Have you ever received performance feedback that hit you hard? I once did. A colleague told me I appeared confused during a work review. Despite receiving plenty of positive feedback, I fixated on this one statement. It bothered me so much that I brought it up with my coach. Through our conversation, I realized something important: I do get confused, but it doesn’t paralyze me. In fact, confusion is what fuels my curiosity.
Instead of pushing away that feeling, I began to embrace it. When I feel confused, it drives me to ask questions, do research, and find the answers I need. What once seemed like a negative trait became a valuable part of my learning process. Fast forward to a recent conversation with a fellow coach, where we were talking about feeling insecure. She made a powerful point that deeply resonated with me: our weaknesses often carry hidden gifts.
When I feel insecure, I prepare more, I dig deeper into the subject, and I push myself to anticipate questions that might arise. What I once viewed as a weakness—whether it’s confusion or insecurity—has kept me sharp and helped me grow.
As much as we all strive to overcome our weaknesses, it’s equally important to recognize the gifts they unlock within us. Embracing them can propel us forward in unexpected ways.
