Even if all our friends gravitate to us when they need advice, it's much more difficult to objectively look at our own situation.  Often we  routinely overemphasize our shortcomings and downplay our strengths and talents.  And isn't that the exact opposite of what we really should be doing?

I recently heard a segment on the radio concerning basketball players.  Some extremely successful coaches recognize an important concept. It isn't necessary (or even desirable) for each player be good at everything.  Sure, it's reasonable to want players to have a basic level of expertise in every facet of the game.  But it also makes sense to encourage the player to work to excel in the areas of personal strength.  The whole team benefits by this utilization and integration of individual strengths and talents rather than attempting to produce cookie-cutter-identical automatons that are reasonably good at everything.  Then the individual player feels special, that he is contributing something unique.

The same basic theory applies to business as well as basketball and to individuals as well as groups.

Wow!  Such a simple concept, yet so profound.  Too often we feel compelled to focus on our perceived "deficiencies", even if it comes at the expense of ignoring our innate strengths.  If we get caught up in perfection, criticizing ourselves when we don't measure up to the top 1% in every category, we will doubtless have lots to obsess about.  

It makes perfect sense -- and yet is somehow counter-intuitive -- that we should spend more time to further develop and strengthen the areas where we're already strong.  After all, why should we aspire to be a Jack-of-all-trades, when we can truly master one or more areas?

The challenge then becomes, "How can I best balance my time and energy to  improve necessary areas of challenge and still nurture my areas of strength?"  

As I mentioned before, it's quite difficult to be objective about ourselves.  But this is an area where your astrologer can help you see more objectively where your strengths, challenges, and needs lie. 

Why not resolve to try to understand yourself better this New Year, be less critical of yourself, and nurture your strengths and allow them to become even stronger?   

Top of Page