More on Strengths

There is much to be said about each of the 24 VIA Character Strengths.  For basic information, please refer to Character Strengths and Virtues, the Handbook and Classification by Chris Peterson and Martin Seligman.  With one chapter devoted to each strength, the authors thoughtfully explore the consensual definition, theoretical traditions, measures, correlates, development, enabling and inhibiting factors, gender, cross-national and cross-cultural aspects, deliberate interventions, what is not known as well as, must-read articles and books.  While it lays out the foundation of this new science, it is as inspiring as it is informative.

Ben Dean, Ph.D., has written provocatively about the VIA Strengths. Ben is President of MentorCoach, LLC, a virtual university that trains helping professionals and other mental health professionals throughout North America, Europe, and Australia to add coaching as a practice specialty. With Ben's permission, we include some of his articles below.

Five Key Strengths:  Not All Strengths Are Equal: The "Key Five"

Courage:   "The secret of life is this:  When you hear the sound of the cannons, walk toward them."~~Marcel France. What is courage, and what is it not?

Curiosity:   The benefits and downsides of curiosity - and how to develop this strength.

Integrity:   The Latin root means "wholeness," and integrity goes beyond speaking the truth.

Persistence: The 99% perspiration/1% inspiration formula needs to make room for the strength of wisdom/perspective. Persistence needs a partner.

Prudence: The Top Ten Reasons that prudence deserves a better reputation.

Spirituality: All cultures have a concept of an ultimate, transcendent, sacred, and divine force.

Creativity: Like all strengths, creativity exists on a continuum.

Open-mindedness: Why open-mindedness is called a "corrective virtue."

Love of Learning: It is hard to think of someone who does not love learning in at least one domain.