Written by Marilyn Stannett, April 7, 2009 www.coachserv.com
Each of us has character strengths we are obligated to recognize and use. When we do, we understand what adds to our life quality, purpose and meaning, and what negates it. We also gain insight about how character strengths may be used in a more beneficial ways. Martin Seligman, University of Pennsylvania and Chris Peterson, University of Michigan, identified and classified 24 character strengths common to individuals. Each of us has the 24 qualities that these positive psychologists identified, but each of us has our own unique ranking based on our answers to a questionnaire that they developed. To take the free test, log on to www.authentichappiness.org and take the Values in Action Character Strengths questionnaire. You will receive a ranked list of your character strengths and will want to focus on your top five strengths. Please don’t see your twenty-fourth strength as a weakness. It is not. The idea here is to focus on your top five strengths because they identify values that are most important and meaningful to you, both personally and professionally. The most positive decision making is aligned with our values. As Stephen Covey says, your values will anchor you through change and adversity as well as good times.
Tags: positive psychology values in action character strengths questionnair, Self-knowledge
