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There are many definitions of a strong person. Most often, this concept is associated with such qualities as honesty, responsibility and self-control. These tips will help you pump up the strengths of your personality and tighten your weaknesses.
1. Develop your positive qualities
Be honest
Don’t let your words diverge from your actions. Do not try to imitate emotions that you do not experience: often people notice falsehood. For example, if you’re annoyed that your partner works so hard, find the strength to say, “I’m sorry I’m so angry and not supportive. I think it’s because I just miss you.”
Raise your awareness
Mindfulness allows you to explore yourself on a deeper level, to understand how your ideas and reactions are formed, and this is an important stage in working on your character. Set aside time for daily reflection when you can ask yourself questions such as “Why did I react to these words the way I did?” and “What can I do to avoid a similar conflict in the future?”.
Meditation also helps increase awareness. Now there are many books, applications and master classes for those who want to make meditation their daily practice, but lack free time. Use them!
Develop self-control
Start with everyday little things. For example, set a goal to control spontaneous food intake. The next time you decide to have a nighttime snack, stop and ask yourself if you’re really hungry. Then drink a glass of water. Consciously manage your impulses and introduce small household habits into your life, for example, start making your bed in the morning. This will help you develop discipline that will come in handy in other areas of your life.
Be true to your principles
If your actions are not in line with your beliefs, you will always feel uncomfortable. Know and respect your values and moral principles. Make decisions based on them and don’t give in to outside pressure.
Always analyze your decisions in terms of their relevance to your internal settings.
Take responsibility for your mistakes and correct them
Everyone makes mistakes, and how you deal with the consequences of your wrong decisions reflects your character. Admitting your mistakes is a sign of strength, not weakness. Don’t be afraid to apologize if the situation calls for it, or to make amends for the damage done. Saying, “Sorry for stealing your idea. I confess to everyone that she is yours”, you will show the strength of your character and build relationships with others based on trust and mutual respect.
be patient
It is absolutely normal to feel irritated in some situations. But patience and endurance can and should be trained. For example, if your colleague does not grasp information as quickly as you would like, think about it, maybe this is due to the fact that you do not explain clearly enough? Or maybe he just doesn’t have your technical background and you should cut back on the use of technical terms? Learn to ask questions and don’t jump to conclusions.
Ask for an honest assessment
Sometimes it can be hard to be objective about yourself. If you are serious about working on your character, ask someone you trust to give you an honest, constructive assessment. Ask about your strengths and weaknesses, thank you for the feedback, and start working on yourself.
2. Learn empathy and gratitude
Put yourself in the other person’s shoes
Compassion is at the core of strength of character. Try to imagine how other people feel. Maybe your friend recently lost a loved one, so he became sullen and irritable? Put yourself in his place, and you will be able to understand the motives of his actions. And then it will become clear to you that now he needs not criticism, but friendly support.
Fight prejudice
Most people have an established system of prejudices, conscious or unconscious, many of which have nothing to do with reality. For example, the idea that people without higher education are not as smart as university graduates. Look around and you will find real examples that disprove this belief.
Awareness of your bias is the first step towards overcoming it.
Learn to experience and express gratitude
Gratitude is an important step towards understanding yourself and the world around you. Make it a part of your daily life and see how your character changes. Every night before bed, think of three things for which you are grateful. You can even keep a diary of your thoughts.
Also remember to express gratitude to people who deserve it. A simple “thank you” or a long comment about how much you appreciate the other person’s actions helps to see you as a strong personality.
3. Show leadership qualities
Speak yourself and let others speak
Fighting shyness can take a lot of effort, but your voice needs to be heard. Try to actively participate in work meetings, speak clearly and clearly, justify your point of view, and, sooner or later, others will begin to listen to you.
If you do not have problems with shyness, you may not notice how often you interrupt others and do not let them speak. The manifestation of restraint also testifies to the strength of character. Let others be heard and organize discussions more often.
Be open to new
Every time you learn something new, you build your character. Don’t miss the opportunity to apply this principle in your personal life and at work. You can say to your boss: “I would like to know more about the accounting part of our project. May I attend today’s meeting on this matter?”
Feel free to ask for help
Some people think that asking for help is a sign of weakness. In fact, this is an indicator of the strength of your character, your ability to recognize and articulate your needs. Your requests should be specific and clear. Instead of saying, “You don’t do anything around the house at all!” try saying, “It would be great if you could do laundry and walk the dog today.”
Notice the strengths of others
Good leaders know that it is more effective to support the success of others than to underestimate them. Help people see their strengths and bet on them in a team game. You might say, “You’re really good at making presentations. Would you like to speak on behalf of the department?
Focus on the team’s success, not just yours. Approach collaboration from a “we” perspective, not a “me” perspective.
Learn to face adversity
Instead of ignoring the problem, find a way to solve it. Assess the situation objectively and avoid impulsive reactions. For example, you are in charge of a department and one of your valuable employees quits without notice. Do not be angry. Better think about how to get out of the situation. You will probably have to redistribute tasks between employees. Assemble the team, explain the situation, and invite them to consider options together.