Weekly: Strength and shadow
I recently received a meaningful note from one of our community members, and I want to share it with all of you — because it's really a note of gratitude to you.
They said:
"I have found myself, often lately, feeling really sad about the state of the world. Sometimes it seems hopeless. Are we really going to be able to make the world better? I feel doubt. I feel really afraid.
Then I think about the New Happy community and I remember that there are all of these people out there who want to do good and help other people. It gives me my hope back."
This person's hope was renewed because of you. Because of all of the good that you do every day, and all of the ways that you strive to make our world a better place.
Sometimes, I feel these same emotions. And then I remember: you are all out there. We got this. We can do this.
Thank you for being you, and for giving us all our hope back.
Have a great weekend,
Stephanie Harrison, founder of The New Happy
This Week
We all possess wonderful strengths: specific capacities and qualities that help us feel energized, find purpose, and contribute to the world.
(If you don't know what yours are, check out the community responses below for inspiration!)
Our strengths also have shadows.
Aristotle argued that to be virtuous means to find the 'golden mean' — the balanced place where you're neither underusing or overusing a strength.
For example, think of honesty.
Underusing honesty can lead to timidity.
Overusing honesty can lead to cruelty.
It's the balanced place in the middle that brings about the greatest good.
In the same way, we want to start to notice our own strengths' shadows. When we see them, we can understand them; from there, we can manage them.
To spot your strength's shadow, bring one of your strengths to mind and then ask yourself these two questions.
"What does it look like to underuse this strength?"
"What does it look like to overuse this strength?"
More Tips and Tools
1. Unwind your feelings — This week's animation.
2. Your minutes — How will you use your 960 minutes?
3. The power of acceptance — Resistance might be keeping you stuck.
4. Bumpy days — Embrace the bumps.
5. At a crossroads — What to do when you don't know what to do.
Or listen to the podcast episodes (Apple, Spotify) from this week!
Community
What is one of your strengths?
"One of my strengths is that I always look for beauty around me. I don’t mean a superficial, rigid sense of beauty but the kind of beautiful that exists in all of us and in nature; I always feel deeply moved and touched when I come across that beauty and it makes the world more precious to me. It could be children laughing, a sudden smile or when someone shares their favourite food with you, dogs playing among themselves or a cat lounging by the window—it’s my strength when I actively look out for beauty around me despite the odds!"
"I’m empathetic and caring for my colleagues. I suppose being a good listener is my greatest strength."
"Connecting people, processes and ideas! I like to call connecting my super-power!!"
"I know I’m funny and make people laugh!"
"I consider empathizing as one of my strengths and I apply this not only to my personal life but also at work as a corporate communications advisor. I love to see the glow in people’s faces whenever they feel safe, seen, and supported."
"I find that one of my biggest strengths is being able to emotionally connect with people. Some might not see it as a strength but I think those who I connect to appreciate this."
"I see the beauty of nature every day. I appreciate it. I photograph it. I share it. I paint it."
Inspiration
1. Iceland's caves (Colossal) — Your weekly dose of awe.
2. Shakespeare's first folio (Aeon) — This is so cool: a librarian walks you through an original copy of Shakespeare's work, first published in 1623. It's the reason we have many of his plays!
3. How did we get butterflies? (NPR) — One scientist's journey to answer this question.
Before You Go
No spam, just joy.
