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)

Leadership is one of the three character strengths that comprise the Virtue of Justice.

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

What is leadership?

As a character strength, leadership refers to the tendency to organise and encourage a group to get things done while maintaining good relations within the group.

Leadership involves setting goals and accomplishing them, enlisting effective help, building coalitions and smoothing ruffled feathers. 

The best leaders are self-aware. They recognise their top character strengths and how to use them to bring out the best in others.

Why is leadership of value?

• Leadership is related to emotional stability, openness, good social intelligence and conscientiousness.
• Socially, leaders are respected and valued by others and bring out the best in others.
• Leadership allows you to use and express a number of key character strengths particularly zest, social intelligence, curiosity, creativity, prudence, honesty and self-regulation. 

A couple of questions to consider

• How do you specifically express your strength of leadership?
• How do you decide when to lead and when to allow others to lead?

Some things that you can do to practise leadership

• Organise a family or social event that brings together people who don’t normally interact.
• Lead an activity, assignment or project and actively solicit opinions from group members.
• Lead yourself! Consider a personal issue, challenge or weakness you are lagging in, activate an action plan and savour the accomplishment along the way.

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

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)

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

Courage describes strengths that help you exercise your will and face adversity.

What is zest? 

Zest means approaching a situation, or life in general, with excitement and energy, not approaching tasks or activities halfway or half-heartedly. 

People who are high in zest are excited to get up in the morning, and they live their lives like an adventure. Zest is a dynamic strength that is directly related to physical and psychological wellness. 

This strength has the strongest ties to overall life satisfaction and a life of engagement.

Why is zest of value?

• Zest helps you feel alive in both body and mind.
• Zest draws other people in, providing opportunities for developing fun and meaningful relationships.
• Zest allows for a fuller expression of abilities, skills and talents.

A couple of questions to consider

• What conditions (people, places or activities) bring out your zest?
• How does the energy level of others influence the expression of your enthusiasm or zest and how does your energy level impact others?

Some things that you can do to practise zest

• In one of your close relationships, spot a character strength in action and express enthusiasm and appreciation for that person’s strength.
• Think of ways of making an assignment or task exciting and engaging before you undertake it. 
• Name a positive character quality that you see in yourself and take a moment to savour it. Allow yourself to feel excited about how important this quality is to you. 

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

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)

Self-regulation is one of the four character strengths that comprise the Virtue of Temperance.

Temperance describes strengths that help you manage habits and protect against excess.

What is self-regulation?

Self-regulation is a complex character strength. It has to do with controlling your appetites and emotions and regulating what you do. 

Those high in self-regulation have a good level of confidence in their belief that they can be effective in what they pursue and are likely to achieve their goals. They are admired for their ability to control their reactions to disappointment and insecurities. 

Self-regulation helps keep a sense of balance, order, and progress in life. 

Self-regulation can be viewed as a resource that can be depleted and fatigued. A useful metaphor can be that self-regulation acts like a muscle, which can be exhausted through over-exertion or strengthened through regular practice.

Why is self-regulation of value?

• People skilled at self-regulation are in charge of their emotions rather than the other way round.
• Self-regulation is linked with better personal adjustment such as having a greater sense of self-acceptance and self-esteem in relationships.
• Self-regulation helps in the prevention and management of addictions.

A couple of questions to consider

• How does self-regulation play a role in your greatest successes in life?
• What areas of your life would be improved if you applied greater self-regulation?

Some things that you can do to practise self-regulation

• Try a new approach to sticking with an exercise or walking routine and involve one of your close relationships in the discipline.
• Make a to do list for a community-oriented event, come up with an action plan and begin to carry it out. 
• Take notice of your posture throughout the day. When you notice yourself slouching or sitting uncomfortably or displaying poor posture, balance yourself by straightening up.

For more information on the strength of self-regulation, go to https://www.viacharacter.org/character…/self-regulation

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)