About three years ago, I got into identifying and using one’s character strengths to live a more grounded life. Character strengths are the good qualities about oneself that come naturally to us. Dr. Martin Seligman and his cohorts from the University of Pennsylvania created a branch of psychology known as “Positive Psychology.” From it stems this thinking and focus on the positive of who we are not, as opposed to the negative or deficient areas of our personalities. This shift into “positive” has greatly impacted my own thinking in how to best help people.
In my own life, I can look at “what’s best about me?” From there, I work from this perspective to help me overcome challenges, make decisions, etc. Through an online assessment, I have learned that my top strengths are: Love, Judgement, Gratitude, Spirituality, and Social Intelligence.
Well, writing and reading that list just makes me feel good! In a difficult situation with another person, I may say to myself “can I throw some love or gratitude to this person that may help us work through this problem?” Judgement is the ability to see all sides and to analyze what’s best. It’s truly working from your “head,” and then Love is clearly working from your “heart.” I had to laugh out loud when I got my results, because Love and Judgement were tied for 1st… which I feel I face a lot: choosing between “do I work from my head or my heart?” Haha! Since learning of my character strengths, I have felt validated and empowered. I also now work with all of my clients on understanding their own personal strengths and how they can use this awareness in their lives to improve decisions and create greater understanding of themselves.
What do you think your greatest strengths are as a person? Are you creative? Curious? A leader? What would it be like if you regularly worked from the “best of who you are?” What if you could spot others strengths and share that with them? “Hey, I really admire how grateful you are in your life, and I wanted to just tell you that.” What could that do to your relationships with others? I have to say that since I am aware of my top strengths, I work from them all the time. I have found greater success doing this than when I try to work from my lesser strengths as they just don’t come as naturally as my top ones do. For example, “sense of humor” is one of my lesser strengths. [If you know me, you know that this is both true and funny at the same time. ;-)] When I try and connect with people through this strength, it is much harder for me… but if I try and connect with them through my strengths of social intelligence and love, then connection is natural, easy, and always works. Although I’d like to be the “funny girl” at the party, I’m simply not. And that’s okay. I’m the spiritual, analytical, deeply caring, thankful one that will blow your mind with powerful listening. And I’m at my best when I’m that girl and no one else.
To take your own survey and find out what your strengths are, check out ViaCharacter.org. I’d love to hear where your greatest strengths lie!
