“If you love what you do, then it is no longer work.”
- Catherine Pulsifer from “Love What you Do”
Do you have moments when you are working hard at something you enjoy and time seems to fly by? These moments are an example of “flow,” or the state of feeling immersed and energized by an activity in which you are skilled. Research shows that the more time you spend in this state of flow, the happier you will be.
As college students, many of us are deciding what we want to do for a living and working hard toward our chosen career. By identifying our signature strengths and using them in the main realms of life, such as work and play, we are more likely to lead a fulfilling life.
So what are these signature strengths?
A strength is a trait that is valued in its own right and is also ubiquitous, or valued in almost all cultures of the world. Strengths also have a paragon, or someone who is a perfect model of that trait.
There are 24 strengths that belong to main categories of wisdom and knowledge, courage, humanity and love, temperance and transcendence. A signature strength, according to Martin Seligman in his book “Authentic Happiness,” is a strength that is authentic, invigorating and one that you feel excited about and yearn to use every day.
Take a step toward your own happiness by taking the VIA Strengths Survey to find your signature strengths. Then, think about new ways to use these strengths in your everyday life.
My top strengths turned out to be love of learning, leadership, kindness, love and originality. I consider many of these to describe the “real me” and can easily incorporate them into my everyday life— even when researching and writing this blog! I’m sure you will find several strengths that authentically describe you, which can be exercised often in order to increase your level of happiness.
