As part of our mindfulness practice we begin to know more about ourselves. From this comes self-knowledge that is not only for the sake of appreciating who we are but also to recognize our shortcomings. This is not to guilt ourselves or judge ourselves in any way. We always completely and utterly accept ourselves despite our faults. However, it is helpful to know a well-developed and nuanced list of strengths and weaknesses. Creating a list like this allows us to know what our strengths are in order to take advantage of them, as well as our weaknesses in order to improve them, ideally using our strengths. Here is an example list I wrote about my own strengths and weaknesses that you may in turn compile for yourself:
Strengths:
Loving everyone, no matter what type of person they are. Making sure people are comfortable. Appreciating nature and its Divine inspiration. Organizing my life. Dedication to meaningful goals and purposes. Being patient. Weaknesses:
Listening to everything people say without getting distracted by what I want to say or think. Not eating to much or too fast. Being comfortable with my desires. Being patient. Worrying about what people think, and stopping myself from acting authentically because of it. Worrying in general. These kinds of lists are a good way to develop wisdom about yourself, realizing things that before were always under the surface. Once you make the lists you can add more and more strengths over time, and subtract weaknesses that you consciously work on, perhaps one at a time or all at once.
In meditation we strive for total self-knowledge to be fully equipped to overcome those aspects of our mind that do not serve us and let them go while fully cultivating the aspects that do serve us. May you grow in your self-knowledge through using self-reflective lists of strengths and weaknesses that your practice may be thorough and complete.