Understanding your Character Strengths, Unlocking your pathway to Flourishing
If someone asked you to name your greatest strengths, what would you say? Maybe you’d think of your academic prowess, your athletic abilities, or your technical expertise. But have you ever considered that your true superpowers might lie within your character?
What are Character Strengths and virtues?
Peterson and Seligman (2004) studied Character Strengths and virtues, and identified 24 Character Strengths that seem to be stable, morally valued by every culture and hold true across time and geographic borders. They can be manifested through thinking, feeling and action.
These 24 strengths reside within six virtues, namely, wisdom and knowledge, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence which are treasured within the larger society.
Take a look at the table below to explore the 6 virtues and 24 character strengths:
| Virtues | Character Strengths |
| Wisdom and Knowledge | Creativity, Curiosity, Judgment, Love of Learning, Perspective |
| Courage | Bravery, Perseverance, Honesty, Zest |
| Humanity | Love, Kindness, Social Intelligence |
| Justice | Teamwork, Fairness, Leadership |
| Temperance | Forgiveness, Humility, Prudence, Self-Regulation |
| Transcendence | Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence, Gratitude, Hope, Humor, Spirituality |
Although Character Strengths can be influenced by innate factors, acquired factors are more important. Those who used their character strengths in work, school, family, friends and community etc., would experience a greater sense of satisfaction and more meaningful life.
In order to determine one’s predominant character strengths, Peterson and Seligman developed the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS). The VIA-IS ranks Character Strengths in the order that people tend to express them, and the ones that are most often and naturally used are Signature Strengths. The VIA-IS can be obtained from: www.viacharacter.org.
What are your top 5 Character Strengths? Is it as expected? Or is it a new discovery?
Exercise time: Actualize your Character Strength
Fill in the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) to find out your own Signature Character strengths by visiting www.viacharacter.org.
- Choose one of your Signature Strengths – the one that represents you the most, makes you feel the easiest to use, and energizes you
- Identify a new way to express this strength each day for at least 1 week.
This exercise was found to have long-term benefits to adults who do it every day, such as increased happiness and decreased depressive symptoms (e.g., such effect could be maintained for 6 months). Researches repeatedly showed that putting our character strengths and values into action is associated with better personal well-being, life satisfaction and a meaningful and pleasurable life.
When you live in alignment with your character strengths, you don’t just experience fleeting happiness – you cultivate authentic, lasting well-being. Let’s practice how to become the architect of your own flourishing!
Further reading:
Tips for Using Each Character Strength in a New Way: https://www.viacharacter.org/pdf/VIA%20Strength%20Tips%200620%20FINAL.pdf