The Authentic Happiness website (www.authentichappiness.org) is a wonderful resource for helping you to discover the activities in your life that give you a deep sense of fulfillment. On this website are a number of complementary surveys on different aspects of happiness. The flagship Survey is the Values in Action questionnairre. It will take about a half hour to complete and is well worth you time because it will list the character strengths you use most frequently. There are three to five of these strengths. They are your signature strengths and are unique to you. At the same time, they reflect six virtues that are common to all cultures and that have withstood the test of time. As you become consciously aware of these strengths you will find yourself deeply engaged in your work while at the same time knowing that your work also celebrates higher ideals of mankind..
If you take the survey, you will find your signature strengths, that is, the three to five strengths that you use most frequently. After you have identified them, you might want to consider how they have shown up in your life. Frequently, we use our strengths to overcome our challenges. You also may find that you have used them since childhood, and that some of these strengths also are important in your family of origin. These are the values that hold families and businesses together. They help us to unify in times of stress and change so to work together for a higher purpose. For example, I have strengths of curiosity, teamwork, and perspective. As a child I frequently organized games for my siblings and neighborhood friends. Today, I still coordinate, only now for the game of life. We have family strengths of curiosity and a love of learning. As you become aware of these strengths you will find they become a treasure house for a deep sense of gratification and purpose.
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