The moment I feel myself hiding or avoiding something I stop and do a quick self-evaluation regarding the issue at hand.  As I recognize my weaknesses I can better put together a plan to minimize the issues.  I am always striving to eliminate the negative and create something positive. 

From my experience, people usually can identify several of their strengths.  Self-evaluation of those characteristics helps keep our positive attributes in check.  Our strengths can become areas of concern if we allow things like power and pride to develop. 

Normally I reflect on my strengths and weaknesses in three ways.  First, I pray.  Second, I review the situation from my perspective.  And third, I attempt to see the situation from the perspective of others.    

In prayer, I ask Jesus to show me areas of concern and ways I can improve.  The answer might not be immediate, but if there is something Jesus wants me to know I will get the information.  I might recall a past situation and as it replays in my mind I see how my actions may have been hurtful despite not being intentional.  I pray for forgiveness and an opportunity to make things right.

Secondly, I evaluate my actions and my intentions.  Hindsight often helps put things into perspective and gives me a fresh look at the situation.  I think about how I reacted, how engaged I was, and how I felt at the end of the event.  Did I leave feeling people were appreciated?  

Third, I think about the evaluation from the perspective of others.  How do I think they perceived my participation and was I able to see the situation from their perspective?  Again, I think about how people reacted, how engaged they were, and how they appeared at the closing. 

Regular self-evaluations play a major role in refining how I interact with others.  Hindsight can be very helpful as we navigate our strengths and weaknesses. Prayer is the tool that allows me to turn a negative into a positive through love, compassion, and Jesus.

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