The Clifton StrengthsFinder is an online psychological assessment which helps you find your natural talents. It's used a lot in business settings, but my church has also started offering workshops based on the test. I'm in the middle of them right now.
Before the workshop started I took the online StrengthsFinders test, which helps you find your natural talents. There are 34 possible themes (strengths); when the test was done I learned my top five, which are called my Signature Themes.
As a result of the workshops I'm learning a lot about myself. Each week I attend a ninety minute session, then do homework and daily journaling that we discuss the next week. The topic of this week's session is Finding the Right Fit, and the journal questions leading up to it has me thinking about how my talents have helped me in the past and how I can best use them going forward. I read the question in the morning so I can ponder over it throughout the day, then write down my answer in the evening. It's thought-provoking, but fairly easy.
The homework this time is throwing me for a loop, though. I'm supposed to figure out my favorite job, hobby, vacation, and way to spend my free time. (The theory is that if you can see a connections between your favorite activities and your talents it will be easy to figure out what you're called to do.) Other than the job portion--I LOVE the one I have now--I don't think I have a favorite in any of the other categories. Each category of favorites has questions that relate to it, which of course I can't do until I figure out my preferences. The best I've been able to do is narrow each category down to a couple of options or patterns, and comment on all of them.
Ironically, one of my Signature Themes is Responsibility; I like to do things right.
Five years ago today: New Thing #75--Common Courtesy
I remember taking similar tests a long time ago that said I should be in human relations... teaching, social work, etc. I did become a teacher so it was accurate in that.
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice to know what you're good at.
DeleteThat sounds fascinating and I would love to Try this myself. Anything that helps us better understand ourselves is positive.
ReplyDeleteI agree!
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