Welcome to the Summer of Strengths Series! This summer, we’ll explore the 24 character strengths identified by positive psychology researchers in my newsletter. Each week, we’ll spotlight two strengths-giving you practical ways to recognize and grow them in your own life.
What Are Character Strengths?
Character strengths are the positive qualities that shape how you think, feel, and act. Everyone has all 24 strengths, but in different amounts, making your strengths profile uniquely yours.
To get the most out of this series, I encourage you to take the free VIA character survey. It’s a quick, science-backed way to discover your personal ranking of strengths and learn more about what makes you, you.
This Week: Creativity & Curiosity for Fresh Energy and Possibility
We’re kicking off our journey with two strengths from the Wisdom virtue: creativity and curiosity. These strengths help us see the world in new ways, fueling our growth and opening us up to fresh possibilities every day.
Creativity: Seeing and Doing Things Differently and Excitingly
Creativity isn’t just about artistic achievements like painting or writing-it’s about finding new solutions, thinking outside the box, and bringing fresh ideas to any situation. Creative people look at the world with imagination and independence, generating original ideas that can make life more interesting and meaningful.
Creativity in Action
One of my clients is using his creativity to stay focused on his goals. He is programming his GPT AI to provide reminders related to his goals and why they are important to him. He’s even teaching it to interact with his sense of humor (another strong strength for my client.)
5 Ways to Spark Your Creativity
- Rearrange a room in your home for a fresh perspective.
- Write a short story, poem, or song-even if just for yourself.
- Start a creative project, like a vision board or a handmade greeting card.
- Invent a new recipe from what’s in your fridge.
- Solve a small problem in a new way, like finding a shortcut for a daily task.
Curiosity: Taking an Interest in a Variety of Experiences
Curiosity is about exploring, asking questions, and being open to new ideas, people, and places. Curious people have a strong desire to increase their own personal knowledge. Curiosity is closely linked to happiness and good relationships, as it keeps us engaged with the world and helps us grow.
Curiosity in Action
My family teases me because I often come home from the grocery store with stories about my cashier’s lives. I love asking positive open-ended questions and listening (ex. What are you looking forward to this weekend?) I frequently learn something new and make someone’s day a little brighter. Luckily, curiosity is a strength I get to use regularly in my coaching.
5 Ways to Practice Curiosity
- Explore a new place in your town or city, even if it’s just a different park or café.
- Start a conversation with someone you don’t know well and learn about their story.
- Look up a word you don’t know, find its origin, and use it in conversation.
- Take a routine activity and notice three unique things about it. Write down your observations or share them with a friend.
- Try a food, activity, or hobby you’ve never experienced before.
This Week’s Strength Challenge:
I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and tell me:
How will you bring more creativity & curiosity into your week? Try one of the ideas above or create your own.
Next Week: Judgement & Perspective
Next week we’ll explore how to tap into your inner wisdom with judgement & perspective.
Want to Go Deeper?
If you’re interested in a personalized strengths exploration, I’m offering a limited number of discounted strength sessions this summer. Email me at dianna@collierclan.net for details.
Dianna Collier 