Character strength, courage and wisdom is our topic for today.
“There are 24 character strengths that were first identified by Martin Seligman, PhD, and Neal Mayerson, PhD..
Seligman and Mayerson eventually created the Values In Action (VIA) Institute on Character, which identifies the positive character strengths that all people have (in varying degrees).
A character strength inventory can identify both strengths and ways to use these strengths in a person’s life. Building on their positive character strengths can help people improve their life and emotional well-being, as well as address the challenges and difficulties they are facing.
As an example:
Courage
People who score high in courage have emotional character strengths that allow them to accomplish goals, despite any opposition they face. Whether internal or external, the character strengths and virtues, associated with courage are:
- Honesty: Speaking the truth; being authentic and genuine
- Bravery: Embracing challenges, difficulties, or pain; not shrinking from threat
- Persistence: Finishing things once they are started
- Zest: Approaching all things in life with energy and excitement
Wisdom
Those who score high in the area of wisdom tend to have cognitive strengths that lead them to acquire knowledge and use it in creative and useful ways. The core wisdom character strengths and virtues are:
- Creativity: Thinking of new ways to do things
- Curiosity: Taking an interest in a wide variety of topics
- Open-mindedness: Examining things from all sides; thinking things through
- Love of learning: Mastering new topics, skills, and bodies of research
- Perspective: Being able to provide wise counsel to others; looking at the world in a way that makes sense”
A virtue is a positive character trait that is considered a foundation for living well.
It’s a key ingredient to greatness. Developing virtues, (qualities of mind and heart) is a life-long process. We’ll probably never be perfect at them. But the more we cultivate them, the better our life becomes. And, chances are, simply reading about these virtues has already awakened something in you.
For instance, one simple way of cultivating virtues is to focus on a single virtue each week (or month).
Then look daily for opportunities to put that chosen quality into practice. Keep asking yourself throughout the day, “What does it mean to be [virtue]?”
Furthermore, our 9 year old granddaughter, Oliva Rose, exemplifies the virtues of strength and courage.
First, as she has been walking through the discovery she had a brain tumor, all of the tests and scans, the seizures that alerted her parents and medical people to this tumor and the surgery. She has been tested in many ways since the first part of March 2023.
Therefore, I’m thrilled to tell you, today, as I’m writing this, Liv is back in school just over a month after her brain surgery full time!
We are all very grateful the pathology came back with no cancer.
School is her “Happy Place”. So, in only 4th grade, Olivia also has the virtue of wisdom as described above.
She is creative, curious, open minded, has a love of learning and has great perspective.
As a result of all the trials she’s been through, it will only strengthen her wisdom as she moves along this journey of her life.
Lastly, I’m so very proud of her and love her beyond any words I can say.
I wish for each of you, to pay attention to these strengths and virtues within yourself as well.
Love and blessings,
Connie
PS. Here is the website I got some of my information from:
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