This so resonates with me. You wrote: “I didn’t write myself solving a funding problem. I wrote myself into being someone who solved problems creatively. The grant appeared because my brain was finally looking for it. But my brain only started looking because I’d spent twenty minutes rehearsing a different version of myself.” This very much reminds me of a story I heard during my psychodrama training, from somebody who trained with Jacob Moreno (the “father” of psychodrama). Moreno, as a young university student in Vienna, was a storyteller. He’d tell stories at a famous park in Vienna, and children would gather and listen—and spontaneously act out the tales. He noticed something important: when a timid child would act out a brave role in the story, that timid child henceforth became less of a timid child, and more of a brave child. The acting-out (or “writing-out”) of a role can change a person. I have seen this profound change over and over again in group psychodrama practice.
Dear Jessica: thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story! It resonates deeply with me and now I have to go and do more research and reading about Moreno! That really resonated with me, because as a visually learner, I need/want/desire to process via writing, but for auditory learners - I can see where the power of story telling is immensely valuable.
If you created an account (I think you have to, to take the survey) the results will be on your dashboard, in your account. I took the survey twice, expecting the results to be sent to me, before I realized they are there on the site.
I thank Betsy for getting me through to my report. The test absolutely nailed my bottom most trait of perseverance. I am most distressed about my facility and delight in learning new things but am very distressed that several things which I want for my improved self, mastery of an instrument( i've been through several passingly good) and the joy that comes from painting and drawing to create a satisfying artistic work in response to the beauty that I see all around me(identified as one of my top strengths), and my writing here on SS seem out of reach. Why do I let those things that give me such joy when I am engaged with them such as playing music or sketching outdoors fall away without developing mastery? Why do I turn from perseverance in these areas and yet exhibit it in other areas like a morning ritual or routine that I am faithfully doing for health or my devotion as a husband and father of 39 years or a long career of 35 years that was satisfying . A Mile Wide and an Inch Deep I call myself and vacillate both proud of that and embarrassed. It's as if I am in a battle with my own dragon, feeding the Appreciation of Excellence strength outside of me but starving the Perseverance within that would make that Excellence my own in those areas as well as others.
Dear Tim: What you just wrote stopped me completely. "A Mile Wide and an Inch Deep." I have been sitting with that phrase since I read it.
Here is what I want to say to you: the perseverance is already there. Thirty-nine years of marriage. Thirty-five years of a satisfying career. A morning ritual you show up for without fail. That is not a person who lacks the capacity. That is a person who has been directing it very deliberately, and probably very wisely, toward the things that needed protecting most.
The music, the sketchbook, the writing here, those are not failures of perseverance. They are the places where you have not yet given yourself permission to be a beginner who stays. The dragon you named is real, and I think you already know its name better than you are letting on.
Your Appreciation of Beauty is one of the most generous strengths a person can carry. Of course it reaches outward first. It sees what is already excellent in the world. Teaching it to turn inward, toward your own unfinished sketch, your own imperfect chord, that is the quieter and harder work.
For me the last strength was "Zest." That's the one that I reacted to when I read it. I would not have thought of this for myself. The survey is giving me a perspective (which is my number one strength! lol) on myself and what is trying to come through in my self-perception. Going to do the writing exercise tonight. I'm excited!
Hi Magdalena, thank you so much for creating this beautiful article. 😍I’m curious if you journal about the same scene every single day. And if so, when do you change the scene?
Dear Marusya: Thank you so much for your kind words! and for a great question! I recommend to alter the scenes, scenarios . Just remember to infuse it with details and emotions. ! Cheering you on, M
Hi! I really love this exercise idea and would love to try it. I took the free test but never received anything. Should I retake it or does it take several days for it to process and arrive. Thank you for this great information you are providing!
This so resonates with me. You wrote: “I didn’t write myself solving a funding problem. I wrote myself into being someone who solved problems creatively. The grant appeared because my brain was finally looking for it. But my brain only started looking because I’d spent twenty minutes rehearsing a different version of myself.” This very much reminds me of a story I heard during my psychodrama training, from somebody who trained with Jacob Moreno (the “father” of psychodrama). Moreno, as a young university student in Vienna, was a storyteller. He’d tell stories at a famous park in Vienna, and children would gather and listen—and spontaneously act out the tales. He noticed something important: when a timid child would act out a brave role in the story, that timid child henceforth became less of a timid child, and more of a brave child. The acting-out (or “writing-out”) of a role can change a person. I have seen this profound change over and over again in group psychodrama practice.
Dear Jessica: thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story! It resonates deeply with me and now I have to go and do more research and reading about Moreno! That really resonated with me, because as a visually learner, I need/want/desire to process via writing, but for auditory learners - I can see where the power of story telling is immensely valuable.
I never received the results. Not sure what happened.
If you created an account (I think you have to, to take the survey) the results will be on your dashboard, in your account. I took the survey twice, expecting the results to be sent to me, before I realized they are there on the site.
Thank you Betsy i found the results. Seems i also took it some years ago and scored completely different. Interesting
Same
Dear Renez: I will re-send in the next hour. Sometimes it goes into spam and sometimes it just disappears into the ether! lol
I thank Betsy for getting me through to my report. The test absolutely nailed my bottom most trait of perseverance. I am most distressed about my facility and delight in learning new things but am very distressed that several things which I want for my improved self, mastery of an instrument( i've been through several passingly good) and the joy that comes from painting and drawing to create a satisfying artistic work in response to the beauty that I see all around me(identified as one of my top strengths), and my writing here on SS seem out of reach. Why do I let those things that give me such joy when I am engaged with them such as playing music or sketching outdoors fall away without developing mastery? Why do I turn from perseverance in these areas and yet exhibit it in other areas like a morning ritual or routine that I am faithfully doing for health or my devotion as a husband and father of 39 years or a long career of 35 years that was satisfying . A Mile Wide and an Inch Deep I call myself and vacillate both proud of that and embarrassed. It's as if I am in a battle with my own dragon, feeding the Appreciation of Excellence strength outside of me but starving the Perseverance within that would make that Excellence my own in those areas as well as others.
Dear Tim: What you just wrote stopped me completely. "A Mile Wide and an Inch Deep." I have been sitting with that phrase since I read it.
Here is what I want to say to you: the perseverance is already there. Thirty-nine years of marriage. Thirty-five years of a satisfying career. A morning ritual you show up for without fail. That is not a person who lacks the capacity. That is a person who has been directing it very deliberately, and probably very wisely, toward the things that needed protecting most.
The music, the sketchbook, the writing here, those are not failures of perseverance. They are the places where you have not yet given yourself permission to be a beginner who stays. The dragon you named is real, and I think you already know its name better than you are letting on.
Your Appreciation of Beauty is one of the most generous strengths a person can carry. Of course it reaches outward first. It sees what is already excellent in the world. Teaching it to turn inward, toward your own unfinished sketch, your own imperfect chord, that is the quieter and harder work.
You are not behind. You are just at the door.
So glad you are here.
For me the last strength was "Zest." That's the one that I reacted to when I read it. I would not have thought of this for myself. The survey is giving me a perspective (which is my number one strength! lol) on myself and what is trying to come through in my self-perception. Going to do the writing exercise tonight. I'm excited!
Hi Magdalena, thank you so much for creating this beautiful article. 😍I’m curious if you journal about the same scene every single day. And if so, when do you change the scene?
Dear Marusya: Thank you so much for your kind words! and for a great question! I recommend to alter the scenes, scenarios . Just remember to infuse it with details and emotions. ! Cheering you on, M
Thank you so much, Magdalena. I was going to do the same. It does make sense! you’re doing an amazing job🌺🌺🌺
Thank you so much for your kind words, Marusya!
I signed back in to the platform, but it just served up the questionnaire again. I don’t see a dashboard.
When tap DONE. It brings me back here. 😕
I’m going to try to send it to you via email.
Thanks! I haven't seen it yet. Will keep an eye out.
Hi! I really love this exercise idea and would love to try it. I took the free test but never received anything. Should I retake it or does it take several days for it to process and arrive. Thank you for this great information you are providing!
Dear Debbie: I will resend it to you. I am so glad that it resonated with you and that you've enjoyed it! I appreciate you!
Thaank you! i never received it so maybe entered my email incorrectly. I will try to retake the test.
Love this✨♥️
Thank you !!!