The Signature Strengths of My Friends

Once again, here are the 24 signature strengths, according to Marty Seligman and the Authentic Happiness website. We all have these qualities, to a lesser or greater value. The positive psychology model is that if you know your signature strengths, you can enjoy life more by capitalizing on them. Last night I held a 'signature strengths' party at my house. All my friends took the VIA Character Strengths test on the Authentic Happiness website, and we discussed our strengths (and weaknesses). Though there wasn't enough time to solve all questions, everyone seemed to enjoy the exercise. Here are the 24 choices.

• Appreciation of beauty and excellence
• Bravery and valor
• Capacity to love and be loved
• Caution, prudence, and discretion
• Citizenship, teamwork, and loyalty
• Creativity, ingenuity, and originality
• Curiosity and interest in the world
• Fairness, equity, and justice
• Forgiveness and mercy
• Gratitude
• Honesty, authenticity, and genuineness
• Hope, optimism, and future-mindedness
• Humor and playfulness
• Industry, diligence, and perseverance
• Judgment, critical thinking, and open-mindedness
• Kindness and generosity
• Leadership
• Love of Learning
• Modesty and humility
• Perspective (wisdom)
• Self-control and self-regulation
• Social Intelligence
• Spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith
• Zest, enthusiasm, and energy

Here are the first five strengths of each of my friends. I did not get the order correct, but I think I recorded the top five for everybody.
Molly
1. Gratitude
2. Leadership
3. Forgiveness & Mercy
4. Capacity to Love & Be Loved
5. Perspective

Rosalie
1. Fairness & Equity
2. Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence
3. Leadership
4. Curiosity
5. Honesty

Doug
1. Creativity
2. Capacity to Love & be Loved
3. Judgment & Critical Thinking
4. Modesty & Humility
5. Curiosity

Amy
1. Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence
2. Love of Learning
3. Curiosity
4. Fairness & Equity
5. Creativity

Jonathan
1. Creativity
2. Humor & Playfulness
3. Love of Learning
4. Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence
5. Curiosity

Ellyn 
1. Fairness & Equity
2. Bravery & Valor
3. Appreciation of Beauty
4. Kindness & Generosity
5. Love of Learning

Steph
1. Curiosity
2. Love of Learning
3. Gratitude
4. Appreciation of Beauty
5. Forgiveness & Mercy

Carolyn 
1.  Curiosity & Interest in the World
2. Love of Learning
3. Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence
4. Humor & Playfulness
5. Fairness, Equity & Justice

As our discussion evolved, we came up with some interesting observations & questions. 

1. We had many similar results among us. Is it because we are all friends, and have similar values? Would a group of engineers get very dissimilar results to our group?

2. Do we end up with a strength because we have chosen a career that hones a certain characteristic? Or do we choose that livelihood because we have that character strength? 

3.  Where do weaknesses fit in? What do we do with them? 

4. The appreciation of beauty & excellence was common for several of us. We explained this strength in many ways--- the appreciation of nature, taking time to notice the beauty of everyday things, music, the demonstration of flawless human skill, and the love of collecting art, antiques, and books.  

5. We noticed that the more optimistic thinkers among us also were high on gratitude. 

6. Some folks were surprised at their results, but the group sometimes helped to clarify. 

7. Many of us were not as high on social intelligence as would be expected, considering our professions and such. 

8. Many of us were lowest on Spirituality and Self Regulation & Self Control. We thought the questions regarding spirituality were more traditionally religious-based rather than spiritual as we understand it. 

Self control and regulation? Well, we had no excuses for that.