SHOWCASE FRIDAY: LIZ SHOWING OFF HER STRENGTHS IN AFRICA

What's your top 5?
Adaptability, Positivity, Restorative, Connectedness, Responsibility

How do you see them playing out in your life?
I see all of these characteristics and themes playing out in my life everyday as a wife and a physical therapist/trainer. However, I can specifically apply these to a recent experience where I went on a medical mission trip to Africa (where my picture was taken). 

First, It always helps to be adaptable and positive in a 3rd world country where nothing goes as planned. Secondly, I also love connecting with people and facilitating relationships by connecting others together; this was a fun part of working with the team and have already used some of those connecting skills which always energizes me. My responsibility was met with a desire to have the project run efficiently and effectively. My restorative nature played out with my desire to solve musculoskeletal problems and to see bodies restored back to greater physical comfort and efficiency.

What's your favorite theme?
My favorite theme is restorative! I love that there is a description and a definition via StrengthFinders to what I find joy in doing for others in the physical therapy field. I love trying to solve the body’s puzzle and help bring function back to someone. I however don’t think I could be effective at being a therapist or a trainer unless I had all 5 of my strengths working together!

What's the one theme that "get's in your way?"  
Can I do two? Normally adaptability would be my answer here. Usually I need more structure and focus in my life. However, in Africa, on the mission trip I found that my sense of responsibility became most frustrating. It was the first time I had went with this group on this type of mission so not understanding all the “in’s and out’s” of the project hindered my ability to take responsibility for different aspects of the project. It was difficult to want to get things done but not know how. I actually learned from strengths that if I align myself with others that share the same determination to get things done then I will have more success. By the end of the week I understood to a greater deal what would be helpful to create a more efficient environment and the responsibility side of me may have become just a little more satisfied.

How has knowing your top 5 empowered you to live a more authentic life?
 Knowing my top 5 has really given me direction and verbalization as to what my strengths are. In the past I have not understood how to categorize or give words to what I enjoyed or energized me. I now have a new language and guidance as to what God created me to be. It’s very eye opening and gives me confidence that I have skills that I can express to others. Even if others don’t use the strength finder language it’s easy to translate to anyone so that you can explain to anyone from a spouse to an interviewer why you may be handling situations the way you do and what you bring to the relationship. Knowing my strengths has opened up a new world for me.


                                                          reCreate's Strengths Mission
For strengths to come alive, we must have the opportunity to use them everyday and make them personal.  We showcase our friends, family, clients and anyone who dares to show us the personal side to their Top 5. These post are meant to encourage, inspire and connect you to having a life well-lived in strengths.  

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