Category — strengths

In an earlier article, What is Positive Psychology? (Part 2), I mentioned the Values in Action (VIA) Classification of Strengths Manual. This VIA was formulated after three years of extensive research into various sources such as religion and philosophy. As a tool, the VIA is indeed commendable for labelling our strengths, however, as it is relatively infant in usage, discretion should be exercised. I found the VIA Institute on Character’s exercises on using our strengths in innovative ways thought-provoking, and is definitely worth trying out!

Here is a tabulation of strengths classified under each virtue, Wisdom and Knowledge, Courage, Humanity and Love, Justice, Temperance, and Transcendence (Seligman, 2002).
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This has been a question that challenges many ideals of what “conventional” Psychology really is. Or is there really a “conventional” Psychology at all? Is anything conventional at all?

I was reading Martin Seligman’s Positive Psychology, Positive Prevention, and Positive Therapy in which Seligman was outlining the drivers of the Positive Psychology movement.

Why Positive Psychology?

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Just completed a VIA signature strengths survey and it was very interesting!

My top five signature strengths are:

1. Creativity, ingenuity, and originality
Thinking of new ways to do things is a crucial part of who you are. You are never content with doing something the conventional way if a better way is possible.

2. Curiosity and interest in the world
You are curious about everything. You are always asking questions, and you find all subjects and topics fascinating. You like exploration and discovery.

3. Appreciation of beauty and excellence
You notice and appreciate beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in all domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.

4. Capacity to love and be loved
You value close relations with others, in particular those in which sharing and caring are reciprocated. The people to whom you feel most close are the same people who feel most close to you.

5. Leadership
You excel at the tasks of leadership: encouraging a group to get things done and preserving harmony within the group by making everyone feel included. You do a good job organizing activities and seeing that they happen.

In my first post, I defined what Positive Psychology is – “The study of the strengths and virtues that enable[s] individuals and communities to thrive and find happiness” (Positive psychology, n.d.). That is but one of many definitions abundant in this thriving new movement. To me, Positive Psychology epitomises all things optimistic, and naturally, strengths and virtues of people fall into Positive Psychology, as they are “feel-good” kind of things.

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