James N. Lanza Jr.
Tom Rees
PST 443
Strength
Building
After
completing the strength finder test and reading over my signature theme results
I initially felt humbled. When I think about them not in a boastful manner I
believe they do make up my personality and character. Developer was the first
strength revealed in my test, which has to do with the potential I see in
others. I feel that I have grown to know
that all things are possible thru Christ and God expects us to apply our faith
operating in our abilities. Secondly was belief and I do feel that I have a
moral fiber character, believing it is essential, as character is defined as
who you are when no one is watching. Having a strong core of value and standard
keeps me real and that is essentially all I expect of others is to be true to
who they are in Christ. The third signature theme discovered to me was
restorative meaning problem solver. I was pleased to see this one shine as I
believe I am being called to counseling therefore enjoying the challenge and
analyzing symptoms, identifying the problem but most importantly finding a
solution speaks to the core of my call and is essential to the previous two,
developer and belief. The fourth quality is activator believing action is the
best devise for learning. An area I believe for me a balance is needed. If I
see an area that I possess the skill to complete the task I am all in but
without a balance other things may suffer do to my intensity of wanting to
tackle this new task at hand. Lastly responsibility…. My perfectionism is
revealed to me. I do like to fix things and want it done correctly. I see there
is the right way to get something done and then a wrong way. Excuse’s do bother
me I rarely allow myself to give excuse I prefer to take ownership, of “yes I
dropped the ball, please forgive me.” Shafting a responsibility will happen I
get that, for me I just find it better to take the responsibility either way.
In
Summary as I am sure anyone can, I see good and bad in some of the so called
strengths that have been described to define me. The fifth trait for instances
can be to a fault if I am hard or rigid in my approach; if it is my way or no
way, or if I feel, I rather do it myself
so I know it is done correct, both of these types of attitude are dangerous.
Recognizing the difference I know is important and something I need to always
be aware of. The same may be said about the strength of, Restorative, again
problem solving is great but I know
enabling is closely aligned with saying, “ I am good at problem solving so let
me help you……” Many of us learn this the hard way when we are raising our own
children, saying no can seem cruel at times or allowing your child to have to
learn their mistakes the hard way, when you could have spared them is also
difficult but essential to their character building.
The one I am most satisfied with would have to
be developer. Seeing the best in others and helping them see that in them self
is lifting to me. Helping someone achieve their full potential blesses me,
encouragement comes natural to me as I reflect on the way my mom exemplified
this as I was growing up. Understanding
why someone may feel a certain way and helping them to see it for themselves,
being a good listener and giving sound advice through encouragement and prayer
helps all of us grow in a situation. I
have a heart of genuine care for most people saved and unsaved and I give it to
God to put the people in my life that I can help in this area.
In
rereading my belief strength result paragraph, I have realized my beliefs have
not changed but my maturities in my beliefs have changed and have grown. I
continuously work toward a firm belief system by seeking what God has given as
an example in his word. I pray and give it to God to use me, “in this or in
that situation”, if that would be his will. Settings priorities and being
consistent in knowing where I stand but at the same time being open to hear God
speaking and allowing him to work in me. Our “doing” should be based on what we
believe, what I am doing needs to be meaningful but more importantly it needs
to align with my values.
Considering
I feel called to pursue Christian Counseling I feel that the five strengths
that are now revealed to me are very important. I feel encouraged with the
statistics, as they are in a sense, my true gifts. I feel it is helpful to know
where my natural bent is and the areas that I need to work on as some did not
show up in my top five and yet are important to being well rounded. I believe
knowing these signature themes can only help me in my future roles as God will
use me and I am excited to see what type of opportunities in leadership will be
opened to me.
As I
shared my results with my father, wife and step daughter, who I feel cover a
range of years of knowing me from childhood to intimacy and then with my step
daughter I will say at times a strained relationship. The comments were about
the same from all three. While Dad felt he watched the characteristics evolve
over time my wife recognized the quality’s and explained to me that these were
some of the things that attracted her to me. My step daughter speaking from a
teenage perspective was the harshest and seems to make the quality of Activator
a negative strength. Go figure this would be the area that I see her lack of
maturity and initiative so in speaking with her I tend to challenge her in excelling
in life over all. So I can understand why this may buck her. Overall I am
satisfied with the results and hope to refine some of the areas as God leads me
to.
