Living Your Strengths

Living Your Strengths challenges readers to identity their five "signature themes" or strengths, and then consider how to use them most effectively. There are 34 strengths that are considered in identifying the five most significant ones for each person. The book gives a code number for going online to take the "Clifton Strengths Finder" test for evaluating one's specific strengths.

A third of the book covers "identifying and affirming" these strengths, and another third is given to how to "use your talents for growth and service." Some of the signature themes presented are activator, connectedness, deliberative, empathy, includer, and restorative.

"Naming our top talents gives us permission to accept our areas of lesser talent and either discard them or manage them. It gives us permission to stop trying to be who we are not and concentrate on who we are — who we were originally created to be."

The book is a quick read and is quite basic. However, it is more insightful if one takes the online test and then reads the book. Though most people have taken various personality and strength identifying tests, it is good to occasionally revisit them and be encouraged to use our God-given talents.

An updated 2008 edition is available which expands on the strengths being considered, for an individual and for a group. The identifying of strengths can be evaluated in light of a group working together to better understand each other and to effectively use each person's talents in service to God.