Character is one thing I believe loads about. Each month I attempt to give attention to growing or bettering a minimum of one character trait. Normally, self-discipline is concerned, and often, I fail at rising my degree. I really feel like my character makes or breaks my relationships, profession, happiness, and extra. It’s necessary to me to not simply need to be an excellent individual with good character traits however BE an excellent individual with balanced character traits.
The opposite day I used to be taking a category by Brian Johnson in Optimize, and he talked about how he writes down his character traits in his journal each morning to remind himself of them and mirror on them. He talked about the VIA Institute on Character, so I paused the category and headed over and took the survey to get to know my strengths.
As a result of private growth has been my focus for therefore lengthy, I’m at all times targeted on my weaknesses and the way I can enhance them, however I like the concept of specializing in my strengths and letting them shine in my life.
Seems I had taken the survey method again in 2014! I didn’t even keep in mind.
You may retake the survey as a lot as you need.
I took it on the twentieth, and after I noticed the outcomes, I believed I might undergo it once more with extra thought to my solutions. I just about acquired the identical outcomes.
My High 5 Character Strengths
It’s very fascinating to mirror on these character strengths that I don’t usually give a lot consideration to. I worth them, however I don’t give attention to them as a result of I’m at all times targeted on bettering my weak point.
1. Appreciation of Magnificence And Excellence
I didn’t even suppose this was a personality energy, however this completely describes me.
I recognize the wonder within the small issues – issues that most individuals don’t see. The night time sky, the small flower on the aspect of the highway, the way in which the bushes line up down a road, completely reduce grass, and the way in which the water comes up over the rocks in a river.
I like being in nature. My good day is spent in nature – wherever, because it’s all so lovely and calming to me.
However I additionally recognize the wonder in interactions and other people.
- I cry in appreciation after I see somebody serving to another person out.
- I like somebody who can put collectively an superior enterprise and succeed.
- I like watching individuals use their abilities for work and enjoyable.
- I worth the creation of issues and revel in watching the method.
I’m emotional. I react to commercials with tears and other people’s small wins with pleasure.
It is smart that that is my high character energy.
2. Social Intelligence
This can be a character trait that I knew I used to be robust in. Not a lot in my teenagers, however I’ve been since my early twenties. I’m conscious of what motivates me and different individuals, and I’ve at all times been capable of work together with individuals positively primarily based on that information… if I need to.
Actually, I believe that is why persons are drawn to me. Regardless of the place I’m going, individuals come as much as me, discuss to me, or simply keep near me. Via my social intelligence, there should be some type of vibe I ship off the place different individuals suppose I’m relatable or personable.
I’m capable of diffuse conditions and create peace as a result of I can perceive the place persons are coming from, and (if I’m not in a shitty temper) I can use that information to make everybody really feel good, together with myself.
3. Honesty
That is one other character energy that I’ve had since my early twenties. I’ve by no means appreciated mendacity. It eats me up and makes me really feel horrible.
I can keep in mind after I determined that I used to be not going to lie or twist the reality. It was when somebody requested me to exit to a horror film. I hated horror motion pictures, however I pretended to love them as a result of everybody else did. They made me really feel horrible for weeks on finish as a result of I had (and nonetheless do have) a hell of an creativeness and would scare myself need to dying each night time.
I informed them I didn’t like horror motion pictures and didn’t need to go. And it felt good. And from there, I simply stopped mendacity about every thing as a result of it felt good.
Whereas it’s necessary, to be sincere with others, it’s additionally been necessary for me to be sincere with myself. It’s allowed me to take the trail I’ve taken.
As an example, as an alternative of staying at a job I hate for all times, I used to be capable of admit that I wished one thing extra after which go after it. It might be painful to nonetheless be there realizing that’s not what I would like in any respect.
Authenticity is so necessary to me.
4. Gratitude
This has come from follow. I’ve talked about how gratitude is the one factor each private growth course or e-book has in widespread. It’s simply at all times drilled into my head, so it is smart that it’s considered one of my high character strengths.
I do have a knack for being grateful in powerful conditions. Actually, it’s at all times how I pull myself out of a funk. I begin itemizing off the explanations that I’ve to be pleased and earlier than lengthy, I’ve moved up the emotional scale to a spot that feels higher.
Based on the VIA Character report I purchased, gratitude impacts immune functioning. I didn’t know what. With all my well being issues these days, it provides me a motive to strengthen this character energy much more.
5. Kindness
My fifth high character energy is kindness. That is undoubtedly one thing I try for, seemingly due to all my different high character strengths.
I can see the worth in different individuals with my appreciation for magnificence.
I can perceive the place persons are coming from with my social intelligence.
I can’t misinform myself after I see that somebody wants assist or a sort phrase.
And I’m grateful for what I’ve and wish different individuals to really feel that very same form of gratitude.
The entire random acts of kindness factor is smart to me and I attempt to do it as usually as potential.
I Purchased The Report From The VIA Institute For My Character Strengths
For $19 USD you should buy a report that features your high 5 strengths and learn how to enhance your life with them. Or you should buy a report that explores all of the strengths and learn how to maximize them for well-being. I selected the latter one. It price $49 USD.
Specializing in my character strengths is thrilling to me. It’s not one thing I’ve accomplished shortly, so after I noticed that the report may assist me use my character strengths to my benefit, I purchased it for concepts and inspiration.
The Report Begins With Your High Character Strengths
First, the report goes over your high strengths and lists out what they’re, what they imply about you, and the advantages of getting them.
The report provides you an thought of learn how to use your signature strengths extra and in new methods since you may be happier and reduce melancholy by doing so.
Reflecting on that, I figured that is most likely why Brian Johnson writes them down each day in his morning journal routine. It helps him hold his strengths in thoughts and discover methods to make use of them all through the day.
Then The Report Focuses On Your Center Strengths
Based on the VIA Institute on Character, your center strengths might be labeled as ‘considerably such as you’. A few of them could also be robust and a few of them not a lot. These are the strengths which are obtainable to you if you want them.
That is fascinating to me as a result of my love of studying seemingly was in my high 5, however it has gone down a number of notches within the final 12 months. I’m positive I’ve talked about this earlier than on this website, however after I acquired out of faculty, I nonetheless wrote essays on sure subjects and books. I liked studying. Then I jumped into private growth, which is what led me to this website, and continued to like studying. I’ve come to some extent the place I’ve realized loads and I’m extra all for hardcore implementing than studying. Though, I nonetheless like to be taught.
In any case, the report merely explains what the character traits seem like and learn how to use your supportive strengths.
Then The Report Focuses On Your Lesser Strengths
The VIA Institute on Character says that these are the strengths that don’t come naturally.
Yeah, this sounds about proper.
My zest has gone out the window because of a bunch of various elements – and these elements have affected my potential to forgive.
I’m additionally holding onto my grievances fairly tightly, particularly with one facet of my affiliate enterprise.
An organization that I work with repeatedly does issues that make me disenchanted and upset. Not with their merchandise, however with their associates program. I are inclined to give attention to the corporate in my affiliate enterprise as a result of I like their merchandise, however, reflecting on these lesser strengths, I can see that my interplay with this affiliate staff and program is inflicting numerous the issues.
- I’ve no zest as a result of they drain me, and I don’t stay up for working with them. I used to get up with pleasure.
- I’m turning into bitter and might’t let issues go as a result of I really feel like they screw me over repeatedly and so they don’t clarify themselves after they do.
- I don’t have numerous ardour to do what I must do as a result of I don’t need to work with them.
They’ve taken numerous the enjoyable out of my enterprise, and it impacts my relationship with different corporations. My frustration, disappointment, and resentment must go.
In any case, the VIA Institute on Character doesn’t name these weaknesses. They name these lesser strengths. They’re strengths that want work or want extra worth positioned on them. The report tells you learn how to enhance these lesser strengths.
The Subsequent Part In The Report
The remainder of the report covers issues, reminiscent of:
- Underusing character strengths.
- Overusing character strengths.
- How your character strengths cumulate into virtues, together with your strongest advantage (mine is humanity).
- How you can enhance virtues utilizing your character strengths.
- How you can pursue happiness along with your strengths.
After which you’re invited to proceed the journey via their course or e-book.
I’m Liking My Insights So Far
For me, I’m going to cease attempting to construct up self-discipline for a bit and as an alternative work on the character energy of zest. I believe it is going to carry up the remainder of my strengths barely and affect each space of my life positively, together with getting issues accomplished. Plus, it’s one of many happiness strengths, so I actually need to enhance that energy.
I like The Complete 24 Report. However you don’t must buy something in case you don’t need to. You may take the survey and discover out your high 5 strengths, which you’ll be able to then use nonetheless you need. You do must create an account to allow them to entry your outcomes everytime you need… together with, seven years later after you forgot about them!
You may take the energy survey right here.
