your goals.  Use ChatGPT to create personalized plans.

  2. Strength: Creativity

    • Design fun and unique ways to work on your goals, like gamifying tasks.  Use ChatGPT to brainstorm.

  3. Strength: Empathy

    • Join a supportive group or find an accountability partner to keep you engaged.


Overcoming Challenges by Using Strengths


Pair your strength with a challenge you’re having. For example, if your challenge is lack of motivation and one of your strengths is creativity, use mental imagery.  Create an imagery routine.  For me, swimming in the winter can be daunting. To stay consistent, I use mental imagery. The day before and the morning of my swim, I visualize myself pulling through the water efficiently and finishing strong. I end with the reward: the warmth of the sauna afterward


  • If procrastination is a challenge, someone with a strength in planning might create mini-deadlines to stay on track.

 

Your strengths are your superpowers. By leveraging them, you can turn even the toughest goals into manageable, fulfilling journeys. Take a moment today to identify one of your strengths and use it to move closer to your goals—you’ll be amazed at what’s possible.


Try these prompts:


  • "What are three ways I can use my strengths [e.g., creativity, perseverance] to tackle my challenge [e.g., finding time to work out]?"

  • "I struggle with [procrastination, lack of time] and want to [eat healthier, exercise consistently]. Can you give me a plan to start today?"

 

Ready to dive deeper? Check out my free guide, Goal Setting Prompts for Your Wellness Plan, to take your next step toward success!

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