Naming Your Strengths

Mental health struggles can make us feel broken or weak, but many of us are walking around with strength we don’t even recognize. Every time you navigated bias, juggled multiple aspects of your identity, or made it through another day despite overwhelm, you were surviving. That’s not failure. That’s proof of your power.

You’ve Been Building Coping Skills All Along

You may have learned how to:

  • Stay calm in difficult family situations
  • Push through work, school, or caregiving under pressure
  • Find humor in hard times
  • Create art, music, or poetry to express emotions
  • Protect yourself emotionally in unsafe spaces

Try the fill-in-the-blank strength statements below to explore the strengths you already have, and how they can help you with your mental health.

  1. I have survived...

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  2. Because I have survived this, that means I am...

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  3. I've learned to...

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  4. Because I've learned this, that means I'm capable of...

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  5. I've helped others by...

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  6. Because I've helped others in this way, that shows that one of my strengths is...

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  7. Shift the Question

    At times when you are feeling helpless, instead of asking “What’s wrong with me?” try asking:

    • “What has kept me going all this time?”
    • “What has my experience taught me about my needs and how to meet them?”
    • “What strengths can I rely on in the future?”

    Let's try this now...

  8. What has kept you going all this time?

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  9. What has your experience taught you about your needs and how to meet them?

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  10. What strengths can you rely on in the future?

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What others answered: