Living Above the Line: Strengths, Fear, and Self-Awareness
- laceyblass
- Oct 16
- 2 min read
What happens to our talents when fear is running the show?
I’ve been trying to read a lot this year— because it fills my Input bucket and gives me energy. Right now, I’m deep into Brené Brown’s latest book, Strong Ground. I’ve been a fan of her work for years, and this one is no different. It’s packed with wisdom for teams, workplaces, and anyone looking to live with more courage and awareness.
One concept that stood out to me is her use of the drama and empowerment triangles. (Brene's image below). I've worked with these tools myself and with clients, and I’ve always found them transformative.
Brené adds a powerful twist that she learned from her coach: what always pulls us “below the line” into drama is always fear. Fear keeps us stuck, while empowerment lives on the other side.
Reflecting on my own life, I see this. I can easily step into being a hero, villain and victim in parenting. As soon as I fear that my children won’t grow into capable adults or fear that I’m not doing a good enough job - it doesn't look pretty.
When I look through this lens, it’s clear: whenever I’m below the line, fear is driving.
That got me wondering—what does fear do to my CliftonStrengths themes? How do my talents show up differently when I’m in strength versus when I’m in fear?
Here’s some of my reflection:
Ideation
In strength: New ideas fill me with possibility.
In fear: New ideas feel like more work, especially if they involve my kids.
Input
In strength: The world excites me because of what I’m learning and experiencing. I feel challenged, but energized.
In fear: Information freezes me. I spiral into, “I can’t believe I didn’t know this before.” I may even stop reading altogether.
Empathy
In strength: I seek to understand you.
In fear: I demand that you understand me.
Strategic
In strength: Obstacles are just puzzles to navigate, and I’m patient enough to bring others along.
In fear: I must get to the destination quickly—no matter who I leave behind.
Significance
In strength: I pour myself into what I believe matters most.
In fear: I desperately need to matter.
This reflection has reminded me that while CliftonStrengths is a powerful framework, the real work is always about self-awareness.
Tools like the empowerment triangle deepen that journey, helping us see not just how we shine but also how fear distorts our gifts.
So I’ll leave you with this question: What do your talents look like in strength, and what do they look like in fear?
I’d love to hear your reflections!
About the author Hi I'm Lacey, a CliftonStrengths coach based in New Zealand. I'm passionate about helping managers and teams thrive, not just survive.
I'm also a creative introvert, wife, mum and an avid fan of both exercise and doughnuts! If you're keen to begin or continue your CliftonStrengths journey, drop me a line or book a free chat
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