Are you a big fat liar?

Last week, I had the privilege of leading a training session for the exceptional nurse education team at Frimley Hospitals NHSFT, focused on the journey of self-actualisation. It's sessions like these where I find the roles of facilitator and delegate to be interchangeable, each offering unique learning opportunities. The exchange of challenging questions and new perspectives not only enriches our understanding but fosters a deeper level of personal and professional growth.

A highlight of this training was integrating the concept of MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) grip reactions with VIA (Values in Action) strengths, exploring the landscape of our personal and professional personas under stress. With MBTI, we delve into how we might overextend our strengths when mildly stressed, moving away from the Aristotelian golden mean into extremes. This imbalance often leads to our subconscious selves, or what Jung referred to as the shadow, attempting to correct course in unconstructive ways—extraverts may withdraw in a childlike manner, introverts might react overly emotionally, for example.

This exploration led me to ponder how VIA strengths could be examined through a similar lens. 

For instance, if Honesty is a strength, instead of seeing its opposite as being a 'liar', perhaps its complementary yet opposite strength might be seen as diplomacy or storytelling. Leadership's counterpart could be viewed as compliance or obedience, and Love's opposite might manifest as a form of rational detachment etc... 

These reflections open a doorway to reimagining how we perceive and balance our strengths, akin to advancing appreciative inquiry to a new level. 

I invite you to join me in this exploration: Choose a VIA strength and consider what its opposite complementary strength might be. How can understanding these dualities enhance our personal growth and effectiveness?

This dialogue is not just about recognising our capacities but about broadening our perspective on how we can adapt and thrive in diverse situations. I look forward to reading your insights and reflections.