When you combine your character strengths with your purpose, it creates a powerful synergy. Your character strengths are the tools and qualities you possess to fulfill your purpose. They empower you to pursue your mission and make a meaningful contribution. By aligning your strengths with your purpose, you set the stage for a fulfilling and meaningful and purposeful life.
Character strengths matter because they give us a framework for learning about and discussing the character strengths which we all share in different combinations. Using our character strengths allows us to interact with the world in a more positive way and to enjoy the benefits of increased positivity.
Character matters and focusing on your character strengths helps to enhance your character, helps you be the best you. One way to identify your own excellent character traits is to know your Signature Strengths. And not only know what they are but take active measures to live them.
Each of us comes to this life with a unique purpose and a unique combination of strengths. To give your best in Service to the world, learn your Signature Strengths then find ways to use them to benefit yourself and to benefit others. When you use your strengths to help others, you leave your personal mark on your world.
To reap the benefits of learning to use your signature strengths, use them every day. The benefits of increased positivity make it worthwhile to consciously take steps to discover and use your signature strengths.
One way to use the Character Strengths, including your top Signature Strengths, is to discover ways to combine them with the 18 practices of the Excelerated Life™. Here is a look at combining the practice of Excelerated Acceptance™ with each of the 24 character strengths.
Character strengths are the components that comprise the good life. If you are focused on problems and the things that are going wrong, try a different approach. Use your 24 character strengths to pay attention to and build upon what is going right instead of getting caught up in what’s wrong.
The character strengths comprise 24 positive human traits that have been recognized as desirous across cultures, religions, and philosophies. We all have all 24 of the traits in varying degrees, which gives each of us a unique strengths profile. Experience the enhanced positivity and well-being of putting your strengths to use.
You have the power to positively influence your well-being by focusing on your character strengths. Developing and using your Signature Strengths increases happiness, improves relationships, and builds resilience – the ability to recover quickly from setbacks when things don’t go as planned. Weaknesses need to be corrected focusing on weaknesses is the hard way to grow. Focus on using our strengths contributes to well-being and flourishing.
Use your Signature Strengths to improve your life, building on positives and learning from the negatives but don’t neglect your other character strengths. If fact, you can use your signature strengths to practice and build up your lesser strengths to better use all of the strengths.
Signature Strengths are one of the foundational principles of positive psychology. Early proponents, including Martin Seligman, Chris Peterson, and others, combed through the wisdom literature of many of the world’s religions and philosophies. They identified six “virtues” that were common across all the cultures and thinking, ancient and modern, that they examined.
Then they identified 24 ways the six virtues are lived out. These they called strengths. We all embody all 24 of the strengths but we rely on and use our top 5 or 6 strengths more often and more naturally.