A List to Remember “The Truth About You”

You have valuable talents and strengths

I heard a great idea on a podcast recently that I had to share.  It was from Aaron Anastasi on the Small Changes Big Shifts podcast by Dr. Michelle Robin.  Aaron told us how he has a list he calls “The Truth About You.”  He’s built this list by capturing different comments people have made about him; comments that help him see his strengths and talents. When someone points out something he did well or how he used his skills to solve a problem, he writes it down.

Aaron reads this list every day to help him remember that he is a valuable person with wonderful gifts. He says it helps him feel good about himself, builds his confidence, and is a great antidote for imposter syndrome.  

Could you benefit from “The Truth About You” list?  It’s funny how we easily remember times when we’ve messed up or when someone has criticized us.  This is natural because of the negative bias of our brains.  But how often do we remember and replay positive feedback from others? How often do we think about our special gifts and strengths?  This takes much more effort but can be very beneficial, especially when we’re focused on our mistakes or worried about our ability to succeed at some new venture.

Here’s another idea.  Why not share this list idea with someone you know and give them their first entry?  Tell them something they’re good at.  Maybe use an example.  They may even have a suggestion for your list!

Tina Hallis, Ph.D., is a professional speaker and founder of The Positive Edge, a company dedicated to helping individuals and organizations increase their positivity to improve the quality of people’s work lives and the quality of company cultures.