So, why do so many of us examine our weaknesses through a magnifying glass? It would make sense that such a tendency would relate to events or conversations that happened when we were children.
Like everyone else, I have my strengths and weaknesses. It took me a long time to understand that we don't all learn or process and evaluate information in the same way, or at the same pace. And that's okay, because that makes us all human.
Unfortunately, people often have a linear view of what intelligence and success is. I'm sure you've seen them because they're all around you. Perhaps you've even gotten caught in this trap yourself.
Take board games, for example. One person could be really great at Scrabble, but struggle with Boggle. Everyone knows someone who has all the answers for Trivial Pursuit, or who thinks quickly for Blurt! But that same person may become quite frustrated with spatial games like Othello or Rumis.
What likely happens is that one person might choose not to play a game s/he doesn't think s/he's good at (the linear view), while another takes it as a challenge and plunges into it even more (the rounded view). One amplifies the weakness, and the other confronts it head on. Which one will come out ahead?
Don't we minimize our own potential when we try to make the puzzle pieces of learning fit neatly into straight lines and boxes? We're good at this...We're bad at this...Why not measure them according to timelines or yardsticks, while we're at it?
There are adults who try to quantify how smart children are, as if there's a mathematical or scientific formula for it. They expect more of certain children and less of others.
And if that's not bad enough, children start to judge themselves that way too. They compare themselves to others, and sometimes put others down in order to feel better.
That's not cool, but where did they learn it from?
Well, one children's author is trying to help children see that it's not only OKAY to have strengths and weaknesses - we all do (although some may appear not to have any, right?); but the key to being our best selves starts with accepting, and then seeing past, our flaws.
I'll have her book reviews here for you this week.
