I’ve been using the character strengths in both my coaching practise and personal life for the last 2 years now. It’s probably one of my most used tools because of its versatility, cultural sensitivity, and ability to evoke deep thought. So when I was creating my 2024 vision board, it was strange that I was extremely stuck on the ways in which I could categorise my goals and affirmations. Anybody who’s seen the video of my setup on YouTube will know that it took me multiple periods of ‘sitting with it’ before a lightbulb when off and it all seemed to align with the VIA character strengths; perhaps more interestingly, it aligned with the strengths that were least used by me. (The universe telling me to be channel my lesser used strengths this year?!)
In the realm of positive psychology, understanding our inherent virtues and unique character traits is instrumental in fostering personal growth and fulfilment. The VIA Character Strengths is a ground-breaking framework that illuminates our core qualities and guides us on a path toward realising our full potential. When the lightbulb moment went off for me to use my lesser used strengths to give life to my vision board, a series of lightbulbs went off after that, including the one I talk about at the end of this article. Keep reading to get more of an understanding before we get there.
Created by Dr. Martin Seligman and Dr. Christopher Peterson, VIA (Values in Action) Character Strengths is a classification of 24 character traits that encapsulate the best of human qualities. This framework emerged from rigorous research conducted by psychologists, who sought to identify and categorise universally valued virtues across different cultures and societies.
The process behind its creation involved extensive cross-cultural studies, surveys, and analysis of human virtues and character traits throughout history. Through these efforts, 24 enduring and cross-culturally valued character strengths were identified and categorised.
I encourage clients to take the free character strength survey and then use them in our coaching sessions and beyond as a tool to help them achieve their goals. The wonderful thing about them is that they’re easily applied to the workplace, as well as personal relationships, and across a whole range of life areas.
Why are VIA Character Strengths Useful?
Understanding and harnessing these character strengths can significantly impact various facets of our lives. They serve as a compass, guiding us in personal development, career choices, relationships, and overall well-being. Embracing and leveraging these strengths empowers individuals to:
- Discover their authentic selves: VIA Character Strengths provide a framework for self-reflection, enabling individuals to identify their inherent qualities and better understand their unique identity. It has helped my clients get a better understanding of who they are after significant life changes such as divorce, or family breakdowns.
- Cultivate resilience and positivity: Recognising and utilising strengths can bolster resilience, optimism, and a sense of purpose, fostering a positive mindset even in challenging situations. For many clients, they can activate different ways of working, and for some, even inspires them to start their own businesses.
- Improve relationships: Understanding the strengths of oneself and others facilitates empathy, communication, and collaboration, thus nurturing healthier and more meaningful relationships. This isn’t exclusive to personal relationships but can be used to enhance team efficacy as well as relationships with leaders.
So in case you hadn’t got the memo yet, I’m a total fanboy of character strengths at the moment. Especially when it seems to align with all my goals in personal and business life! After I created my vision board, the next step was to go about creating a ‘reintroduce yourself on LinkedIn and other socials’ post and what better way to do that than through my own character strengths profile, whilst also showing you all how it can be used.
Introducing: Unveiling the Virtues: 24 in ’24- A Journey of Self-Discovery
Exciting news! I’m thrilled to announce the launch of a new YouTube series titled “Unveiling Virtues.” In this series, we’ll delve into the depths of VIA Character Strengths, dedicating each episode to unpacking one of the 24 strengths. I’ve retaken the survey (as I often do every 6 months or so because things change, and it’s good to see what needs shifting). I’ll be working from my top signature strengths, down to my lesser used strengths and sharing more information about what each virtue is, how it makes sense to me, or my clients and how I want to challenge myself to use it in that week as a bid to get closer to the goals on my vision board.
Join me on this transformative journey as we explore and delve deeper into these virtues, discussing practical ways to recognise, develop, and apply these strengths in our lives. Through a chatty, podcast style discussion (mostly with myself unless any of you guys want to chip in I’d love to hear from you!), expert insights, and real-life examples, “Unveiling Virtues” aims to inspire personal growth, enhance self-awareness, and foster a community dedicated to embracing the best within us.
It’s gonna be messy, but organic. I will go through and sit with my strengths in live-time so you’ll be privy to my unfiltered train of thoughts as I unlock the process and personal challenges in using those strengths. It’s a part of my business (and personal) development ‘behind the scenes’ if you like. So make sure to subscribe and turn on notifications to get updated every time a new episode is posted!
Stay tuned for the first episode, where I’ll shine a spotlight on more things to do with character strengths, going into the foundational strength that underlies my current personal and collective journey. Get ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment!
Comment below with your top strength!
If you know me, take a guess of what you think is my top strength!