“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom”
Aristotle
DEVELOP YOUR CHARACTER
Individuals can boost their life satisfaction if they learn to develop their strengths and virtues and apply them in novel ways to their lives. One of the biggest projects in the field of positive psychology has been the study of human character strengths. Leading scientists across the globe studied individual’s strengths and as a result we now know that across all cultures we all share 6 human virtues and 24 character strengths. Individually, we each have a constellation of 24 character strengths and each individual’s top 5- 7 strengths tend to be predictors of their true character.
Research has identified 5 key elements that contribute to wellbeing and the underpinnings of these elements are our character strengths. When we are aware and aligned with our strengths, research has shown we:
- Boost and strengthen our relationships
- Have greater self esteem
- Feel valued
- Feel respected
- Experience greater confidence and benefit from positive emotions
- Feel happier and more energized
- Accomplish goals
- Achieve positive personal and professional outcomes
Understand why you do the things the way you do?
I was pleasantly surprised by my top 5 strengths and knowing them has helped me to understand why I do things the way I do. It has also helped me to understand why I feel out of alignment when I’m under or overusing them. Knowing your core strengths and virtues can empower you to live a life that is better aligned with who you truly are. Working with me, I can help you to become aware of your strengths and show you how to apply your strengths in a positive and helpful way. For example, if you set a goal and keep failing to reach that goal, you may be low in self-regulation. If you are then we can look at your top 5 core strengths and design personally tailored strategies to boost
self-regulation. Working with strengths is a lot of fun and you will learn so much about yourself and others. In order to determine your strengths, you will be asked to take a confidential, easy 10 min online multiple choice test which will be yours to keep. When you start noticing your strengths, you will also start noticing other’s strengths and start to see the good in others rather than focus on weaknesses. This alone will have a positive impact on your life and boost your positive emotions. By using the strengths that come most naturally to you, you can begin to enjoy your life more.
SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES AND ORGANISATIONS ARE ALL BEGINNING TO INCORPORATE STRENGTHS AWARENESS AND DEVELOPMENT INTO THEIR CULTURES
Awareness and appreciation of each other’s strengths is an important practice for developing positive relationships, engagement, pleasure and understanding. In fact, research has shown that focusing on character strengths is a key driver of employee engagement and positive work experiences. For example, one employee may have a top leadership strength which would explain why they are always volunteering to take the lead on things. Or it could explain why this person is unhappy if they are held back and not encouraged to take the lead. The same can apply to family relationships as well.
My programmes and coaching aim to help my clients discover what their strengths are so they can mindfully and self-compassionately celebrate what is good in themselves rather than focus on what is wrong. As human’s we have a tendency to focus on individual weakness and look for the negative rather than the positive and my programmes will help to shift that tendency.