Recognize your Strengths

Recognize your strengths

A water bearer in China had two large pots hung on the ends of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it; the other pot was perfect.

At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the perfect pot would always be full of water, but the cracked pot would arrive only half full.

For two years this went on every day, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots of water to his house.  The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, but the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. 

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, the cracked pot spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream, “I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.

 Each of us has our own unique flaws, and it’s these that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. We’ve  just got to accept ourselves for what we are and everyone else for what they are, and look for the good in all people.

To find out your strengths ask yourself: When do you feel most alive?  Which new skills do you learn very easily?  What do you look forward to?  What do look back on with fondness?   — “100 Ways to Happiness” Dr. Timothey Sharp