3 Personality Traits I'm Proud Of

I don't know about you, but I tend to focus on the personality traits I have which I don't like or which I feel should be changed. Those are always easy to find and focus on. 

We all know where we need to change and where our weaknesses are. Those are easy to write about. Things we want to change, things we're doing to try to change. Things we read that help motivate us. 

A much harder subject for me are the personality traits I am proud of. I don't think on these often, and it really is an awkward subject to discuss much. "Hey! Did you know I'm awesome at x,y,z?! No? Well let me tell you how awesome I am." See, it just feels weird. 

However, I'm working on trying to talk more about my joys and less about my troubles, fears, and failures. I'm working on building up my self image, and my ability to help others. I can't do that by constantly focusing on the negative. So today I'm sharing 3 of my personality traits that I'm proud of. These aren't necessarily the ones I'm most proud of, just ones I've been thinking about since thinking on this topic.

1. Clear-Headed

I don't actually know what to call it. Self Control works pretty well, but it doesn't quite cover what I mean. 

My self-control with some treats is absolutely atrocious. My self control while exercising is weak. I've realized though that in general I'm able to be aware of how my actions will affect myself and others. We'll call this being clear-headed. 

Now this isn't to say I don't ever make mistakes and that my actions are always perfect. Bahaha. Nope. I have things I've done that I wish I didn't, responses I wish I hadn't given, and such. But, when situations come up where I desperately want to act like a little child, I know that won't get me anywhere, won't help the situation, and won't be the best option and I feel like I often have a clear head with what I should do. 

As a teenager I was very specific with who I would date and what a date was (and was laughed at by some of my friends and cousins even) because I knew it was important. Sure, it meant going to prom once with my cousin (you laugh, but we had a blast!), and it meant very few dates, but I don't regret that one bit. I have no embarrassment or regrets about that in the slightest. 

My Mom calls it living life without regrets. I guess that's a better way to describe it. 

This trait helped me to not cause a scene at my sister's wedding when I was upset (something I would definitely have regretted!). It helped me to keep pushing on and doing my job when things felt nonfunctional in the youth program at church and when I felt like just not showing up. It helped me to not say hurtful things to Cameron when we're disagreeing about something (we've never gotten in a yelling match with each other, but that doesn't mean we haven't ever been upset or angry, we just choose to not go into it like kids on the playground). 

I heard a song on the radio the other day that at first I thought was inspiring because this guy wanted to change his life and not be who he'd been, but the more I listened to it the more depressing it was. He regretted so much of his life. What a rough way to live! I don't want that. I want to look back with as few regrets as I can.

2. All or Nothing

This one can be doubled edged sword, but as I am learning to wield it better I am finding it can be a huge strength. 

If I am going to do something, I want to be all in or all out. I throw my whole soul into whatever I'm doing. When I'm not careful, I can let this burn me out, but if I moderate it just right it ends up being a long lasting fire to help propel me on. 

I have a hard time living in gray areas or middle ground. I want to do things whole-heartedly. Church service, health choices, blogs, photography, homemaking, reading, whatever. 

My struggle with this one is once I slip up with something and am not doing well in it, my tendency is to abandon it all together (the nothing aspect of this trait). Slowly I'm learning how to not drop things and how to keep trying.

3. Femininity 

This is not a trait I have always been proud of. As a teen I didn't want to be seen as a "dumb girl" and tried to distance myself from anything I thought was girly, but there was always this inner battle going on because now I realize that being feminine is a big part of me. 

Femininity is a big part of who I am not just because I'm a girl (but that's an obvious part of it), but because it's part of my personality. 

I'm not talking about gender roles or cultural views here (that's a whole different ball of wax that I'm not even going to touch today). I'm talking about who I am from the inside out. 

I want to be elegant, refined, and classy. I love dresses and high heels. I enjoy make up. I want to bring beauty to the world around me. I want to have poise and grace. I just like being feminine as a part of who I am.

What are 3 personality traits you're proud of?