Positive psychology has identified 24 strengths which can be seen as character traits. All of these strengths can be developed.  A great deal of research has gone into looking into these strengths and how they can benefit happiness and wellbeing. Seligman suggests that we identify our signature strengths (our top strengths) and use these regularly in our lives. You can do this by visiting the Authentic Happiness website and completing the VIA Signature Strengths questionnaire. If you do not want to do this, read through the 24 strengths in this article and reflect on how and when you used that strength. Using your signature strength will feel effortless as they are part of who you are.

Carrying out tasks and activities that provide you with opportunities to exercise your strengths are sure to make you feel good and give you more flow experiences. Consciously using these strengths will move you away from engaging in passive activities so frequently (eg watching television).

There is a feel good factor in working with our strengths. However you may have something you want to nurture. As such I offer a tip to enhance each strength. Other tips can be found on my tips page. Also, my Happy Mails service provides opportunities to use and develop your strengths and happiness.

The 24 strengths have been divided into groups of six distinct virtues:

Curiosity

Curiosity refers to having an interest in the world. Curious people are open to experience. They are flexible and take steps to actively engage in what is going on around them. Such people have been shown to be satisfied with life.  If you are the sort of person that generally find yourself intrigued by the simplest of things and you have to find out more, curiosity may be one of your strengths.

If you want to nurture your curiosity, try the following  tip:
Each week take a new subject and learn and explore and find out as much as you can about it. It may set you off on a great adventure and you are sure to learn something about your own likes and dislikes.

I have written more about this strength in an article about the importance of curiosity.

Love of learning

People with a love of learning thrive on the learning experience. They are always eager to learn more and develop their skills set. Such people learn for the sake of it, not because they have to. Learning is not something that stops when we finish school. Research suggests that people with this strength have better physical and mental health later on in life. This may be one of your strengths if you are generally learning new things and often attend classes.

Tip: Become an expert in something that interests you. Read  books, have discussions and visit websites.

Open-mindedness

An open-minded person is able to assess information objectively. They have good judgement and don’t give in to irrational thinking. Such people weigh up the alternatives and are able to consider all the evidence and not just that which supports their original beliefs.  Such people are less open to manipulation, are more willing to change and give things a go. This may be your strength if when having discussions with friends you are able to see both sides of the argument without getting emotionally involved.  Research has found that people who are open-minded do better on cognitive tests.

Tip: Read a newspaper that differs in its political beliefs to yours. Think about how some of their opinions may be valid, or at least why they hold such an opinion. Try to avoid being critical as this defeats the purpose of the activity!

Creativity

Creativity refers to coming up with novel ways of doing things. A person with this strength is able to think outside the box. Creativity is not just about being artistic and can be displayed in many areas of life. This may be your strength if you are the type of person that frequently suggests a solution that others have not thought of. Research suggests that we can be at our most creative when in a happy mood. Yet another reason to be happy!

Tip: When working on a problem, spend time brainstorming possible solutions. Really go to town and don’t feel inhibited. Put pen to paper. An amazing solution can come from an unexpected avenue.

Perspective

Perspective is the closest strength to wisdom. A person with perspective draws on their knowledge and experience to assist other people. Such people are not all-knowing; rather they are ready to learn more and are open to the views and opinions of others. Other people will turn to them to get a better perspective on an issue. Research suggests that wisdom predicts a positive experience of ageing and may be more important than environment, financial security and physical health.

Tip: Keep learning and be open to the views of others. This will enable you to build up a body of knowledge that can be used for the good of others.

Bravery

Bravery is about facing a danger, despite misgivings. Such bravery can be physical, moral or psychological. It is easy to think of physical courage as a form of bravery, yet having moral courage is also important. Here a person may stand up for what they believe in, knowing that they may cause upset or opposition.  Bravery can help us develop our other strengths and reach our goals. Bravery is one of the strengths researchers have identified as being important to the recovery of life satisfaction after illness.

Tip: Look at the things that are getting in the way of you achieving your goal. Tackle them one at a time. As you face your fears and adapt, you will wonder why you were so afraid.

Persistence

A person with this strength will persevere to achieve whatever it is they are striving for. They will work hard to reach their goals and will tackle obstacles as they come their way. It is not about being a perfectionist and such goals are realistic. Importantly, such people are personally motivated and do not need extrinsic rewards (money, prizes etc) to help them achieve. In fact research suggests such motivators do little to help us persevere over the long term.

Tip: List all the things that you have started but not finished. Decide if you should discard them forever or if you want to finish them. For those you want to finish, work on one at a time until you get them finished.

Authenticity

An authentic person lives a genuine and honest life and is true to themselves.  As such, their behaviour will match their values. They do not say one thing then do something else. Having this strength means a person will have good self-awareness which in turn makes them more open to change. People like authenticity in others and evidence from research supports this notion.

Tip: Try not to go with the crowd when an opinion is being shared that differs from yours. Be honest with yourself and with your group and tell them what you really think.

Vitality

Having this strength means a person approaches life with zest, passion and enthusiasm. Such people look forward to their day. There are no half measures with these people. Furthermore, such people inspire others and help boost their levels of vitality. This may be one of your strengths if you do not depend on chemical substances to get your energy. Research has shown a high correlation between vitality and happiness.

Tip: Exercise and rest will boost your energy levels, so  sleep well and exercise regularly.

Love

Having close, loving relationships is important to people with this strength. It is not just about loving your partner, but your friends, family and people around you. Such people do not fear being loved or letting people get close to them. In life, a loving person will consider other people’s opinions thoughts and feelings, rather than just acting for themselves. Love has been associated with life satisfaction in recent research.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to let your loved ones know how you feel. Give them compliments and hugs on a regular basis and embrace the love they offer you back.

Kindness and generosity

Kindness is about helping other people, without expecting a reward or payback of some kind. It is about considering the wishes of others which may sometimes override a person’s own wishes. Such people express feelings of sympathy and empathy. If you are kind you give instinctively. You may not be aware that you do it but people may comment on your kindness. It is not a hardship to you and you do not feel you are losing out in some way when you give. Research by Steger found that those people who helped out others were happier and reported a greater purpose in life than those people who just pursued pleasure activities.

Tip: As you go through your day look for opportunities to  carry out acts of kindness. Your generosity will be appreciated so try not to feel inhibited.

Social intelligence

Social intelligence is about having an awareness of others then acting on your observations. Having social intelligence means a person can fit into different situations. People with this strength try to make other people feel comfortable and are aware of other people’s moods and feelings. Claudio Fernando-Araoz undertook research of CEOs and found that those who were fired were those who lacked social intelligence, despite having great business expertise and good IQ scores.

Tip: Spend time listening to other people to try and understand their point of view. Do not challenge what they say and use the information to gain a better insight into that person.

Citizenship

People who have citizenship as a strength are loyal and have a great sense of duty. They make good team members and work to ensure the best outcome for the group. Such people have a sense of commitment to any group they are part of, whether it is their country, community, workplace, family or sports team. A good team player will make personal sacrifices for the good of the group. This may be one of your strengths if you find you do your best work in a team.

Tip: Develop your sense of citizenship by volunteering your time. You can help out your neighbour or an organisation that is important to you. Volunteer work is one of the quickest routes to happiness.

Fairness and equity

People with a strong sense of fairness like to give everyone a chance. Everyone must be treated fairly and injustice frustrates and horrifies. Such people set aside their personal prejudices and will see the good in others. This may be your strength if you are the sort of person that makes sure each person has an equal share of the cake. You offer no favouritism and such favouritism provokes you.

Tip: Have the courage to stand up to someone you know who openly displays prejudicial opinions about particular groups in society. To not speak up will be to concur with what they are saying.

Leadership

Leadership is about being able to organise a group and work to see things through to completion.  Essential to being a good leader is having excellent interpersonal skills. A good leader works to make sure everyone’s role within the group is valued. Goals are achieved without coercion or manipulation.

Tip: Practise your leadership skills within your family. Organise an event from start to finish. It could be an anniversary celebration, birthday party, or a day out. Ask for help if needed but remember you are the one coordinating the event.

Self-regulation

Having self-regulation means a person can take control of thoughts, behaviour and emotions. People with this strength can set and uphold their own standards. They do not give in to temptation at the slightest whim and can control short term desires and impulses which could jeopardise long term goals. Evidence indicates that a good night’s sleep can restore your self-regulation.  Self-regulation may be one of your strengths if you live up to your own standards, don’t give in to peer pressure and achieve the goals you set yourself.

Tip: Make one small change at a time. We have limited self-regulation stores so don’t wear yours out by trying to implement too many things at once.

Prudence

A person with this strength is a careful person who resists short term gains for long term rewards. They are able to resist acting impulsively and have the insight to know they will regret it later. As such, they are more likely to achieve their goals as they don’t act in ways that could undermine their good intentions. Prudence is about taking care in decision making; it is not about avoiding decisions or being afraid to take action. Research has found prudent people are more likely to be physically fit.

Tip: If you have a long term goal that focuses on lifestyle  changes (eg cutting down on alcohol, losing weight, giving up smoking) think about how that impulse you have right now will harm your chances of ever achieving it. Learn to think long term.

Humility and modesty

A person with the strength of humility does not seek the spotlight. Aspirations and accomplishments are not of major importance to them. They do not feel the need to brag about their achievements. Rather, actions speak louder than words. People value them for their modesty, since such people do not claim to be all knowing.

Tip: Carry out secret good deeds. Whenever the opportunity arises to do something good for another, do it but keep it secret. It’s easy to brag about what a great person you are and all these marvellous things you do. How humbling to keep such activities to yourself.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a powerful strength to have since it is a means of setting yourself free from the past. Being able to forgive is a choice that can be highly beneficial to your mental and physical wellbeing. By forgiving, there is improvement in cardiovascular health as anger and stress are decreased. Research has found holding on to unforgiving thoughts produced higher heart rate, blood pressure and more negative emotions. Also the unforgiving group in the research felt less in control than the group who imagined forgiving the offender.

Tip: try not to ruminate on an event where someone has caused you a wrongdoing. You are less likely to forgive and it will only accelerate the unhappy thoughts you are having. Instead, quickly try to think of a potential solution that can move you towards forgiving.

Appreciation of beauty and excellence

People with an appreciation of beauty and excellence find pleasure in the beauty of the world around them. This pleasure will be experienced in the things a person sees, hears, tastes, touches and smells. It is not just appreciating beauty in the physical world, but also the talents and virtues observed in other people. Furthermore, such appreciation comes from within; there is no need for other people to tell them what is beautiful. Research has shown this strength to be one that can aid in the recovery of life satisfaction after psychological illness.

Tip: Look for something beautiful in your life everyday. As you accumulate your observations you will realise how much beauty there is in your world which you had previously taken for granted.

Gratitude

A grateful person is aware of the good things in their life and does not take them for granted. Such people always say thank you. They appreciate others and life itself. Having gratitude helps prevent a build up of resentment about your past.  Being grateful for the good things in your life amplifies these things and as such increases your wellbeing. Research has shown that reflecting on how an important event in your life may never have happened showed participants to be happier than those who just had to reflect on an event.

Tip: Keep a gratitude journal. Such a document will shift your focus so you are seeing all the things in your life in a whole new, positive way.

Hope

Having hope means a person is optimistic about their future. As such they work hard in the here and now. Bad things are presumed to be short-lived and the good things are expected to continue or quickly resume. People with hope appreciate the idea that you get out of life what you put in and that their hard work will pay off.  Having hope makes a person more resistant to depression when bad things happen. Optimists also have better physical health. Research suggests optimistic men are less likely to die from a heart attack.

Tip: Brainstorm hopes and ideas for your future – whether it is next week or next year. How might you go about achieving the items on your list?

I have written more about optimism and further tips for increasing this strength.

Spirituality

A person with this strength will have firm beliefs about the meaning of the universe. Such people attach their life to something higher than themselves. Being spiritual may make it easier for a person to cope with difficult life events. Spirituality is not just about religious beliefs although the two are closely connected. People with religious beliefs have been shown to be able to cope with stress and handle difficult events when they  arise.

Tip: Have some belief system no matter what it is. Any belief (not just religious – atheism also) is better than uncertainty.

Playfulness and humour

People with this strength are able to see the lighter side of life and like to engage in fun activities. They enjoy laughing.  It is important to such people to bring a smile to the faces of others. When bad things happen, such people are able to dust themselves down and laugh rather than continuing to be bogged down feeling miserable. Research suggests that laughter reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, since it increases blood flow and blood vessel relaxation.

Tip: Watch a funny film on a regular basis. It will get you laughing and reduce your stress levels.