Positive Education

Strengths energise, people, enabling them to be at their best.

Alex Linley 

In our final Positive Education article for The View next fortnight we will explore the impact of gratitude on one's well being but before we can do that it is important to recognise one's strengths and the importance it has on us as individuals.  Strengths are a natural pathway that leads to flourishing results – for students, teachers and the whole school.  Knowing and growing our strengths helps us feel engaged and energetic. Tapping into what gives us joy allows us to feel inspired and encouraged. 

Many of us find it hard to identify our strengths, yet we can make a very long list of our weaknesses. We need to appreciate that strengths come in many shapes and sizes and may be found in qualities and attributes we have not recognized for example; leadership, communication, compassion, inclusions, even kindness. 

Here are some tips for identifying your signature strengths:

• Where do you feel most energised?
• When do you feel truly authentic?
• Where do you focus your greatest attention? 
• What do you pick up easily, almost immediately?
• What things never make your to do list because you are inspired to achieve them?
• What activities are effortless for you?
• What activities do you do simply for the love of doing them?
• What activities motivate you to get up in the morning?
• What ideas do you communicate with passion? 
• When do you say, “I love you"?

Here is a short YouTube clip that gives an overview of the value of knowing your signature strengths 

For further reading on signature strengths please open up the link HERE.