As we travel through life, many of our thinking patterns, choices, situations, and direction we take are guided by our character strengths. They affect every aspect of our lives whether we realize it or not.
What are character strengths
Character strength are qualities that we value in ourselves and others. They are qualities that across time, nations and religions are valued as elements of strong and virtuous behavior. Character strengths differ from personality traits in the sense that they are all positive. For example: You could possess the personality trait of ‘an introvert’. This is neither positive nor negative, it is a trait you possess. However, you can possess the character strength of Hope which always bring about positive connotations.
So why do character strengths matter?
When people are aware of their strengths, they use them more intently for their benefit and the benefit of others. There is a term known as ZPD (Zone of proximal development). This is the stage in human development when we move from where we are into where we are not yet but could be. This zone expands our idea of what is possible and when we explore our character strengths, it opens our mind to what could be. It moves us into ZPD.
Character strengths survey
The VIA institute has developed the only scientific based character strength survey that has been used in many industries around the world from tech to psychology to determine what people’s highest strengths are and how to use that to their advantage. The results of the survey are based on a small number or strengths, 24 to be exact, that cannot be broken down into a combination of other strengths. These strengths fall under 6 virtues that were found to be of common value to theologians, philosophers, nations, etc. over the centuries. The 6 virtues encompassing our character strengths are: Wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.
I encourage you to take the survey by clicking the link below to find out what your signature strengths are. https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register
Explore your signature strengths (These are your top 5-8 strengths) as well as others you possess that interest you. Work on using your signature strength more intently or explore some of your lower strength to find out how to develop them. It is important to note that the characteristics listed at the bottom ARE NOT WEAKNESSES. They are strengths you possess but are not as developed as the higher ones.
Take action to use your strengths mindfully in achieving goals and reaching success. See how you can use them to overcome challenges you may be facing. The more familiar you become with the 24 strength the more you can see them in others. This can lead to better relationships as we pick up on strong, positive qualities in those close to us. I encourage you to acknowledge these in others and tell them when you have witnessed their strength. It’s a way to build each other up, strengthen our relationships and our community.
My top strengths are:
1. Spirituality
2. Love
3. Hope
4. Perspective (able to see bigger picture and silver lining)
5. Love of learning
6. Humor
7. Gratitude
My bottom happens to be prudence and self-restraint, and I can’t argue with that 😊
If you would like to learn more about how to use your character strengths to benefit you or would like help in exploring ways in which you can develop any strength that interests you, fell free to reach out to me and together we can work on unleashing an UNLIMITED YOU.
Reading recommendation:
Character Strengths Matter by Shannon Polly and Kathryn Britton
Underlying Gut/digestive disorders that cause acne/eczema/rosacea/psoriasis
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Gut dysbiosis (imbalance in your gut bacteria)
Too many bad bugs & not enough good bugs -
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)
Bacteria from the large intestine that gets trapped in the small intestine -
Leaky gut
Openings in your digestive lining that allow undigested food particles and toxins to escape into your bloodstream -
Parasitic infection
We ingest parasites daily through food, water, air, etc. If our immune system is not strong enough to fight them, they create havoc in our system -
Yeast overgrowth
Such as candida -
Low stomach acid
This is actually a symptom of the above-mentioned issues but is worth mentioning. This can also cause food to sit too long in your stomach & ferment, creating soaring levels of toxicity that are expressed through your skin. Low stomach acid also leads to nutrient deficiencies such as B12 and iron, leading to fatigue
I specialize in rebalancing the gut, so if you suspect you are dealing with any of the above, book a free call with me here and let’s chat.
Factors that disrupt the gut and cause digestive disorders
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Antibiotics:
Kills off good bacteria -
Other medications (over-the-counter & prescription):
Creates bacterial imbalances and damages gut lining, causing leaky gut -
Grains:
Antinutrients and high-density carbohydrates have been linked to gut dysbiosis and leaky gut in some people with an already weakened digestive system -
Sugar:
A diet high in refined sugars feeds bad bugs and encourages overgrowth -
Low fat/fat-free diets:
Besides grains and sugar, common staple foods in the western diet include low-fat dairy. Most low fat foods have been refined, pasteurized, and processed with chemicals that harm our microbiome. Healthy fat is also necessary for maintaining a healthy digestive lining, hormone health, and overall cellular health -
Excessive hygiene and fear of “germs”:
With the overuse of hand sanitizers and excessive hand washing, we disrupt the skin's natural ecosystem. Sanitizers contain alcohol which gets absorbed within seconds into your bloodstream and damages your gut, liver, and hormonal system -
Stress:
Chronic stress can lead to elevated cortisol which interferes with gut flora and contributes to leaky gut
Step by step approach to getting rid of acne and other skin conditions for good:
1. Nutrition
The most powerful medicine in the world is food. Most skin conditions are linked to food sensitivities and intolerances. Cut out trigger foods for a period of 6 weeks. From there you can start adding them back in slowly, 1 by 1, to see what foods are triggering breakouts. people with celiac disease, or an intolerance to gluten, are three times more likely to have acne, eczema and thyroid/hormonal problems. An elimination diet is great for identifying trigger foods. You can learn more about how to start one here.
Incorporate color and variety into your diet. This will feed the good bacteria and encourage a healthy ecosystem in your gut which will affect your external skin ecosystem.
Healthy fats – I went through a serious olive addiction and my skin NEVER looked better. Have you noticed how Europeans (generally follow the Mediterranean diet) add olive oil to their bread, pasta and just about any meal? Not only does this process slow down the release of sugars from carbohydrate-rich foods, but it also naturally suppresses the body’s inflammatory response and helps to make healthy hormones. If you don’t get enough healthy fats, you could experience acne, PMS, and a low immunity level.
2. Lab test
GI MAPM - This test will tell you exactly what is going on in your gut. It will show any problematic bacteria, yeast overgrowth or parasitic infections that could be triggering an IBS response. Once you have the lab results in black and white, it is no longer a guessing game and a treatment protocol can be customized to your unique gut health status. From here you can determine what diet is best for you & what natural supplements need to be taken in order to kill any unwanted bacteria, parasites or yeast.
SIBO - Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is bacteria from the large intestine that gets trapped in the small intestine and is a huge driver of rosacea, eczema and acne. A breath test prescribed by a doctor can assess if this is a problem for you. rosacea
Leaky gut/intestinal permeability test- The leaky gut test involves drinking a sugar solution and providing a urine sample that is used to assess the quality and effectiveness of your digestive absorption. If levels of these sugars are found in the urine it indicates that they have passed through your intestinal walls and into your bloodstream
Celiac Disease – A simple blood test. Celiac disease stems from genetics and if not found and treated can lead to dementia. It is possible for some to live for years with symptoms but not think to check for celiac. Most uncontrolled cases of celiac trigger skin conditions like acne, eczema & psoriasis
Hormone panel - Imbalances in hormones like cortisol, testosterone, DHEA-S, and estrogen are often ignored, but they could be a major contributor to skin conditions
Blood sugar - Fasting insulin and HgBA1C are useful tests for assessing if poor metabolic management is driving your skin problems.
3. Supplement
The kind of supplements you take will depend on what your specific gut problem is and it is best to work closely with your doctor or nutritionist when choosing the right supplement for you. Below are a list of the most common and effective supplements used to heal the gut and get rid of acne naturally.
4. Movement
Sweating is one of our primary detoxification mechanisms. Exercise also stimulates movement in your digestive tract which improves digestion. Not getting daily movement can lead to constipation & toxic buildup that will lead to skin problems.
5. Mental Heath, stress reduction and relaxation
Chronic stress can lead to elevated cortisol from the adrenal glands, which triggers skin conditions. Incorporate daily stress reduction techniques such as breathing, mediation, journaling, reading, yoga, drawing or other creative exercises that put you in flow state.
6. Support and accountability
Making big changes to diet and lifestyle can be difficult to implement on your own, so having the help of a health coach or doctor is key. Truly healing the skin through the gut takes time. When it comes to sticking to any plan, people who have a support system and expert guidance increase their chances of success. In all honestly, if you were able to do it alone, you likely would have done it by now.
As we deepen our understanding of the gut microbiome it has become more clear that many skin conditions do not originate at the level of the skin, but stem from the gut. Besides acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis, here are other skin conditions that begin in the gut:
If you’ve been struggling with any of these, you may want to check your gut.
If you would like guidance on how to best start healing your gut and rebalancing your core body systems, book a free call with me here and let's chat. Together we can co- create a plan that has the power to unleash an UNLIMITED YOU!