June 12, 2007

Live Your Strengths and Create Greater Happiness   What is it about happy people that others find intriguing?  They draw you in with their positive outlook on life and leave you wondering why you aren't just as happy as they are. Do they know something you don't?   There is a new movement of Positive Psychology that has received much attention since Time magazine featured the Science of Happiness on its January 17, 2005 cover. Dr. Martin Seligman, Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology at theUniversityofPennsylvaniaand one of the world's leading authorities on Positive Psychology, has proven that happiness can be quantifiably measured and improved.   Positive Psychology includes the study of our positive emotions, character traits, and institutions. Dr. Seligman's book, Authentic Happiness, focuses on identifying your signature strengths.  Authentic happiness is yours when you incorporate these strengths into your life and live them daily.   Bottom line:  Know your signature strengths and weave them into your life to increase your optimism, increase your general well-being, and decrease your stress.    Go to http://www.reflectivehappiness.com/Happiness/Introduction.aspx and register for the FREE tests only and one month access to the site www.reflectivehappiness.com. Then click on VIA Signature Strengths Survey to get started.    There are 24 signature strengths; the test will give you your top 5.      For example, my top signature strength is judgment, critical thinking, and open-mindedness.  What's that?  Thinking things through and examining them from all sides are important aspects of who you are.  You do not jump to conclusions, and you rely only on solid evidence to make your decisions.  You are able to change your mind.   Ooh, that's ME!!   Bottom line:  When I am able to think things through before I make decisions, I am much happier than I would be if I made haphazard hasty decisions.  I can also bring this trait to my clients as I help them explore all sides of an issue.    Scroll down to Personal Reflections and find out my other signature strengths.   My husband's signature strengths surprised me.  His top strength is appreciation of beauty and excellence.  What's that?  You notice and appreciate beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in all domains of life, from nature to art to mathematic to science to everyday experience.    Bottom line:  WhenJohnis able to appreciate beauty or excellence on a daily basis he will be his happiest.  He could appreciate the beauty of the outdoors as he works in the yard, or the excellence of a dental case completed.  Let it be known, though, that you must stop and acknowledge this beauty for yourself; do not ignore it or take it for granted.   Check out the website and take the test.  You will gain greater understanding into your own happiness and that of your significant other and family members.  Weave these strengths into your everyday life and let me know if you feel a difference in your happiness level.          "Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination."             Roy Goodman   "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." Mahatma Gandhi   "We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."             Frederick Keonig   "Being positive buoys people into a way of thinking that aims to detect not what is wrong, but what is right."             Dr. Martin Seligman        My signature strengths are right on. As I mentioned, my top strength is judgment, critical thinking, and open-mindedness. No. 2 is caution, prudence, and discretion:  You are a careful person, and your choices are consistently prudent ones.  You do not say or do things that you might later regret.  I didn't get the nickname "Cautious Stephanie" out of the blue, although I have been known to throw caution to the wind on several occasions. No. 3 is social intelligence:  You are aware of the motives and feelings of other people.  You know what to do to fit in to different social situations, and you know what to do to put others at ease.  These are great qualities of a coach. No. 4 is capacity to love and be loved.  You value close relations with others, in particular those in which sharing and caring are reciprocated.  The people to whom you feel most close are the same people who feel most close to you.  Yes, it's all about the connection I have with others. No. 5 is love of learning.  You love learning new things, whether in a class or on your own.  You have always loved school, reading, and museums - anywhere and everywhere there is an opportunity to learn.  Well, I don't agree with the museum part, but you won't find me often without a book, in a class, or networking with others who have something to teach me.   Bottom line:  When I acknowledge and live these strengths on a daily basis I will find greater happiness, according to the Authentic Happiness philosophy.  Fascinating!   I confess that I am not an expert on AH.  I do know that I took this test several years ago and tucked it away in my drawer. (That is not a good place for it.)  A visit the past few days by my friend and coaching colleague Mimi Hooker (www.stewartpossibilities.com) prompted me to retrieve my test results andJohnto take the test.  Mimi is a life coach trained in Authentic Happiness so we spent time together talking about our strengths and how to better incorporate them into our lives.   It has been a busy last week. Charleston,SCwas great fun, great learning, and great networking (gee, that incorporated some of my signature strengths) and my visit with Mimi was wonderful, as usual.  Back to routine now and catching up with work.   I am very excited to tell you that Rings around the Collar is at the publisher!!!  One year from the date of idea, it is now on its way to becoming a concrete reality.  The website, www.ringsaroundthecollar.com is under construction.  I will keep you up to date on the progress of both.   Have a fantastic week and live your signature strengths.   Stephanie        We grow by "word-of-email" so please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone whom you think might benefit from and enjoy it. Thanks so much! Contact Us: stephanie@7steps2abalancedlife.com