Maybe some of the best things in life are free after all!
You already own your strengths, for instance, and here are three resources you can use to discover them, all available at no cost.
1. The Explore Your Strengths workbook
This is first on the list not because I created it but because I think it’s a good starting point in the strengths-discovery process. It introduces you to the concept of personal strengths and guides you through a process of exploring and naming your own with simple questions and illustrations. It also contains some templates for becoming more mindful of your strengths and building on them in your day-to-day life.
2. The VIA character strengths assessment
The VIA Institute, together with psychologists Martin Seligman, Chris Peterson and others, created what is now the world’s most-used character strengths assessment. More than two million people around the world have taken it, and there are versions for adults and children (10-17). You can take it here, and on completion you will receive a free ranking of all 24 strengths. (You will also be given the option to download a paid report, but can get the ranking for free.)
3. The VIA strengths: dive right in
If you like, click here to read about each of the 24 strengths and see which ones resonate with you. Print the list, highlight strengths that pop out at you, rank them 1-10, put smiley faces next to the ones that make you feel good — whatever you like. This is a great way to explore strengths on your own.
Enjoy these resources! I’d love to hear what you discover and any questions you might have.