Life can be a beautiful thing. We evolve. We grow and become more aware our own beings. But when we become older and more experienced, we sometimes lose our childlike flexibility.

As children, we were able to flow and weave through life’s obstacles. We found ways to get what we want. We never liked hearing “no.” So if our father denied us, we simply went to ask our mother. Devious or persistent? No matter what the obstacle, we found inventive ways to accomplish the task at hand.

Our brains were not yet solidified with failure and heartache. Thus with whatever talents, gifts and tools we had, we made it work. We tried everything.

The Choice

Awareness is key to spiritual evolution. We must understand our strengths. We must embrace our faults and weaknesses. And with everything we do, there is a choice. We can sit idly by and depend on our strengths to carry us through life. Or we can learn to master our weaknesses so that we are no longer hampered by them.

If we choose to simply rely on our strengths, we will become dependant. The good news is that these strengths are highly functional and applicable for most of our lives. They are our tested and true gifts that we have mastered time and time again. We can pull our strengths at a moment’s notice to serve us in most conditions. They are our strengths for good reason. It is who we are.

But trust that there will be a moment in time that our strengths will be nullified. It is at this point, that our reliance on our strengths will cripple us. We will not know what to do, because who we are will not work in all situations. We are strong at some things, but yet also weak at others.

If we choose to master our weaknesses when our strengths are invalidated, we will still have other tools that can serve us. Evolution requires this.

Darwinism is an evolutionary theory that can be simply described as “Survival of the Fittest.” In nature, animals evolve genetically and behaviorally to survive the hardship of nature and the cycle of life. The genetic mutation of spots may create the perfect camouflage to hide from predators.

Some monkeys have learned to use a long blade of grass into termite hills to fish out a perfect snack and others have learned to dip in hot natural springs to avoid the harsh cold winters.

We as humans have this behavioral choice. Do we succumb to the pressures and pitfalls of life? Or do we face our greatest weaknesses and turn them into strengths?

I know what I choose.

3 Steps to Evolving Your Weaknesses

If you made the choice to evolve, then you are already doing well. Committing is difficult for many of us. But if we are able to commit to growth and becoming powerful, then this journey of turning weaknesses into strengths will be much easier. Committing allows us to not only take action, but to feel powerful in doing so.  By committing, we are disciplined and focused, not allowing our fears and anxieties to hold us back.

There are two different approaches to turning your strengths into weaknesses. One is a shift in perspective. The other is taking action that deliberately challenges our weaknesses.

But before we can do any of this, we must again be conscious and aware. This is a constant theme. Get used to it. To do anything powerfully, we must become aware of our own being.

Step 1: Identify

• What are your strengths?
• When are your strengths useful in your day to day life as well as in emergencies?
• What can rely upon when you are most fearful?

Your strengths are valuable tools. Know what they are. Know when you can trust your strengths to serve you. Examine how these strengths bring you opportunities and solutions.

However, be mindful when your reliance upon your strengths create weaknesses. Many of us use our strengths to overcompensate for our deficiencies. For example, you may be the most humorous and entertaining guy. You can always bring cheer and laughter to anyone’s life. But are you cracking jokes and smiling, when really you are hurting inside? Are you using your charm and personality as a mask to hide the most vulnerable parts of your soul?

Perhaps intellect is your strength. But when you overly use your mind, and disconnect from your emotions you become a robotic mess. Face this truth.

• What are your weaknesses?
• When do you feel weak and afraid?
• What it feels like when you “lose control.”
• What thoughts and emotions nag at you?

Understand the things that don’t come naturally to you. See what obstacles in life seem more challenging than others. Your weaknesses can be very obvious. Some are cleverly hidden. Take time to explore your spirit objectively.

Take a step back and see the entire picture. Be honest with yourself. Consort with trusted others to help you see truths that are hard to see. Though other’s perspectives could be off target, gathering information can help give you a clearer perspective.

Ask the very important question of… Why?

To evolve your weaknesses, you must know what they are.

Step 2: The Shift

Life is a matter of perspective. Things can either serve you or consume you. What is an obstacle for one is an opportunity for another. We have heard these wisdoms time and time again, but yet it is very difficult to master… though easy to understand.

After a draining session of counseling a friend, you may feel wiped out and exhausted. Your choice is to look at this event as one that has depleted you to a zombie-like state, or one that has made you stronger after realizing you are capable of wonderful love.

You can pray to your higher power, begging “Please, please give me the strength.’ By doing this you are implying you have no strength and need an external source to supply it. Or you can pray and ask your higher power to simply remind yourself how powerful you really are in times of need. Essentially you would be praying for the same thing. However, the second version implies that you already have the strength inside. This is a more powerful stance.

I am colorblind. I can see some colors, but I simply don’t see the world the way you all do. I can barely dress myself, as colors clash all the time. What I thought was grey, was really green. What was supposed to be brown was really red. You can imagine as an artist, how this can be a huge weakness. As a filmmaker, my skies were green, and my suns were purple. I had to hire assistants to help me “see” these colors and correct them. In this, I had allowed my colorblindness to be a weakness. Genetically, there is nothing I can do about that. I simply gave up and gave in to this deficiency.

But is it really a deficiency? My eyes see the world the way they do. What if I shifted my perspective? I must find a way to turn my weakness into a strength. Yes, I am still colorblind. But as an artist and filmmaker, guess what? I get to make films and paint pictures where the skies are green and the sun is purple. I get to create works of art to share with the world how I see it. Isn’t that what art is supposed to be? To present material the way the artist sees it? What a gift colorblindness really is then…

I get to be a special minority who processes images and colors in ways most do not. My weakness is now a strength.

By shifting your perspective, you make use of the things you cannot control. If you cannot improve or change your weaknesses, then simply change your perspective.

You may have been in a serious accident that forces you to be in bed. Yes, this is quite unfortunate and is a weakness in physicality. But perhaps this was a gift. This is now an opportunity to write your life’s story and become the next New York Times best selling author.

The following article further explores this concept: I Judge You, I Do: Changing Your Personal Perspective.

Step 3: Take Action

Weaknesses are simply things not yet attended to. When we are able to focus and work on them, weaknesses will dissipate. But know that simply changing our perspective is not enough to overcome some weaknesses. There are some weaknesses within our control. These are the weaknesses that must be shifted through action.

There are some weaknesses that are inevitable. I am not 10 feet tall. So I cannot change that ceiling light bulb without a ladder. It is what it is. But there are many weaknesses, especially behaviorally that are possible to change.

Let’s look at the common weakness of procrastination. This is within your ability to control. Work the steps. Identify why it is that you procrastinate. Why do you push things back and back and then stress at the last moment? How does this behavior increase your stress levels? How does this “unattended” energy weigh on your mind creating mental duress?

Shift your perspective. Instead of saying “Oh I am always the procrastinator,” allow yourself to say, “I used to the procrastinator, but now I am not.” Do not embrace labels that weaken you. Take the more powerful stance. Shift your mind and then you can shift your actions/behavior.

Start small. If there is a bill in the mail, don’t leave it until the last moment. Don’t be late. As soon as you receive the bill, pay it. Then ask yourself what the difference in emotions, feeling and energy is in comparison to your procrastination. Does paying this bill immediately bring about level of satisfaction, peace or simply less annoyance? Does cleaning now, create a less cluttered house and thus a less cluttered mind?

If it serves you, then keep acting upon it. Find bigger and more involved tasks that you keep pushing aside. And instead of wallowing in what you need to do, you can simply go do it. Do feel more powerful and free?

Commit to becoming stronger. When you become aware of procrastination, handle your business. Take the initiative to become the most proactive person you know. Allow yourself to say,”I used to stall and wait, but now I just do.”

And if you are committed and mindful, your old behavior of procrastination will turn into a gift. You will remember what it was like to waste time and mental/spiritual energy. Those memories will serve you, as they inspire you to proactively engage in your tasks immediately.

You can wallow in your own muck, or finally go do something about it.

Let’s look at another common weakness that explores these 3 steps.

Perfectionism:

Step 1: Look at your ego. What pushes you to be so perfect? What part of you has a hard time making mistakes? Does your perfectionism prevent living for fear of failure? Why do you not embrace failure, when we learn more from mistakes than successes? Know when, how, and why this trait holds you back from true growth.

Step 2: You have high expectations of yourself. That is a great thing. Instead of having to be “perfect” at everything, understand that “perfection” may simply be a balance. To be perfect may simply be allowing growth and evolution. Be perfectly human. You are not God. Absolute “perfection” may not be possible. But be the perfect You.

Being perfect isn’t about doing everything right all the time. Perhaps being perfect is simply how you spiritually and psychologically handle these mishaps in life.

Step 3: Those with perfectionist attitudes are usually highly critical of themselves after making errors in life. Instead of belittling yourself, allow yourself to learn from your mistakes. Instead of criticizing your every move, chuckle and laugh when you make bonehead mistakes and learn from them.

Be perfect in the pursuit of self love and happiness. Instead of reacting to negative events, you will learn to flow with ease. If so, you have taken your weakness of being perfect and turned into a strength by allowing yourself the happiest and most peaceful life possible.

In the end, that’s just perfect.