What are your strengths?

If you had to choose 5 words to describe yourself, the qualities you feel you possess, either by nature, through intentional cultivation, or both, which would they be?

There is a robust field of study called Positive Psychology, in which scientists have researched the power, purpose and practices of human strengths and virtues. World renowned psychologists and scholars like Martin Seligman, Neal Mayerson and Chris Peterson, have produced fascinating a body of work for us to be able to measure, examine, explore, and use for the pursuit of positive change.

Here's how Seligman and colleagues define Positive Psychology:

"Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play."

Seligman and Mayerson found that a key construct in positive psychology is character. Nearly twenty years ago, they collaborated on what would become a deeply significant field of research, and co-created the VIA Classification of Character Strengths.

Seligman theorizes that the 24 VIA character strengths are the pathways to each of 5 areas of well-being (PERMA) which comprise his model of "flourishing."

What is the outcome of knowing and harnessing your greatest strengths?

increased positive emotionreduced stressincreased immune functionincreased engagementhigher life satisfactionhealthier relationshipsa deeper sense of meaning greater sense of accomplishmentsmore resilience...

This is is pretty powerful list of advantages.

Imagine the implications for parenting.

For affecting the lives of those around you.

For promoting the wellbeing of those you love.

For creating the positive change that can literally change the world.

You can see that this isn't about choosing a few adjectives to describe yourself, but rather, discovering, maybe re-discovering, the top strengths you have...so that you can cultivate greater resilience, hope and optimism through those strengths.

In fact, if you think about the hardest times of your life, it's your strengths that buoyed you and saw you through.

The survey is free. Takes about fifteen minutes. Here's the link:

http://www.viacharacter.org/Survey/Account/Register

I took the test last week. I haven't stopped thinking about my results.

What did you discover? Let me know in the comments!