Thrive Mode: Activate Your Signature Strengths!
- drsilver4
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
By Dr. Allison Bauer
Do you notice yourself dwelling on the negative? Do you often fall into a pattern of beating yourself up? Do you become consumed with all the things you don’t like about yourself? If so, you are not alone. In fact, it’s natural to focus on the negative. From an evolutionary standpoint, we have evolved to identify threats in our environment to protect against potential danger. While at times it can be adaptive to be aware of the negatives present; at other times, it can be inhibitory.
Although it may feel more natural to focus on weaknesses, there is power in bringing awareness to strengths. Intentionally choosing to shift your attention to what you do well can result in feeling more capable, competent, and confident. The more attention we give to something, the more it grows. So, ask yourself, what do you want to grow?
How Do We Learn About Our Strengths?
Researchers have identified twenty-four universal character strengths, comprised of six virtue categories. Character strengths can be thought of as positive personality traits, and each person has a one-of-a-kind character strength profile. Your personal strengths profile is like your own finger print: unique to you. This profile has the ability to change, adapt, and evolve with practice.
The Values in Action (VIA) Character Strengths survey is a free, online self-assessment that takes about fifteen minutes to complete, and will help you identify your top five signature strengths. We can use this information about ourselves to harness and cultivate our strengths, resulting in enhanced well-being and happiness, improved confidence, reduced stress, stronger relationships, enhanced work performance, and building a life with a clarified sense of meaning and purpose.
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you identify, explore, and harness your strengths:
Step One: Take the Values in Action (VIA) Character Strength Survey
Step Two: Understand your Strengths Inventory
Ask yourself: What are your top five signature strengths?
Step Three: Get Curious About Your Strengths
Ask yourself: Where did these strengths come from? Your parents? Your experiences?
Ask yourself: When do you tend to use your strengths currently? When have you used your strengths in the past? Where are opportunities to use your strengths moving forward?
Step Four: Plan When and How to Use Your Strengths
There are many ways to practice utilizing your signature strengths. Various areas of your life can feel fulfilling when they align with your strengths! Here are some ideas:
1.) Explore strengths within relationships: Have your loved one take the survey too and explore what strengths each of you bring to the table.
Do you have similar or different strengths?
Schedule time to bring one another’s strengths out, then, point out when you notice each other’s signature strengths.
2.) Explore strengths within career development: Perhaps you are exploring a career choice or a career pivot. Through a strengths-based approach, consider selecting a career path that suits your personal strengths. Connecting to your natural abilities can result in growth within a professional setting, including increased job satisfaction and boosts in workplace productivity.
3.) Explore strengths within hobbies: Consider a new activity to engage in during your free time that aligns with your strengths. Or, try using your strength in a new way while participating in your favorite, go-to hobby. Be sure to reflect on how you felt before, during, and after the activity. Was using your signature strength in this new way easy or hard? Did time go by quickly? Did you enter a state of flow?
Now the choice is yours: continue focusing on what is wrong or make space to focus on what is right? Remember, what are you good at? What do you want to grow? It is time to shine your attention on you at your best!
If you are interested in learning more about your character strengths and how to effectively harness your strengths to improve your well-being, please reach out to Silver Therapy Group! You can contact Dr. Allison Bauer at drbauer@silvertherapygroup.com.
References:
Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Simon & Schuster.
VIA Institute on Character. (2022). https://www.viacharacter.org/
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