We are only as Strong as our Weakest Attribute

If you can easily identify your greatest strength, therein will often lay your greatest weakness. In the world of integrative healing, there is a saying, 'We are only as strong as our weakest organ.' This is similar to a chain being only as strong as its weakest link. This concept is very evident in nature, where there is a unique, ever-changing, and unspoken dance of synergy. We have all sought out and basked in the warmth of the sun’s rays, and we have also sought out the cooling shade of a tree to protect us from the scorching heat of those same rays. This is when the sun’s rays call the rain, the clouds, or the winds to balance the scorching heat.

Consider the gentle breezes, or rains of the summer that relieve the intense heat of the sun. When the rainstorms move through and the rushing water devastates the landscape, we look for the solace of the sun or winds to dry things up and help restore balance and harmony to the saturated earth below. The same lightning that has the propensity to damage, burn, or destroy, also contains life giving properties to plants as it’s strikes supply nitrogen that helps these plants to be nourished so they may flourish.

The strongest and weakest attributes of our natural resources are continually changing its unpredictable dance. There are times when it cannot balance and a state of devastation may prevail.

Our lives also parallel this dance of synergy. Some surges present themselves without any control, but when they do show up, we can learn to recognize them simply for what they are, allowing them to pass and then respond by counterbalancing the storm with a harmonizing hope.

If your greatest strength is patience, surely others may benefit from your calm composure. But recognize that at times there are issues that really are intolerant and calm composure will be deemed a weakness at that moment or situation. You need to yield to the balance of the storm and the harmony of restoration. That being said, if you are the assertive storm or impatient nature - know that calm in the midst of some storms will prevail as strength after the storm has passed.

How many times have we waited out the rainstorm, clashes of thunder, and bolts of lightning, knowing that we can’t stop it? We focus on the passing - the deep breaths that suspend it, whether in the still of the night, the light of the morning, or waiting for the bright sun to emerge from behind the storm clouds and embrace us. We can’t clean up the mess until the storm stops.

Knowing your personal anchors of strength, patience, love, kindness, or leadership will help you to be prepared for the everyday dances of change, our personal mini-storms. Surround yourself with those who can predict and prepare for a storm, lead through a storm, pray through a storm, or comfort through a storm.

Identify your greatest strength and accept it as your greatest weakness. Identify your greatest strength and be there for others. Be there as love, since the heart of love just is…and the rest will just be.

...always be the love that you are