HIMYM ~ Daily Log 3/19

I think I have Netflix-somnia.  I literally can not fall asleep unless a) its 3 am and b) I've watched an unreasonable amount of How I Met Your Mother.  I think I may have a problem.

In other news, I woke up at a decent hour today (10:30am) and got a good work out in.  I plan to study a bit then I have work for 4 hours later.  So all in all, its been a boring yet productive day :)

Last night I also had the chance to watch my first TED Talk by Brene Brown on vulnerability.  I was actually really interested in the subject, and I think a lot of people can relate to what she has to say. In a nutshell, she discovered in her research that the most "whole hearted" people were those who allowed themselves to be vulnerable and accept themselves as imperfect.  That latter portion really hit me, and I think that this well be a lecture I will want to watch again in the near future.  All of us have those moments of self-loathing where we replay an embarrassment or hard time in our heads over and over and over again and wonder why we acted so foolishly.  But there is strength in accepting yourself as you are, being open to new experiences, and working to improve yourself each and every day.  To watch this TED Talk, click here.

I've also been studying for my final in Positive Psychology.  One of the main things that comes up over and over is finding and cultivating your "Strengths."  I was intrigued by this, especially since the research has shown that people who do this tend to be happier and more successful overall in their work, their personal lives, and just life in general.  I decided to look up the official test which is at www.strengthsquest.com, but I didn't realize that you have to have a code.  Instead, I looked up a free version which might not be as accurate or comprehensive, but I still found it interesting and I think its an accurate match.

My top 5 strengths were:

1. Maximizer - focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.
2. Significance - want to be very important in the eyes of others.  They are independent and want to be recognized.
3. Relater - enjoy close relationships with others.  They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.
4. Activator - can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient.
5. Developer - recognize and cultivate the potential in others   They spot the signs of each small improvement and derive satisfaction from these improvements.

My top 5 weaknesses were:

1. Adaptability - prefer to 'go with the flow.' They tend to be 'now' people who take things as they come and discover the future one day at a time.
2. Connectedness - have faith n the links between all things.  They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason.
3. Strategic - create alternative ways to proceed.  Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.
4. Communication - generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words.  They are good conversationalists and presenters.
5. Achiever - have a great deal of stamina and work hard.  They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.

So now the next step for me is to focus on and integrate my strengths into my everyday life.  For instance, as a Maximizer I can focus on my employee's strengths and work to make goals for everyone to help the workplace flourish.  As someone who values significance, I can work on my self-image and confidence so that my need in this area is met. As a relater, I can work to spend more time with friends and find mutually enjoyable activities and goals that we can meet as a team.  As an activator, I can take better use of my time and get everything I've wanted to do, done.  And as a Developer, I can spend even more energy on my friends and employees making sure to check up on them, keep them motivated, and praise them for their successes.

Also, I will try to recognize my weaknesses and work with them so that I can slowly improve.  I look forward to using this new knowledge to improve my life.  To take the free strengths test, click here. 

And now a short and awesome How I Met Your Mother quote by Marshall: "Ted, this is pathetic.  Its Saturday night and we should be out at a bar drinking alcohol. Now I know that that sounds depressing, bordering on tragic, but it's just a fact!"

Marshall Erikson, I get you.

Breakfast

• Yellow Apple

Workout

• 1 min run (6 mph), 2 min power-walk (4 mph) 7x
• 80 Jumping Jacks
• 50 Vertical Leg Crunches
• 20 Sit-ups
• 15 Tricep Dips
• 20 Squats
• 10 Side Lunges (each leg)
• 15 Leg Lifts (each leg)
• 50 Bicycles
• 15 Wall Push-ups
• 80 Russian Twists

Post-Workout

• Hashbrowns w/ 1 Egg, Salsa, Sour Cream, & 1/2 Avocado

Lunch

• Corned Beef and Cabbage (woo St. Patty's!)

Dinner

• 1/2 Avocado
• Corned Beef and Cabbage (hey now, I have a full roast of this... I have to eat it!)

Water Intake

• 6 cups of water (& counting)
• 2 cups of coffee