Appreciate your Uniqueness
Begin to love your strengths and claim them.
The next step to developing your mental and emotional fitness is through “Claiming Your Strengths”. By taking ownership of how you think, feel and behave, you will develop an intentional understanding of your innate talents and how they present within a team. Here you will learn how to use your innate talents to achieve specific performance objectives. You will become aware of your innate yearnings, identify thoughts and emotions and be mindful and manage your self-talk.
Remember, up until now most of us have been taught to think, feel and act in similar ways so we can ‘fit in’ with society. And let’s face it, sometimes we don’t want to feel like we’re different. We want friends and we want to get along. So how do we do this if we are all different?
We embrace our uniqueness and accept our differences as being powerful and interesting.
Is it easy? No. But there are simple steps we can make to achieve this. As it has been said, “it may not happen overnight, but it will happen.”
Why: so we can excel at what we’re good at.
How: by appreciating ourselves for who we are and what we’re good at.
Utilising your talent themes:
Using your strengths helps build confidence by reinforcing your sense of competence and capability.
When faced with challenges, relying on your strengths provides a reliable foundation, fostering resilience and a positive mindset.
Focusing on strengths ensures that your efforts align with your natural abilities, making achievements more efficient and rewarding.
Aligning with your objectives helps you choose activities and careers that resonate with your talents, increasing satisfaction and engagement.
Focusing on strengths allows you to work smarter, not harder, by channeling energy into areas where you can have the greatest impact.
Enhancing productivity helps you eliminate frustration from trying to excel in areas of weakness, enabling better use of time and resources.
Acting on your strengths helps you contribute your best self in relationships, whether personal or professional.
Understanding and utilising strengths in collaboration with others improves teamwork and builds trust. Imagine what it would be like if you knew the thinking and feeling patterns of the people close to you, and they knew yours?
While focusing on strengths, you can also use them to manage and mitigate weaknesses, or lesser strengths.
Acting on strengths allows you to approach challenges from a place of competence, making weaknesses less of a barrier to success.
Strengths are not static; they grow stronger with intentional use. Acting on them helps you refine and expand your capabilities.
By claiming your strengths you support continuous learning, as you explore new ways to apply your strengths in different contexts.
You are naturally more engaged and motivated when you work in alignment with your strengths.
Acting on your strengths leads to greater enthusiasm, creativity, and fulfilment.
In team settings, acting on strengths enables you to provide unique value, complementing others’ abilities.
Teams thrive when individuals act on their individual strengths, and as a unit they become team strengths. This leads to better performance, innovation, and greater results.
Acting on strengths allows you to live in alignment with who you truly are, reducing stress and promoting well-being.
Focusing on your strengths helps you make decisions and take actions that reflect your values and talents, fostering authenticity. This focus also allows you to understand why you are thinking and feeling a particular way and whether they are moving toward or away from what you are trying to achieve.
To Do List...
- Reflective Questions
- Download Action Guide
- Activity: Appreciation
- Activity: 7 Day Challenge
With a Coach
- Activity: Talent Guide
You may have noticed that the To-Do List includes additional activities for those completing this program with a coach. Your workbook, which contains these extra activities, should have already been provided to you. If you haven’t received it, please contact your coach as soon as possible.
If you are completing the program on your own, write out your To-Do List and record your activity answers in a diary, journal, or another safe place. Be sure to check them off as you complete them.
Additionally, if you feel you would benefit from the support of a coach, you still have the option to connect with one. Simply book a quick discovery call to learn more.
What was your first impression when you read your Insight Guide? Did anything surprise you?
How have your thoughts been since then? Have you begun to ‘catch yourself’ using your strengths?
Now that you are gaining a better understanding of your strengths, what specific outcome would you like to achieve? Is it the same as the one we spoke about in session 1?
To meet your expectations what do you want to achieve through coaching?
How can you begin to consciously apply your talents to drive toward this outcome? Can you name 2 or 3 specific actions?
Similar to your Insight guide, you will find your action planning guide on the Gallup website. Simply log in and download from the resources section.
Read through this guide and choose two or three specific actions to focus on for the week.
Appreciating your top five Signature themes imagine how they will drive your performance in the future? This may be applied to something you want to achieve or an everyday situation. Answer the following questions using your workbook, or simply write your answers in a journal or diary. Remember, you will grow your knowledge and understanding by handwriting your answers. Answer as much detail as you feel worthy.
1) How would you describe yourself?
2) How can I use my talents to achieve what I want to achieve?
3) How can I use my talents to communicate my ideas, hopes and dreams?
4) How can I use my talents to build, positive fulfilling relationships?
5) How can I be myself while belonging to a team?
Activity: 7 Day Challenge with Your Top 5 Strengths
This week is about owning your top 5 strengths and Claiming Your Strengths – recognising their value, trusting their influence, and intentionally applying them in daily situations. Each day, you’ll focus on claiming a strength as part of your identity and using it to shape your thoughts, actions, and outcomes.
You can choose to align one of your top five strengths with each challenge, use all five, or combine them in different ways. Upon reflection, you may even notice how each of your strengths naturally showed up throughout the day. Remember, you can revisit the 7 Day Challenge anytime to incorporate the daily intentions and reflective questions. As you progress, you’ll begin to notice how interconnected each of the seven challenges are.
You’ve already taken the first step by engaging with this content – watching, listening, reading, and completing the activities. If you’re working with a coach, your second strengths coaching session has also helped lay the foundation.
Today is about developing your conscious competence and claiming your strengths by recognising their value and taking ownership of their impact..
Today’s Intention:
Today, I will claim one of my top 5 strengths as a core part of who I am. I will take ownership of its impact on my thoughts, decisions, and actions, using it with confidence and intention.
Reflective Questions:
- How did I claim my chosen strength today, and when did I use it with purpose?
- When did I notice the positive impact of this strength on my actions and decisions?
- How did taking ownership of this strength affect my confidence and mindset?
Today is about taking ownership of how your strengths help you maintain focus and overcome challenges.
Today’s Intention:
Today, I will take ownership of one of my top 5 strengths as a tool to improve my focus. I will use this strength to stay on track, minimise distractions, and maintain control over my thoughts and actions.
Reflective Questions:
- When did I intentionally use my strength to improve my focus today?
- How did owning this strength help me stay in control during challenging situations?
- How did using this strength impact my productivity and sense of accomplishment?
Language has the power to shape your thoughts, influence your actions, and impact those around you. Today’s challenge is to claim your strengths by using empowering language to express yourself and influence others.
Today’s Intention:
Today, I will take ownership of one of my top 5 strengths through the words I use. I will speak with confidence, clarity, and purpose, ensuring my language reflects the power of this strength.
Reflective Questions:
- When did I use empowering language influenced by my chosen strength?
- How did taking ownership of this strength affect my communication and relationships?
- How did my words impact my confidence, mindset, or the way others responded to me?
Understanding your why gives meaning to your actions and fuels long-term motivation. Today’s challenge is to claim your strengths by aligning them with your sense of purpose and long-term goals.
Today’s Intention:
Today, I will claim one of my top 5 strengths as a driving force behind my purpose. I will intentionally apply this strength to align my daily actions with my long-term goals, using it as a source of motivation and direction.
Reflective Questions:
- How did I intentionally use my chosen strength to support my purpose today?
- When did I notice this strength helping me stay aligned with my long-term goals?
- How did taking ownership of this strength shape my decisions and actions throughout the day?
Habits are the building blocks of success. Today’s challenge is to claim your strengths by using them to develop consistent habits that lead to success.
Today’s Intention:
Today, I will take ownership of one of my top 5 strengths to support my habits. I will use this strength to reinforce positive routines, overcome resistance, and stay consistent with my actions.
Reflective Questions:
- When did I use my chosen strength to maintain a habit or routine today?
- How did taking ownership of this strength help me stay consistent and motivated?
- How did using this strength contribute to my success and personal growth?
Growth comes from learning something new, practicing it with intention, and sharing your knowledge with others. Today’s challenge is to claim your strengths by using them to accelerate your learning and support others’ growth.
Today’s Intention:
Today, I will claim one of my top 5 strengths as a key part of my learning process. I will use this strength to absorb new knowledge, practice with purpose, and share my insights with others.
Reflective Questions:
- How did my chosen strength help me learn or practice something new today?
- When did I take ownership of this strength by applying it to real-world situations?
- How did sharing my knowledge with others reinforce my confidence in this strength?
Sharing your strengths and insights with others creates a ripple effect of growth and empowerment. Today’s challenge is to
claim your strengths by using them to empower, guide, and support others.
Today’s Intention:
Today, I will take ownership of one of my top 5 strengths as a tool for coaching and teaching others. I will use this strength to guide, encourage, and empower someone else, sharing my knowledge and experience with confidence and clarity.
Reflective Questions:
- When did I use my chosen strength to support or guide someone else today?
- How did taking ownership of this strength help me communicate, teach, and inspire others?
- What impact did my strength have on the other person’s growth and confidence, and how did it reinforce my own sense of ownership?
Taking just a few minutes each day to reflect on these questions can have a powerful impact on your wellbeing and personal growth. This daily check is designed to help you:
Stay Focused on What Matters Most
By pausing to reflect, you’ll become more aware of how you’re spending your time, energy, and attention – allowing you to make intentional choices that align with your goals and values.Celebrate Small Wins
Noticing moments of progress, connection, or positivity helps boost your confidence and reinforces healthy habits that contribute to your happiness.Build a Stronger Mindset
Mindful reflection can help you identify areas of growth, reduce stress, and develop a greater sense of control over your week.Foster Connection and Balance
Recognising meaningful interactions and balancing work with life outside of it improves your relationships and overall satisfaction.Contribute to a Positive Environment
Your feedback can inspire changes that benefit your workplace or community, helping create a space where everyone can thrive.
Commit to just a few minutes each day – it’s an investment in yourself and a simple step toward a happier, more fulfilled life.
And remember, now is the time to complete the Wellbeing Check.