We each have our own set of strengths and we usually feel energized and satisfied when using those strengths. Positive Psychologists Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman identified 24 strengths in all of us that can benefit our happiness and wellbeing by using our strengths. I thought I’d take a look at how each of the 24 strengths might help us make a change such as adopting a whole plant-based lifestyle:
If you’re interested in learning about your own character strengths, including your top 5 character strengths, go to http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/aiesec/content.aspx?id=821 and register to take the survey. The test will take you 20-30 minutes to complete. You may even learn something surprising about yourself!
- Creativity – use this strength to help you come up with fun, fresh ideas for new and different foods; also use this strength to come up with new activities that can help get you out of your old routines so that you don’t automatically reach for certain foods that you want to avoid.
- Curiosity – use this strength to explore new food options or how many different ways there are to prepare your favorite vegetables or other plant-based foods.
- Open-mindedness – having this strength enables you to be willing and even excited to try and experience new things, and can be helpful in trying new food options or changing old habits.
- Love of learning – there is always so much we can all learn about how our choices affect our weight and our health. Having this strength makes it fun to discover interesting facts and recipes.
- Perspective – this strength helps you to remember why a plant-based lifestyle is important to you, which helps keep you on track when it gets difficult.
- Bravery – this strength allows you to choose to eat foods that others might make fun of. Sometimes you will stand out among the meat and dairy eaters who don’t understand your choices and think you should eat what everyone else is eating. It can take bravery to stand up and hold your ground.
- Persistence – this strength helps keep you going when the going gets tough.
- Integrity – this strength helps you follow through with your commitment without giving in to temptations.
- Vitality – this strength helps keep you full of enthusiasm and energy for staying the course.
- Love – especially for yourself, this strength gives you the recognition and appreciation of the gift of health that you are giving yourself.
- Kindness – this strength helps you nurture yourself and your emotions by not being too hard on yourself.
- Social intelligence – this strength helps you integrate your new habits around others.
- Citizenship – this strength helps you find community and support from others who are also adopting or have already adopted the lifestyle you are learning to adopt.
- Fairness – this strength helps you to embrace your choices without criticism or judgment regarding the choices of others.
- Leadership – this strength motivates you make positive changes in your weight and/or health to become a role model for others and inspire others to do the same for themselves.
- Forgiveness and mercy – this strength helps you interact with others who may give you a hard time or eat tempting foods around you, and self-forgiveness helps you move on at times when you might slip.
- Humility/Modesty – this strength lets your accomplishments of good health and weight control speak for themselves as you watch these results unfold.
- Prudence – this strength helps you stay within your boundaries regarding food choices.
- Self-regulation – this strength gives you the discipline required to stick with your plan regarding food choices.
- Appreciation of beauty and excellence – this strength helps you appreciate all your efforts and successes.
- Gratitude – this strength helps you appreciate what whole, plant-based foods can do for your body.
- Hope – this strength gives you optimism toward using whole, plant-based foods to achieve the outcome of a thin, healthy body.
- Humor – this strength allows you to laugh along the way and see the lighter side of life, reducing stress.
- Spirituality – this strength helps you find peace in your journey.
If you’re interested in learning about your own character strengths, including your top 5 character strengths, go to http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/aiesec/content.aspx?id=821 and register to take the survey. The test will take you 20-30 minutes to complete. You may even learn something surprising about yourself!