Saturday, December 3, 2011

Thanks Alfred Adler

Alfred Adler was a psychiatrist about 100 years ago. He developed a theory based around the idea that our weaknesses actually turn out to be advantageous because they help us develop strengths in other areas. For example, many people who do poorly in school become small business owners (entrepreneurs). In one study, over 35% of small business owners were self-identified dyslexics. A weakness in one area, forces people to become "overdeveloped" in another area. Many of the most accomplished people in history had some of the greatest handicaps, some of the worst life situations and some of the most horrific inner battles. The very things that we often think are our worst setbacks actually can be used to our advantage. Mark Batterson in his book Souprint writes, "perceived disadvantages such as birth defects, physical ailments and poverty, can be springboards to success. And that success is not achieved in spite of those perceived disadvantaged. It is achieved because of them.

Where can you leverage your perceived disadvantages in order to develop a stronger area in your life?
What challenges have you faced? How have those challenges made you better? Stronger?
Could it be that part of God's plan in molding you into a msterpiece (Eph. 2:10) is to use difficulties in your life to chisel something good, beautiful and strong in you?
What trials, struggles or difficulties are you facing right now? What can you do to co-operate with God so that your difficulties mold you into His vision for who you need to become?


“What do you first do when you learn to swim? You make mistakes, do you not? And what happens? You make other mistakes, and when you have made all the mistakes you possibly can without drowning - and some of them many times over - what do you find? That you can swim? Well - life is just the same as learning to swim! Do not be afraid of making mistakes, for there is no other way of learning how to live!” Alfred Adler