What’s love got to do with it?
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Sitting at my desk, thinking about what to write for this month's blog, out of nowhere the song lyric “what's love got to do with it?” popped into my head.
Hmmm. Must be a reason.
So I thought about it for a couple of minutes and realized that the lyric reflected just how much I love what I do. (Okay, just that one phrase, not the whole song — sorry about that, Tina Turner!)
When Work Energizes Instead of Drains
We've got a lot going on lately — teaching a couple of classes, creating a new product, working on an exciting partnership, writing a book, connecting with new clients — and the list goes on. I could easily feel overwhelmed (definitely a familiar place for me), but I don't. Instead, I'm energized and having fun! Rather than feeling weighed down by hours of work I don't particularly enjoy, I'm spending my time doing things that play to my natural strengths.
The reason for my positive outlook is that while we've always strived to “live the theory,” doing so has become a whole lot easier lately. Everyone in our organization is taking that phrase beyond theory and putting it into practice!
I love it when the power of Perceptual Style and understanding natural strengths shows up in daily life — and that's been happening a lot lately. Nothing beats the feeling when a client has an “aha moment.” In one of our recent classes, those moments were popping like popcorn. Makes me smile! And when we were dividing up the workload among our team, more than once someone said, “Let me take that one. It plays to my strengths.”
The Power of Playing to Your Natural Strengths
Playing to your strengths may sound obvious, but the idea pales in comparison to the power of practical application. I have energy because I’m doing the things on our team that I do best. I’m not being dragged down with energy sapping tasks that just aren’t my forte.
Perceptual Style Theory helps explain why some activities feel natural and energizing while others require more effort. Each of us has a distinctive way of perceiving and responding to the world, and that perspective influences the strengths we bring to our work and relationships. When we recognize those strengths and intentionally use them, we can approach our responsibilities with greater confidence, energy, and satisfaction.
Ray Bradbury is often credited with saying, “Do what you love and love what you do.” I couldn't agree more. The challenge for many people is that they overlook their natural strengths and try to approach the things they love in someone else's way. Instead of relying on what comes naturally to them, they struggle to fit themselves into approaches that don't suit them. That's when something they love can begin to feel like work rather than joy.
Are You Doing What You Love Your Way?
So my question for you is this: Are you doing what you love, and are you doing it your way?
Understanding your Perceptual Style can help you recognize the natural strengths that make certain activities more rewarding and energizing. It can also help you appreciate why others may approach the same work differently.
If you're curious about your own natural strengths, consider taking our Perceptual Style Assessment.
What activities leave you feeling energized rather than drained? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
Discover how understanding your Perceptual Style can help you recognize your natural strengths and appreciate the talents others bring. Explore The Power of Your Perception.
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About Lynda-Ross
Lynda-Ross Vega is a partner at Vega Behavioral Consulting, Ltd. She specializes in helping corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, and individuals with interpersonal communications, team dynamics, personal development, and navigating change. Lynda-Ross is co-creator of Perceptual Style Theory, a revolutionary behavioral psychology theory and assessment system that teaches people how to unleash their natural strengths and build the life and career they dream of.
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