Are you happy? Does your life have meaning and purpose? Are you living your values? Do you know what your signature strengths are? They are the character strengths that make you uniquely you. They help you be your best, most authentic self.
Dr. Martin Seligman’s main mission has been the promotion of the field of Positive Psychology. This discipline includes the study of positive emotion, positive character traits, and positive institutions. His research has demonstrated that it is possible to be happier — to feel more satisfied, to be more engaged with life, find more meaning, have higher hopes, and probably even laugh and smile more, regardless of one’s circumstances. He has written several very well respected books including: Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life and Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment
As a leadership coach, I encourage my coachees to use the VIA Signature Strengths Questionnaire that Dr. Seligman created. It is available for free, online at http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx and it measures 24 Character Strengths.
It’s a wonderful self-assessment tool to help you realize the strengths you have. According to Dr. Seligman, our lives are better when we incorporate more of our signature strengths in our lives.
Take about 15 minutes to answer the questionnaire honestly and then review your strengths. Are you satisfied with how often you use your strengths? Are you finding that in your work or life right now, some of your key strengths are not fully able to shine? If so, that may be causing dissatisfaction for you. What would it take to bring out more creativity? Or gratitude? Or to reignite your love of learning? Well… maybe that’s why you’re reading this blog.
Our lives are meant to be lived fully. One way to do this is to express your unique self, your authentic you, by being in touch with your strengths and sharing them with others.