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LEARNING TO WORK WITH WEAKNESSES

LEARNING TO WORK WITH WEAKNESSES

LEARNING TO WORK WITH WEAKNESSES

Most people waste considerable energy fighting their imperfections, while wasting opportunities to develop their strengths. Some all but destroy themselves trying to squeeze into a “talent and success” mold they were never intended to fit.

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As a teacher or parent, you can help children escape this trap by showing them how to find, and make the best of, what they are and aren’t made for.

Understand That “Weaknesses” Aren’t Synonymous With “Faults”

Bad habits and bad behavior aren’t in themselves weaknesses: they’re either manifestations of weaknesses or, just as often, misuses of strengths. Real weaknesses (and strengths) are as morally neutral as age and hair color.

If you’ve ever taken a Myers-Briggs or similar personality test, you know something about how human traits tend toward left-brained or right-brained, organized or spontaneous, introverted or extroverted, and the like—and how these traits are rarely straight “one or the other” choices, but fall at various points along various spectrum lines to make up the unique combination of traits that define each individual. Have your kids try a personality test and see what traits their natural leanings match and don’t match.

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Spend More Time Improving on Strengths Than on Weaknesses

The common approach of pushing everyone to master a variety of subjects causes more problems than it solves, as illustrated in the famous “Animal School” allegory: the ducks ruin their feet for swimming because they’re expected to also run on land; the eagles are branded as troublemakers because they want to know “Why climb when you can fly?”; and the prairie dogs get shoved to the fringes because their natural talents are considered irrelevant by the powers that be.

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Even if you have a classroom of thirty students, let every child develop his or her own natural strengths by providing regular design-your-own-project opportunities. And, teacher or parent, do not—repeat, not—reprimand kids for getting lower than A grades in their weaker areas. A C can be as good as an A if it represents basic competence and leaves time to become stellar in areas where the child naturally shines.

Emphasize the Uniqueness and Value of Each Individual and of Functioning as a Community

The best way to compensate for weaknesses is not to try harder, nor to resign oneself to doing without, but to develop an interactive community where everyone excels in his or her strongest areas for the good of the whole. The mechanic fixes the doctor’s car; then the doctor can get to her office and give the mechanic stay-healthy advice; then the mechanic is able to work every day and keep the doctor’s car running. Both help each other and themselves by using their own talents and not trying to do the other’s job.

Centuries ago, St. Paul wrote, “I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that … power … can work through me. … For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9b–10, New Living Translation of the Bible). Even if your concept of a Higher Power as the underlying source of strength doesn’t perfectly match Paul’s, there’s no doubt we all gain power when everyone accepts help according to their weaknesses and gives help according to their strengths.

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WAYS YOUR FAMILY CAN PROMOTE PEACE ON EARTH

By delder | January 2, 2021
Shady Oaks - Sheltered Kid

WHEN THE KIDS ARE HOME, Part 2

By delder | December 28, 2020
Cute preschooler girl has chosen a new lovely dress among a lot of clothes in child fashion store; she is happy. Sale, gifts, Christmas, holidays; beauty concept, place for your brand on tag

8 WAYS YOUR FAMILY CAN SPREAD GOODWILL

By delder | December 26, 2020
kids and puppies

WHEN THE KIDS ARE HOME, Part 1

By delder | December 23, 2020
Shady Oak - confident teacher

SOCIAL DISTANCING 201 FOR TEACHERS

By delder | December 20, 2020
shadyoak-parent-homeschooling

SOCIAL DISTANCING 201 FOR PARENTS

By delder | December 16, 2020
Volunteer teacher helping a class of preschool kids drawing

TEACHING STUDENTS TO LOVE SCHOOL

By delder | December 15, 2020
holidays

SMALL GATHERING, GREAT JOY: HOW TO TRULY CELEBRATE WHEN YOUR HOLIDAYS ARE SCALED DOWN

By delder | December 15, 2020
Kids Cooking Together

SIMPLE RECIPES FOR COLD DAYS (AND NIGHTS) AT HOME

By delder | December 14, 2020
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NEED A LITTLE HOLIDAY JOY IN YOUR HOME?

By delder | December 14, 2020

Today's affirmation:
"I CARE ENOUGH TO TRANSFORM THE GOOD INTO THE GREAT"

We are located at:
600 Main Street
Richmond, TX 77469
Tel: (281) 344-1291
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