Sometimes in life, the thing holding you back is actually pushing you to be a better person.
It may not feel like it at the moment, but challenges can uncover strengths you never knew you had. The struggles we face often shape the strongest parts of who we are.
Throughout my life, I’ve spent a lot of time worrying and overthinking, always wanting things to be perfect. As I’ve gotten older, I have begun to understand that viewing perfectionism as one of my negative traits made me feel ashamed about it. In reality, perfectionism has pushed me to be thoughtful, careful and want to do my best in everything.
For instance, when I overthink an interaction I may have with somebody, it means I am thinking attentively and being mindful of others’ feelings. In the same way, worrying about school assignments means I am a motivated student and value academics.
For me perfectionism, while stressful, pushes me to focus on being the best version of myself in everything I do. It drives me to pay attention to small details, think before I speak and spend more time on school work. Instead of seeing perfectionism as a flaw, I’ve grown to see it as a strength that forces me to progress in life.
Recognizing that your weaknesses can actually be strengths doesn’t necessarily have to be about ignoring your challenges. Instead, reframe your thinking into viewing your flaws as advantages. When you start to see these traits as tools rather than obstacles, it becomes easier to appreciate yourself for who you are, rather than constantly focusing on who you think you should be.
In high school, it’s easy to be over critical of ourselves and worry about our worst traits. The things that we tend to label as flaws can actually be good traits if we take time to look deeper. Reframing your mindset towards your weaknesses can help to take away some of the pressure to be perfect and instead remind you that you already possess unique strengths that make up who you are as a person.
By embracing your weaknesses and learning to use them in positive ways, you can start to appreciate different things about yourself instead of being critical. Life isn’t about being flawless; it’s about learning, adapting and turning the things that feel like major setbacks into reasons to improve. The next time you find yourself worrying or criticizing your weaknesses, remember that you hold the power to turn that flaw into a strength.
