Who is more curious – Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?
Is it Romney or Obama who is perceived to be more brave, more honest, or more creative?
Who’s the stronger team-player: Joe Biden or Paul Ryan?
Each of the strengths noted are important attributes of our character. What do you think? Let your voice be heard – nominate the strengths of each candidate at the VIA Presidential Caucus poll.
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I’m a bit of a “strengths” junkie. I study character strengths. I read about them, e-mail about them, teach and write about them, and study them. It seems that I’m thinking about character strengths much of the time – which one’s I’m using, how strengths work together, how they can hurt me, and how they can help me be my best.
So, it was no surprise when my mind started rattling off the character strengths I was using while playing online chess.
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There are many positive psychology exercises individuals can practice to boost their well-being and help them achieve their goals. The Best Possible Self exercise is one of the stronger happiness exercises because it has good research support (see below) and people tend to find the exercise captivating and at the least, illuminating.
This exercise has been shown to boost people’s positive emotions, happiness levels, optimism, hope, improve coping skills, and elevate positive expectations about the future. It involves two basic steps:
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Research studies have shown that if a therapist focuses on their client’s strengths prior to a therapy session (called “resource priming”) that a number of positive outcomes unfold. These include:
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As a member of a team, consider these two possible scenarios:
1.) You focus on your personal strengths and abilities.
2.) You focus on the strengths and abilities of your team.
Which approach is more likely to perform better?
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Here’s a question that scientists are saying can really matter:
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Life is what happens between monotony and miracles, as one sage put it.
Indeed, our lives are a collection of moments in time – some mundane and routine, some extraordinary, and many others. I’m not sure that we are shaped by every moment and every event of our lives, but certainly there is potential in each moment to impact us.
After a stagnant and difficult first date, I recall walking out of the Mexican restaurant with my date and saying to myself, “Give it one more try.”
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We have seeds of character strengths within us. At least 24 of them. Some of these seeds have blossomed and are blooming fruit and beautiful flowers. Others lie dormant awaiting us to touch them with mindfulness.
Mindfulness and Thich Nhat Hanh’s “five mindfulness trainings” offer us an opportunity to cultivate these character strength “seeds” within us.
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Consider a world in which people, groups and organizations bring careful intentionality to what they are doing. They listen to one another with strong compassion, and reflect deeply on the impact their words have on others.
Thich Nhat Hanh’s “five mindfulness trainings” are a recipe for mindful living as well as a striking vision for a global ethic. The potential impact of the trainings on society is significant. But they start with ourselves and our relationships.
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The wise, humble and zestful monk, Thich Nhat Hanh has inspired countless individuals over the years with his teachings on mindfulness, peace and compassion. One of his teachings is the five mindfulness trainings which offer a practical and positive approach to living.
Keep in mind:
This blog entry focuses on the third mindfulness training, called True Love. It begins:
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