Bravery is one of the four character strengths that comprise the Virtue of Courage.

Bravery describes strengths that help you connect in community or group-based situations.

What is bravery?

To be brave is to face your challenges, threats, or difficulties. It involves valuing a goal or conviction and acting upon it, whether popular or not. A central element involves facing – rather than avoiding – fears.

There are three types of bravery (an individual may possess one of these or a combination):

• Physical bravery (eg. firefighters, police officers, soldiers)
• Psychological bravery (eg. facing painful aspects of oneself)
• Moral bravery (eg. speaking up for what’s right, even if it’s an unfavourable opinion to a group)

Why is bravery of value?

• Bravery helps people tolerate the vulnerability that is part of growing close to others, thereby helping in the formation and maintenance of close relationships.
• Bravery involves taking both actions and risks, two critical ingredients for personal growth and achievement.
• Bravery builds resilience as challenges are overcome and active coping skills are built.

A couple of questions to consider

• How does bravery lead you in directions that have a positive (or negative) impact on your life? 
• How do you temper bravery so that it does not put you at undue risk?

Some things that you can do to practise bravery

• Consider a close relationship (or a relationship you would like to become close). Use your bravery to express a compliment (something that might generate a positive emotion) for that other person. Focus on the experience for them and not on your nervousness. Have you tried ShareTree (www.sharetree.org)?
• Approach a work task that you have been avoiding or procrastinating on and use your bravery to face the task head on.
• Report an injustice, blatant unethical practice or abuse of power or bullying through the appropriate channels. 

For more information on the strength of bravery, go to https://www.viacharacter.org/character-strengths/bravery

If you are interested in exploring how the practice of Character Strengths might be of benefit to your business and culture, contact Peter Maguire on 0438 533 311 or at info@poswork.com.au.

Acknowledgement: the primary reference for this post is “The Power of Character Strengths: Appreciate And Ignite Your Positive Personality” by Ryan M. Niemiec & Robert E. McGrath (An Official Guide From The VIA Institute on Character)

Appreciation of beauty and excellence is one of the five character strengths that comprise the Virtue of Transcendence.

Transcendence describes strengths that help you connect to the larger universe and provide meaning.

What is appreciation of beauty and excellence?

Those who express an appreciation of beauty & excellence notice and appreciate beauty, excellence and/or skilled performance in all domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.

People high in Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence are responsive to these three types of goodness:

• Physical beauty: this may include auditory, tactile or abstract. This type of goodness produces awe and wonder in the person experiencing it.
• Skill or talent: This is often energising and compels a person to pursue their own goals. It inspires admiration.
• Virtue or moral goodness: This makes someone want to be better, more loving and creates feelings of elevation.

Why is appreciation of beauty and excellence of value?

• The expression of this strength leads immediately to a positive emotional experience that can be identified as awe, admiration or elevation all of which contribute to feelings of wellbeing.
• Appreciation of beauty and excellence is a strength that may help people in coping with emotional challenges or other difficulties.
• Appreciation of beauty and excellence can inspire you to want to improve yourself and be kinder to others.

A couple of questions to consider

• How does appreciation of beauty and excellence affect your work, relationships, use of leisure time and community involvement?
• How might you notice more moral beauty in your life, where you attend more closely to the goodness and virtuous behaviour of others?

Some things that you can do to practise appreciation of beauty and excellence

• Keep a weekly log of moments in any of your relationships in which you feel inspired by the good acts that you witness. 
• Arrange your work environment in a way that you find aesthetically pleasing and make changes periodically.
• Pause to appreciate your inner beauty. One way to do this is to see your character strengths and recall how you have used them to bring benefit to others.

For more information on the strength of appreciation of beauty and excellence, go to https://www.viacharacter.org/…/appreciation-of-beauty…

If you are interested in exploring how the practice of Character Strengths might be of benefit to your business and culture, contact Peter Maguire on 0438 533 311 or at info@poswork.com.au.

Acknowledgement: the primary reference for this post is “The Power of Character Strengths: Appreciate And Ignite Your Positive Personality” by Ryan M. Niemiec & Robert E. McGrath (An Official Guide From The VIA Institute on Character)