With this in mind, it’s fairly easy to find clues to discover my children's inborn strengths

Point of focus: Two Sides of the Same Coin

What This Means

When I was growing up, my mother often assured me that whatever I struggled with most within my character would ultimately become what I excelled at most. This assertion turned my personal struggles into something of a badge of pride, as each challenge must mean that one of my greatest strengths was being unearthed.

As a mother, I’ve found this to be true regarding my children’s strengths and weaknesses as well. Despite the challenges I have with each of them, there’s always the other side of the  coin, their strengths and talents often highlighted by the very cause of my frustration. With this in mind, it’s fairly easy to find clues to discover their inborn strengths.

To Do

This week, keep a close watch on yourself and your interactions with a specific child. Whenever you feel frustrated with that child, work to find the other side of the coin. This will clue you in to some of his or her natural abilities. Take a picture of your child in either challenge or victory mode, and write a short note about the strengths you’ve noticed within her.

If you don’t see a direct connection between your child’s difficulties and strengths, dig deeper. It’s likely that now there’s something holding your child back from accessing her inner strengths, so you’re only seeing the difficulty. But if you’re able to recognize the good in the challenging aspects of her personality, it will be easier for her to find it as well.

• “You’re someone who knows exactly what you want. Once you’ve made up your mind, you’re not easily swayed. I’ll admit that I’m quick to think of you as stubborn, and sometimes I wish you’d let go of a request or something you’ve decided to undertake.

“But the truth is, I admire you. I’m humbled by your determination and your belief in yourself.

“You decided you wanted to climb the mountain before sunrise, and nothing was going to stop you. This meant waking up much earlier than I wanted to and shivering in the cold as we pushed ourselves to climb. As we neared the top, you ran ahead with excitement, and I lingered behind, breathless and tired, but energized by your willpower.

“Thanks to you, I’m learning that stubbornness and resilience are closely related, and that every determined push for more is your inner guide mapping out your path forward.”

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 756)