7 minute read
LIVING
Five strategies for personal development
Research has shown that when people use their strengths, they are more effective in carrying out tasks, often excel in them and experience frequent success. Strengths are positive traits, abilities, skills or characteristics which enable you to perform in a variety of settings. Studies have indicated that when we use our strengths, we are motivated, things come naturally, and we enjoy doing what we do even if it is challenging. Identifying and developing your personal strengths through continued commitment plays a big role in increasing your health and wellness.
Examples of personal strengths are creativity, empathy, being entertaining and extroverted, friendliness, honesty, etc. Identifying personal strengths, capitalizing on them or cultivating new ones have helped people of all ages to succeed and live a life of purpose, satisfaction and wellness.
On arrival, many newcomers tend to focus on their weaknesses or barriers. This can lead to frustration and stress during the settlement process. They pay little attention to their strengths and often minimize their potential. What starts as failures and loss of self-esteem can, over time, lead to chronic health problems such as obesity, diabetes, depression and alcoholism.
Many immigrants express their need for help to learn about their own strengths, and some are unsure about ways to utilize their strengths for personal development.
Here are five strategies to discover and clarify your strengths.
1. Make time to learn about them: For many newcomers, the language, vocabulary and concept of strengths may be new or different from their own cultures. To develop a common understanding of the terms and the value attached to them in the current context, use public libraries or online resources to learn about them.
2. Assess yourself: Self-assessment and self-evaluation are important to identify your core strengths. Do not ignore or underestimate your strengths as being irrelevant. Skills can be transferred and utilized effectively. Be bold in sharing them when there is an opportunity.
3. Ask for feedback: It may be challenging for some to assess themselves. Getting unbiased opinions and feedback from a friend, teacher or employer may help you recognize strengths or skills that you may have not noticed yourself.
4. Talk to a professional: A life coach/career counsellor/employment services may be able to help analyze and identify your strengths. Administering a ‘strengths inventory’ or questionnaire may help in narrowing down and highlighting the key strengths you possess. Some settlement organizations offer free employment workshops and discuss personal strengths as part of resumé building and interview skills.
5. Start and maintain a strengths list/journal: Writing down significant past and current events or situations can help you look for patterns and lessons learned. The analysis of the successes and failures will throw a light on your strengths as well as weaknesses. Maintaining a personal strengths list and adding to it when you are offered compliments or praise in the new country will serve as an energy booster.
Once you have identified your strengths, value them as your personal resource and tap into them. Use opportunities available around you to channel your strengths effectively for your wellness.
For instance, if you thrive on competition, setting weekly challenges with friends may motivate you to achieve your goals. For those whose strength is adaptability, figure out a plan B to replace a running activity on a rainy day with an indoor workout. For those who like to be in control, running on a treadmill or going on a bike ride for a certain distance may be motivating.
The benefits of using your strengths for health and wellness spill over in other dimensions of life as well. For example, if your strength is sociability and you enroll in group Zumba exercise class, you may be motivated to attend it regularly because you feel welcomed by others. And engaging in this group activity could also lead to friendships and networking opportunities that may benefit your professional life.
Giving it time to see results is important. However, if you struggle, referrals to professionals such as counsellors, dieticians, nutritionists, physical trainers and wellness coaches can guide you towards your goals. Experiencing success generates positive emotions and builds confidence, which in turn increases engagement and over all a purposeful life. Embrace your strengths and get them to work for you!
Nandini Tirumala is a mental health wellness coach, educator and advocate with 25 years of experience in Canada with a special focus on mental health support services for newcomers and immigrant families.
LACE UP YOUR HIKING SHOES THIS AUTUMN
Trails to explore this shoulder season
By Carter Hammett
Autumn in Canada is a magical time to be outdoors and soak in the riot of colours. Often referred to as a ‘shoulder season’ – a time between the peak periods of summer and winter – this is an excellent opportunity to go hiking with more views to yourself given the trails are less crowded and often cheaper if it means travel, even if do you have to pack a few more layers!
And you have a lot to choose from with 37 national parks and 10 national park reserves covering approximately 336,343 square kilometers of Canada's lands.
Here are some recommendations of short trails you can explore across the country this autumn.
Banff National Park in Alberta, a part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, offers lakes both turquoise and tranquil, stunning vistas and a large variety of wildlife. Choose from a wide variety of trails; but if you are a novice hiker, consider either the 2.5 km loop Fenland Trail or the 2.6 km Marsh Loop hikes for easy and pleasurable excursions.
Further west is the Kindersley-Sinclair Trail, a moderate hiking route stretching out over 17.5 km of rocky terrain in British Columbia’s Kootenay National Park. Not for the faint of heart, this day trip is in bear country, so caution is necessary, but the dazzling views of Mount Assiniboine make the challenges worth the risk for many.
Not to be outdone, Canada’s east coast has a multitude of gorgeous offerings ranging from ridiculously easy to seriously challenging.
One of the easier routes to navigate is the beautiful Skyline Trail in Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Highlands National Park. This 8.2 km loop hike takes up to three hours to complete and offers striking views of the Cabot Trail. Tread over fragile flora and be prepared to be wowed when spotting whales in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence below or bald eagles circling above.
We’d be completely remiss if we didn’t include the mighty fine vistas of
the 16 km Gros Morne Mountain Trail situated in Newfoundland. This, the most challenging excursion of this roundup, is best suited for experienced hikers. The views are simply stunning as you take in images of the Ten Mile Pond gorge and Long Range Mountains. Bring lots of water with you!
Finally, for the many Canadians living in the Greater Toronto Area, Rouge National Urban Park offers several trails. The Mast Trail is an inspired twohour trek that’s perhaps best suited for experienced hikers but available to all who like a challenge. The trail was previously used as a logging route as settlers logged white pines that were used for ship masts. The forest is filled with both wildflowers and wildlife which add diversity to the brilliant vistas. Make sure you bring a camera to capture the awesome colours of a brilliant autumn.
These suggestions are just a few of the literally thousands of trails available to people wanting to explore the outdoors.
For new Canadians who don’t know where to start, consider reaching out to organizations like Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) or parkbus.ca, which offer outdoor experiences for recent immigrants and see if they can help get you started.
The Canadian autumn is a marvellous opportunity to stretch your horizons and try something new. Indeed, our lush forests are filled with beautiful opportunities that are waiting to be discovered.
Visit the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s website (inclusion.ca) and download their free app, Canoo, which offers newcomers free VIP access to over 1,400 cultural and outdoor experiences, including free access to all of the parks under the Parks Canada umbrella.
You can find other articles about hiking and discovering the great outdoors on canadianimmigrant.ca.
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