Ancient Chinese graph for De (virtue)
The top line: the work of positive psychologists like Martin Seligman appears to show that the happiest people are those that have discovered their unique strengths (such as persistence and critical thinking) and virtues (such as humanity or justice) and use those strengths and virtues for a purpose that is greater than their own personal goals.
You may have had certain strengths that are so natural to you that you may not even consider them strengths. Think about an episode in your life when you were at your very best. What qualities enabled you to perform like that? While there are numerous talents and strengths that humans can possess, Character Strengths and Virtues are ones that humanity universally values. When Martin Seligman and Chris Peterson sought to discover and classify commonly held strengths and virtues across cultures, they created a classification of core virtues that humans morally value no matter their cultural, racial, and religious differences.
Take the VIA Signature Strengths questionnaire to determine your top three signature strengths:
http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx
(Note: you will have to register on the Authentic Happiness website first to take the test. This is a short form that should take only a few minutes to complete).
Current research indicates that you are most likely to value a job, relationship, hobby or institution that aligns with your core signature strengths and allows you to regularly utilize them. In fact, research indicates that one of the best ways to boost your long-term happiness is to use your strengths in new ways and situations, rather than focusing on your weaknesses. This is well in keeping with the philosophy of positive psychology: to focus on the positive in your life, not the negative!
The Philosophy of Virtuous Use of Strengths
KEY STUDIES
Biswas-Diener, Robert. (2006). From the Equator to the North Pole: A Study of Character Strengths. Journal of Happiness Studies 7:293-310.
Cawley, M. J., Martin, J. E., & Johnson, J. A. (2000).A virtues approach to personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 28, 997–1013.
DeNeve, K. M.&Cooper, H. (1998).The happy personality:Ameta–analysis of 137 personality traits and subjective well–being. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 197–229.
Gillham, J. E., Reivich, K. J., Jaycox, L. H., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1995). Preventing depressive symptoms in schoolchildren: Two year follow–up. Psychological Science, 6, 343–351.
McCullough, M. (2000). Forgiveness as human strength: Theory, measurement, and links to well–being. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 19, 43–55.
Park, N., Peterson, C., Seligman, M. (2004). Strengths of Character and Well Being. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 23, No.5, 2004, pp. 603-619.
Park, N., Peterson C. (2006). Character Strengths and Happiness among Young Children: Content Analysis of Parental Descriptions. Journal of Happiness Studies. Vol.7, 3, 323-341.
Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A classification and handbook.NewYork: Oxford University Press/Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness. New York: Free Press.
Yearley, L. H. (1990). Mencius and Aquinas: Theories of virtue and conceptions of courage. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.