ADVANCE PRAISE FOR THE POWER OF CHARACTER STRENGTHS Finally, Ryan Niemiec and Bob McGrath—who have been on the frontlines of our understanding of how to nurture the best within us— wrote this much-needed book! This is the most scientifically valid and useful book on character strengths to date. The focus on 24 character strengths is highly accessible and of benefit for anyone—young, old, professional, self-employed, unemployed, student, or military—who wants to better understand their potential and learn concrete strategies to bring out the best in themselves and others. —Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D., Author of Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined and Co-Author of Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind The authors offer a crucially-needed roadmap to thriving and living life to the fullest, offering an alternative to focusing on faults, flaws and failings. —Sandra Scheinbaum, Ph.D., IFMCP Founder and CEO, Functional Medicine Coaching Academy, Inc. Did you know you have a way within you to discover all that is good and right about yourself? It is mind-expanding and life enhancing! After you discover your strengths with the VIA Survey, use this book as the framework for a fun, doable, and mind-blowing recipe for how you can begin to shine a positivity light on your life right now! —Judy Krings, coach and psychologist This book focuses on strengths and not on weaknesses to fight against depression and increase well-being and happiness. It will put you in the path of a strengths-based transformation. —Joseph F. Bacigalupo, MBA, MPEC, ACPEC Managing Partner & Executive Advisor, AlliancesHub International, LLC A really helpful book to boost anyone’s self-confidence (and make the world a better place). This book is well researched, easy to read, and entices to explore character strengths further. —Barbara Winwood, Life Coach (Dorset, UK) This is a hopeful, encouraging self-help book with a clear structure and is easy to read and digest. It is encouraging and realistic about our personalities and has plenty of great information and explanations, with real life/personal stories. —Helen O’Donohue, Educational Psychologist (UK) I want my clients to know that this is the definitive book on individual strengths and that they really should pick it up, read it and use it. —Lisa Sansom, Coach and Consultant By incorporating my strengths into all parts of my life I have found reserves I did not know I had, a compassion and kindness for myself, love for and from those closest to me, laughter in my darkest moments, thankfulness for each moment and a way to keep hopeful throughout my journey. —Lorna Freestone, wife and mother Living by our signature strengths is the only way to live, and this book contains everything one could need to do just that. —Dr. Roger Bretherton, Principal Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of Lincoln (UK) I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at the age of 34. I have no family history (of any cancer!). I was a Division I athlete, maintained an active lifestyle, and was otherwise extremely healthy. Knowing my strengths before this “detour” allowed me to know what I should focus on each day. These character strengths practices have kept me on a path of resilience and happiness throughout my diagnosis and treatment. —Lani Silversides, Mathematics Instructor and athletic coach at Phillips Academy Andover, Certified Sport Psychology Coach, and Certified Positive Educator Drs. Niemiec and McGrath, the preeminent scholars and practitioners of character strengths development, have helped me deeply understand and deploy my signature strengths of love of learning, curiosity and zest, enabling me to thrive in both my professional and home life. I strongly recommend their exceptional new book—The Power of Character Strengths. This magnificent guide sparkles with essential knowledge and practical tips, plus the included four-step Strengths Builder program will definitely boost your career success, happiness and life satisfaction. —Jeffrey E. Auerbach, Ph.D., President, College of Executive Coaching; Co-Author of Positive Psychology in Coaching As a strengths-based psychotherapist, this work with character strengths has profoundly changed the way my clients see themselves and the kind of work we do together. —Jennifer Cory, MS, MAPP, LCSW Clinical Psychotherapist and Founder HEART Initiative Here is a book that can change your life like it did mine. —Kristen Carter, Positive Psychology Coach and Writer VIA Classification of Character Strengths and Virtues* Virtue of Wisdom  Creativity: Original and adaptive, shows ingenuity, sees and does things in different ways  Curiosity: Interested, seeks novelty, appreciates exploration, open to experience  Judgment: Critical in thinking, thinks through all sides, doesn’t jump to conclusions  Love of Learning: Interested in mastering new skills and information, systematically adds to knowledge  Perspective: Wise, provides wise counsel, takes the big-picture view strengths that help you gather and use knowledge Virtue of Courage  Bravery: Shows valor, doesn’t shrink from threat or challenge, faces fears, speaks up for what’s right  Perseverance: Persistent, industrious, finishes what he or she starts, overcomes obstacles  Honesty: Authentic, true to him- or herself, sincere, shows integrity  Zest: Vital, enthusiastic for life, vigorous, energetic, does things wholeheartedly strengths that help you exercise your will and face adversity Virtue of Humanity  Love: Both loving and loved, values close relations with others, shows genuine warmth  Kindness: Generous, nurturing, caring, compassionate, altruistic, does for others Social Intelligence: Emotionally intelligent, aware of the motives and feelings of self and others, knows what makes other people tick strengths that help you in one-on-one relationships Virtue of Justice  Teamwork: A good citizen, socially responsible, loyal, contributes to group efforts  Fairness: Adheres to principles of justice, doesn’t let feelings bias decisions, offers equal opportunity to all  Leadership: Organizes groups to get things done, positively guides others strengths that help you in community or group-based situations Virtue of Temperance  Forgiveness: Merciful, accepting of others’ shortcomings, gives people a second chance, lets go of hurt when wronged  Humility: Modest, lets his or her accomplishments speak for themselves  Prudence: Careful about his or her choices, cautious, doesn’t take undue risks  Self-Regulation: Self-controlled; disciplined; able to manage impulses, emotions, and vices strengths that help you manage habits and protect against excess Virtue of Transcendence  Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence: Experiences awe and wonder for beauty, admires skills and excellence in others, elevated by moral beauty (the goodness of others)  Gratitude: Thankful for the good in life, expresses thanks, feels blessed Hope: Optimistic, positive and future-minded, expects the best and works to achieve it  Humor: Playful, brings smiles to others, lighthearted, sees the lighter side  Spirituality: Having coherent beliefs about the higher purpose and meaning of the universe, knowing where one fits within the larger scheme, having beliefs about the meaning of life that shape conduct and provide comfort strengths that help you connect to the larger universe and provide meaning * Virtues refer to the 6 core characteristics valued by philosophers and theologians across culture and time. Character strengths refer to the 24 positive personality ingredients of a fulfilling life, the pathways to the virtues. Copyright © 2019 VIA Institute on Character ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part of this book may be translated, used, or reproduced in any form or by any means, in whole or in part, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage or retrieval system without express written permission from the author or the publisher, except for the use in brief quotations within critical articles and reviews. [email protected] www.viacharacter.org Limits of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty: The authors and/or publisher shall not be liable for your misuse of this material. The contents are strictly for informational and educational purposes only. Warning—Disclaimer: The purpose of this book is to educate and entertain. The authors and/or publisher do not guarantee that anyone following these techniques, suggestions, tips, ideas, or strategies will become successful. The author and/or publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to anyone with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book. Further, readers should be aware that Internet websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read. Printed and bound in the United States of America ISBN: 978-0-578-43429-2 Library of Congress Control Number: 2019931659 DEDICATED TO . . . Danny Wedding Who saw something unique in my character Neal and Donna Mayerson Who championed my character Mom and Dad Who allowed me to freely discover and express my character Ryan Deborah, Megan, and Brian They are the ones who make me want to be a person of character Bob