Which traits got in your way?
“Your pitfalls don’t disappear by ignoring them — but by recognizing them.”
The better you recognize and manage your weak spots (pitfalls), the less they will stand in the way of your growth, success, and happiness.
Assignment
Make a list of ways of being that you recognize as your personal weaknesses or pitfalls.
Use the phrase: “I am…”
Do this in a way that works best for you — on paper or on a digital device such as your phone, tablet, or laptop.
Once your list is complete, choose the five traits that most held you back over the past year — in reaching your goals or in living the way you want to live.
You’ll use this top 5 later when defining your personal recipes for disappointment, and to explore which patterns you might want to stop or transform.
Tips
- Use the inspiration list on the next page.
- Ask family, friends, or colleagues what they see as your weaknesses.
- Keep in mind: many weaknesses are simply strengths taken too far:
- I am stubborn → maybe you’re actually determined
- I am perfectionistic → maybe you have great attention to detail
- I am distant → maybe you are independent
Inspiration List
I am / I see myself as:
absent-minded, aggressive, aloof, anxious, argumentative, arrogant, awkward, bossy, careless, clingy, cold, compulsive, confused, controlling, critical, cynical, defiant, demanding, dependent, disorganized, distant, distracted, dramatic, emotional, erratic, fearful, forgetful, frivolous, gullible, hesitant, hostile, impulsive, impatient, indecisive, indifferent, inflexible, insecure, intolerant, irritable, jealous, lazy, loud, manipulative, messy, moody, naive, narrow-minded, needy, nervous, obsessive, passive, pessimistic, reckless, rigid, scattered, selfish, self-centered, sensitive (overly), shy, sluggish, stubborn, tense, timid, touchy, unassertive, unreliable, unrealistic, unmotivated, unorganized, unresponsive, unsure, vague, withdrawn, worried
Feel free to use your own words or add other traits that describe you.
