When something intrigues me I just have to know more.
This really is not that surprising when you find out that my top strength is curiousity.
Authentic Happiness is an amazing site (be prepared; you could lose hours there) and the home of the positive psychology movement. It offers up a wealth of information and free assessments such as the Signature Strengths test. Whether you call them values, strengths or virtues, this test is eye-opening.
“The good life consists in deriving happiness by using your signature strengths every day in the main realms of living.” – Martin Seligman, from Authentic Happiness
Based on this assessment, my top 5 strengths are:
- Curiousity & Interest in the World: I am relentlessly curious, a life-long learner. So NOT a surprise!
- Zest (enthusiasm & energy): What can I say? I have a lot of energy and I swear, it’s not the caffeine!
- Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence: I cry at art galleries, and the beauty of nature is one of the few things that can leave me speechless (makes sense why I live in Vancouver!).
- Capacity to Love and Be Loved: Love makes the world go ’round. Can it be any simpler? (or challenging some days?)
- Humour & Playfulness: My favourite strength and one that saves the day on numerous occasions!
Here’s a snapshot of my assessment:
This test gives you a direct look at what makes you tick, or more importantly what makes for a fulfilling life.
I’ve taken the test twice in the past year and 4 out of 5 strengths remained the same (one dropped to #6). What this tells me is that I’m answering the questions as honestly as I can. This is crucial; it’s an opportunity to get straight with yourself about what’s important to you in life.
What I appreciate about the test is its objectivity; there’s no judgment or moral opinion about which strengths are better or even what to do with them. It’s quite simply a sneak peak into what makes you who you are, what you value.
What would you say are your top 5 strengths?
Take a moment and jot them down.
In Authentic Happiness, Martin Seligman talks about getting to know your signature strengths for the purpose of using them regularly in your every day life, and this leading to a greater experience of happiness. He says,
“I do not believe that you should devote overly much effort to correcting your weaknesses. Rather, I believe that the highest success in living and the deepest emotional satisfaction comes from building and using your signature strengths.”
This was the key that unlocked the door for me!
I started to wonder…
How might I use my strengths every day?
What would show up if I consciously focused on them?
Without asking these questions, knowing your strengths becomes more knowledge stored in your little grey cells, not making a difference in your life. What’s the point?
So, how DO we begin to live our signature strengths?
What if, instead of writing out a “to do” list every morning, you let your signature strengths create your day?
Exercise:
1. Review your strengths; read them aloud. Notice how your body feels as you begin to own that these strengths are uniquely yours.
2. Ask yourself frequently, “How can I use my strengths today?”
3. Listen for the answers; create your actions from there.
Over to you:
How would knowing your signature strengths make a difference?
This was a neat test. Here are my strengths
Love of learning
Curiosity and interest in the world
Humor and playfulness
Kindness and generosity
Capacity to love and be loved
Thanks for sharing!
Kim,
Did you notice we have 3 in common!? Now the question is how can you begin to live your strengths more consistently?
This was a neat test. Here are my strengths
Love of learning
Curiosity and interest in the world
Humor and playfulness
Kindness and generosity
Capacity to love and be loved
Thanks for sharing!
Kim,
Did you notice we have 3 in common!? Now the question is how can you begin to live your strengths more consistently?
what a great idea! concentrate on teh beauty of ones’ self and make it bigger. i’m going to take the test and start right away. xo
Why focus on weaknesses when we can focus on strengths and feel good about ourselves???
what a great idea! concentrate on teh beauty of ones’ self and make it bigger. i’m going to take the test and start right away. xo
Why focus on weaknesses when we can focus on strengths and feel good about ourselves???
Great questions, Coach, but of course! Wonderful way to have us start the day.
If we can see that we become what we focus on, then that begs the question of why we would focus on our weaknesses. Neither I nor the world needs a weaker me.
I know we think it’s so we can “improve” ourselves, but isn’t all that time we spend on improving ourselves the same time that we could be spending on developing our strengths, aka gifts?
Your post reminds me of an article a teacher wrote about his objections to the emphasis in the schools on working on student’s weak spots, to the detriment of their talents, and what they don’t have that they could have, what we don’t have that we could have in them, as a result.
Thanks for championing and encouraging our talents!
KP
Curious minds (my #1 strength) want to know what your strengths are Karen!
Improvement is highly overrated; what if we focused on celebration instead?
Curious minds (my #1 strength) want to know what your strengths are Karen!
Improvement is highly overrated; what if we focused on celebration instead?
How much time do you have. Seriously, I wouldn’t even know where to begin. I focus so much on them that I’m tripping over them – in fact I find myself kicking one out of the way now and then to make room for a weakness here and there so things won’t get TOO out of hand.
I am going to take the test because of course! I can focus some more on my strengths! And see how they line up with what I think they are. Then I’ll let you know. Thanks for asking!
Too bad the get down on yourself movement has got such a following. Lead us the other way, Sandi!
I hadn’t seen that site before. Thanks for passing it on! I love things that help me learn.
It’s great isn’t it? I could spend hours doing those assessments!
I hadn’t seen that site before. Thanks for passing it on! I love things that help me learn.
It’s great isn’t it? I could spend hours doing those assessments!
Wow – I’m off to take the test! I just started my second career (after 20+ years of corporate life), so I want to make sure I’m using my signature strengths to the fullest every day. I’m going to jot down what I think they are first – and see if the test matches up!
How exciting to be starting a new adventure! I’d love to hear what your signature strengths are and how they lined up with what you thought!
Wow – I’m off to take the test! I just started my second career (after 20+ years of corporate life), so I want to make sure I’m using my signature strengths to the fullest every day. I’m going to jot down what I think they are first – and see if the test matches up!
How exciting to be starting a new adventure! I’d love to hear what your signature strengths are and how they lined up with what you thought!