The test that reveals your hidden strengths | Laurie Santos

[@sofar_sogud4929]

I worked in a small operating room where we focused on eye health. There was a whiteboard between a couple of the rooms, where for 15 years, at the beginning of each month, I’d secretly write an inspirational quote. It was so much fun to overhear people talking about the quotes and guessing who might be doing it. I walked away from that career during Covid, I’ve heard that they miss the quotes.

[@warlockjardlas470]

I hope someone had connected you leaving, with the fact that there's no more inspirational quotes. Maybe that person is keeping with the tradition you started :)

[@annunacky4463]

I worked in a paper mill. One day I posted a Hubble picture of our galaxy, then added an arrow pointing to where earth was located that said “there are a billion stars in our galaxy, and several million planets. You are here, making toilet paper”. We needed perspective ha ha. They took that production stuff seriously.

[@cameronsongs]

The two worst feelings in life are not having a job and having a job

[@Rudzani]

Unless you like your job.

[@annunacky4463]

Used to say my two worst fears were, that they would fire me, or they wouldn’t.

[@juliemilliken3207]

😂

[@isaacness2647]

eh cant we have just half a job?

[@harshanahar]

😂😂😂😂 😶😶😶😶 It's kinda deep bro

[@Ven109]

I love her energy. She is really inspiring! Only 6 minutes but still a whole life lesson. I will take the survey and see how I can engage more with my signature strengths.

[@scambammer6102]

seems like we would just normally gravitate toward our signature strengths without needing to make a special effort

[@micromatters]

@@scambammer6102 I thought so, too. But then I thought if it a bit like gravity? While we are naturally pulled towards our signature strengths, it's often easy to lose sight of them in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Like with anything, learning to be more intentional will probably enhance what we're already drawn to.

[@scambammer6102]

@@micromatters An argument can be made that we should concentrate on improving our weaknesses.

[@lebohangmorake6922]

@@scambammer6102 And the test allows one to see that as well, right? Weaknesses at the bottom of the list for us to improve on to be more virtuous.

[@micromatters]

@lebohangmorake6922 they present them, but the free test only lists your 5 signature strengths. And then you can pay to see the full report with all 24 signature, middle, and what they call "lesser strengths" (as opposed to weaknesses ). They don't call them weaknesses since they believe they are just strengths you have given less attention to or don't value as highly. I don't know how much of that is simply their spin, so make of that what you will.

[@armartin0003]

You know, this could be a great guide for finding a significant other as well. If you share signature strengths, then you will both feel better around each other as you practice them.

[@GASmotorsports]

There may be some benefits in having a partner with different strengths.

[@armartin0003]

@@GASmotorsports Agreed. Though it'd be super nice if you both have honesty in the top 5. I think that's pretty key.

[@spacebar9733]

​@@armartin0003 yeah everyone needs to be honest though that's a part of communication

[@mikenoneofyourbusiness7122]

So, how do we know if we need a spouse with similar qualities or polar opposite, to complement yours? Nah, human is a stuрid monkey, we don’t know what’s right.

[@imchef17]

1. Honesty 2. Spirituality 3. Love of learning 4. Fairness 5. Perseverance Sounds about right. I love personality tests there is always more to learn about yourself.

[@scambammer6102]

spirituality is listed as a virtue? lol should have just said "stupidity".

[@imchef17]

@@scambammer6102 Well I guess your honesty is fair I could probably learn a lot from you. Spirituality is the things in your life that make your heart flutter or bring a tear to your eye when in awe. It's purely a feeling of contentment rather than a praise the lord in church. If you haven't experienced either one of these things I feel very sad for you.

[@WhirledPublishing]

Spirituality means choosing the magnificence of life over collecting stuff to try to make yourself feel better about your lousy life - to live a spiritual life means choosing truth over meaningless trinkets and baubles, choosing peace rather than exploiting others, choosing kindness rather than taking all you can for yourself, and choosing helpfulness rather than self-aggrandizing ... To condemn those who choose to live a spiritual life is to broadcast volumes about yourself.

[@scambammer6102]

@@WhirledPublishing choosing bullshit over reality, kind of like your comment. I'm a professional musician, I know all about awe and ecstasy. It has nothing to do with spirits.

[@WhirledPublishing]

@@scambammer6102 Thank you for telling us so much about yourself in so few words - I appreciate your candor. To think living a life of truth is "bullshit" is to broadcast one's failure to discern reality from fiction - which is the definition of insanity.

[@princekashyap6766]

So positive, so perfectly detailed but not-too-detailed. Listening to this during work as I knew I had to. Loved it, will be performing self-assessment for sure. Thanks very much for this!

[@harrybeckwith9560]

I also took the test, delighted that I did 1. Love 2. Gratitude. 3. Perspecttive. 4. Zest. 5. Humor

[@JaneNewAuthor]

People feel better (and peform better) when they have good bosses. And they leave bad bosses.

[@htreitman]

Dr. Santos’ articulateness is such a pleasure, I’ve listened three times.

[@amin_muaddib]

My charachtor strength is when I get paid more I get happier

[@M3l_0N666]

Speaking for like 99% of people in this comment section actually 😂 because were things so easy as she puts it, quiet quitting wouldn't be an issue so many employers face today. Makes you wonder whether she's just another HR or someone that actually studies people. My guess is the former.

[@harshanahar]

This comment section is way funny as a knowledge channel comment section 😂

[@robertdouglas8895]

Or you can realize you are happy regardless how much stuff you have.

[@grizzlybear4]

@@robertdouglas8895 not if you cannot get enough food or stay warm.

[@magesalmanac6424]

The knowledge that no matter how much I save the chance of owning a home is slim.. yeah that’s why we want raises

[@Prestrev1010]

A good life consists of a balance between life and living: life is seeking to get better and living is seeking pleasure. Once these are in unison the character ( quality) of life is good. If these are lopsided in one way or another, one’s quality of life becomes decreasingly good.

[@1unsung971]

Life is seeking to get better and living is seeking pleasure?" What evidence do you have to support this statement?

[@Prestrev1010]

@@1unsung971 examine your own existence and the evidence will present itself.

[@DeusShaggy]

I wish everyone well.

[@Yurithompson]

I’m glad to see my sweetheart teacher from the science of well being growing and having opportunity to bring fresh news through this amazing channel that I’m able to follow up, big think are doing a huge impact on our society, I’m feeling so so nice! ;)

[@The_Slammy_Jammy]

why is it that character strengths ties back to your work performance moreso than your quality of life?? also, pay people more even if it doesnt 'scientifically' make a difference, it makes a difference to their families Yale

[@gaudia3985]

I enjoy engaging my analytical mind. A kind of ob crafting for me: For a task, even if not asked, I would think of at least one or two other options and work out where each leads. This is especially helpful for clients on a budget. I help them at the same time that I help the organization I am with.

[@FightingTorque411]

Shifting pot plants and paintings around in a *coma ward* doesn't sound like "character strength"; it sounds like desperation for novelty and/or agency in a job that offers neither. I used to work in a Tesco call centre and made it bearable for myself by writing my contact logs as haiku or rhyming couplets. In both cases, the thing that brightens your day is the same thing that employers would view as inefficiency or time-wasting, and liable to get you called in to HR. I agree with her closing points about ikigai and meaningful lives and the like, but for work purposes, this ain't it.

[@BigHenFor]

You can't polish a turd, but you need know what is a turd in the first place. By understanding yourself more, you learn what is a turd for you. That expands your options. You're no longer just handed a tin of polish and a duster, and told get on with it. You can then mske better choices within the options available. And the more you embody 'to thine own self be true', the more greater are your chances of being better aligned with your needs or wants, and the better choices you will make in your life. You are the only constant in your life, and whilst you might not be able to get exactly what you want, how you do it, in what spirit or attitude you do it, is down to you. That need not mean compromising your wellbeing flourishing in the pursuit of a livelihood. You have to feed your heart, your mind, your soul, as well as your body, and that our responsibility to ourselves. To keep in touch with who we are, and to honour that beyond just putting food on the table and paying bills. And if you don't set your own priorities, then they will get set for you. That won't work for you or the world. Yes, you have to play the hand you're dealt, but the more consciously and honestly you play, the better the results, and the more satisfaction arises from that, because the more you honour what is important to you, the better you can negotiate from a position of inner strength, meaning, and purpose.

[@ily9402]

This comment sections seems to be a bit more grounded than the video

[@synkkamaan1331]

What would one of those haikus look like?

[@FightingTorque411]

@@synkkamaan1331 One that I recall is something like "Loaf of bread missing / From last Saturday's order. / Cost is refunded." An example of rhyming couplets was "Refunded tagliatelle ready meal / With perforated plastic package seal." Unfortunately, though there while typing, the contact logs did not save line breaks, so most people looking through a customer's contact history will not notice my poetry unless they are actively aware and looking for it :(

[@FightingTorque411]

@@kris3451 My complaint is that this presenter appears to tell us that poor working practices, unsatisfactory jobs etc. can and should be tolerated by perceiving opportunities therein to manifest "character strength" instead. If the janitor feels this way of their own accord, great, but this seems like a means for employers to avoid improving conditions by telling employees that if only they would ignore their low pay, long hours or tedious labour and focus on ornamental perks they themselves insert into their working day, they would be happier and more fulfilled. This video could serve as an excellent excuse not to improve the core aspects of the profession by diverting attention to the small window of personal expression the employee might be granted. I think of the "Hawaiian shirt" scene from the film Office Space as an example.

[@AzEagletarian]

Thanks Laurie Santos for this brief message. Intuitively it seems to be hugely power packed and very meaningful.

[@m2pozad]

How moneymaking and passion get routinely combined seems like a recipe for total confusion. Just paying the bills somehow, then truly getting on with living the life that makes one whole is so much more straightforward.

[@johnclark1371]

I think I understand what your saying, but it’s so difficult to put your passions in a box for 40+ hours a week. It starts to slowly extinguish the belief that you can actually follow your passions. If you can practice virtues like integrity, kindness, humility, teamwork, fairness etc. at work and gain deeper purpose and meaning in doing so all the better. I heard the term “meaning” defined as being in a purpose driven relationship with a belief system that represents fundamental truth in your life. It’s difficult to separate that from your work life.

[@m2pozad]

@@johnclark1371 Yes, there's no point in downgrading the meaning one has found in their work. Each to their inclinations. But it really seems a bigger problem these days to find so-called work/life balance. And it may be partially a matter of misplaced meaning. Imagine men 40+ years ago and beyond calling coworkers and work places family. What a shock to the wives and kids!

[@johnclark1371]

@@m2pozad Totally agree. I can enjoy the company of people I work with and that I work for, but they are not family in any sense of the word. And, it’s so hard to find work/life balance and still earn enough to support your real family. But, I think her point on trying to find those signature virtues that define who you are morally and ethically, and then to extend those morals and ethics into every dimension of life (work, family, hobbies, community) brings a flourishing that fulfills some of the deepest yearnings in our humanity.

[@starryfishs]

she makes a good point but she should not ignore that many ppl are still way underpaid and deserve more for their skill and productivity

[@HTV-2_Hypersonic_Glide_Vehicle]

Yeah when she talks about more money will make me happy, I think she's referring to people that already have met their necessities and can afford them.

[@KrystaUndertaker]

So many people deserve much better pay, healthier work environments, reasonable hours, etc. However, once basic necessities like food, clothing, shelter, and so forth are met the additional extra money doesn't equate to happiness. One year after someone wins the Lottery, winners are either just as happy as they were before winning or often more depressed.

[@sophiarahmaputri]

It might do so some good to also take Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs into the picture as well. What the lady in the video explain, I think, also relate to self-actualization, which is the ultimate goal of a man according to Maslow. At the bottom of the hierarchy are basic needs like shelter, food, security, etc (I personally like to include financial stability as well). From now on, this is only my thought, so it's falsifiable. But I like to think about it this way-- although there are some people who bypass these basic needs in favor of self-actualization e.g. the starving artist or the self-sacrificing volunteer, most people, or people in general are basically more concerned about their livelihood rather than self-actualization. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, we need money to live, right? I see fulfilled basic needs as a foundation for us to self actualize. The more secure the foundation, the more freedom to build anything on it. And plus, maybe some of us can't afford the path of the starving artist, for example, because it's not only about us. There is also our starving family that we need to take care of, which we can't afford to sacrifice. And there are many other specific circumstances that each of us baggage. So my point is, both are important, securing your foundation and also actualizing your virtues. And actually-- There's no rule that you can't do both at the same time. Even if right now we're still struggling to make ends meet just to fulfill our basic needs, I'm sure there are still abundant opportunities for us to cultivate our virtues at each stage of our lives.

[@scambammer6102]

@@HTV-2_Hypersonic_Glide_Vehicle aside from that, more money in itself provides emotional benefits, like self-worth and social standing

[@HTV-2_Hypersonic_Glide_Vehicle]

@@scambammer6102 *"emotional benefits"* such as affording a loved one's surgery? *"self-worth"* I guess technically that would make sense.

[@Mystery_G]

Aristotle's valuing of virtues were done to maximize wisdom. Laurie Santos and Big Think's valuing of virtues are directed to maximize happieness as a worker. Says so much for our present Meaning Crisis.

[@kasondaleigh]

Dr. Santos explained this very well.

[@johnferradino]

Here are my test results 1. Honesty 2. Hope 3. Humility 4. Kindness 5. Humor I'm gonna wash potatoes with so much honesty tomorrow! So freakin' helpful! Maybe i should've forked over the the 50 bucks to tell me the REAL insight. Well i HOPE i don't have a lot of soup to make!

[@magesalmanac6424]

Hm I can see why humor is not your top trait 😉 I hope your potatoes were good 👍

[@leehayes4019]

Her happiness course goes into better detail on the pay issue. Solid research points to diminishing returns on happiness after a certain point. The problem is most of us are not at that safe point. Unintentional slight.

[@megwilcox2878]

No wonder I love my job so much! I wish I had this information when I started, 19 years ago. Who knows where I would be now! (Still here, I hope, but doing more.)

[@miabourek2094]

Another thing to consider is how open an employer is to allowing their employees to engage in job crafting. Organizing flowers might be a great way for an employee to keep themselves engaged, but a micro-managing work environment is going to resist allowing that

[@robertdouglas8895]

We all have special gifts that we are here to utilize to help others and ourselves. The one way to increase our responsibility for that purpose is to forgive others. We can only properly forgive by asking God to show us how to change our minds, metanoia, because we have developed our minds to find fault in others to try to escape punishment for it and we think that punishment comes from God. It doesn't. We self-punish to try to beat God to it.

[@HungerSTR1KE]

This was really inspiring. Thank you.

[@ashicks]

Love, Perspective, Social Intelligence, Honesty and Love of Learning. i'm essentially a janitor. I work by myself for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week cleaning a factory. Any ideas on how I could use any of these to make my job feel less "meh" ???

[@fuaadlatif9420]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@erdemvertu859]

I watched with big happy smile. thanks a lot!

[@zaheerahmad3896]

She is a good speaker and written precisely 👍

[@kimberknutson831]

This is wise, practical, and otherwise excellent. Thank you. : )

[@mmbudny]

I graded myself on a scale of 1 to 4 and then took the VIA survey, including the optional section. Their assessment matched my ratings quite well, which is good, because knowing your strengths and weaknesses is a valuable skillset, a lot harder than appears at the onset. But the more important take-away from the video is the negativity in many of the comments below. Quite sad.

[@pennyness3366]

I really enjoyed listening & learning from this video.

[@eloiselovesdevi]

Love Dr Santos! She’s awesome!!!

[@micromatters]

Who knew that my love for creativity and sense of humor could add spice to my everyday work routine? Can't wait to brighten up the office space with some whimsical doodles and dad jokes...

[@vamsigajjala]

Thanks!

[@Struckgold]

I came to learn about possible hidden strengths and got a lecture on how to be a better drone.

[@escoworld]

My signature strength is being a cog in the wheel.

[@TheNaiveMonk]

Thanks for sharing. ❤

[@katiaaitoumeziane791]

thank you

[@SeaTurtle515]

Lots of negative comments here. But listen, I am battling a very aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. I can attest to the fact that engaging in these virtues or character strengths no matter where I am and what I’m doing, not just the fun stuff, has been exceedingly beneficial to my peacefulness and my overall happiness. If you are complaining and criticizing practicing character strengths, and yes it is a practice, then maybe you need to practice some of them.

[@jerrym3261]

❤❤❤ I was in my 60s before I let the happiness scholars teach me happiness. If we only pursued happiness with the fervor we pursue money...

[@pandupadmanegara1852]

Superb insight! Thanks for this!

[@peterjohn8625]

I did one of these recently because my job agency said it would help determine what jobs I was suited for. My top strength was ' Honesty '. I guess honesty isn't considered a strength nowadays since this test doesn't think it's important. This is why the world is focked.

[@mmbudny]

I think honesty is covered by the category integrity.

[@peterjohn8625]

@@mmbudny You are correct! Stupid having two words with same meaning tbh.

[@dalalalhammadi3456]

thank you for this great video

[@merylkleiman3930]

Love this! Thanks, Professor!

[@honeylavender1122]

My top 5 came out to: Judgement, Curiosity, Love of Learning, Perspective, Honesty

[@steve_santiago]

Love Laurie!

[@yuucreations8569]

1.Curiosity 2. Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence 3. Forgiveness 4. Leadership 5. Love Interesting!

[@mistymint7983]

We are the virtues ❤

[@gravestone4840]

We are meant to be farmers or entrepreneurs. Our mental well-being went downhill when we transitioned to working "jobs". As soon as we became employees instead of being self sufficient, we can only be one of two types of people. Those who have decided they don't mind being a slave and the rest of us that are miserable with our current state of servitude.

[@robot7759]

Unfortunately job crafting is usually not appreciated 😢 Think: "This is how we've always done it, this is how we do it now, this is how we always will do it", which is bs of course.

[@NomimizuShinobu]

There is no Job in existance that could enguage me in the way I am seeking.

[@M3l_0N666]

Ive always wantes to be a villain in my own story in a world not quite like our own, and perhaps go out in a dramatic way. Instead i awoke to this 1 dimensional hell of conformity where only the rich live free.

[@RegularHuman]

Loved

[@mateusxXx1000]

Great!

[@craigmerkey8518]

Cool I used this for information for my MA.

[@perlamargarita8040]

I may use this with my students this year!

[@kathypetty8996]

We don’t know all of the gifts that we have until we have to use them.

[@PamelasLas]

Interesting ideas. Thanks!

[@theiaselene]

So, I did the test out of curiosity. It's a waste of time. Many repeated questions with different wordings. And for example, if you strongly agree that you're good at working in teams, then your results will show your greatest strength is team work. It's just stuff you know already. Not to mention you have to give a lot of personal information and they tried to sell you their full report at the end. Just do a MBIT or Big 5 personality test, those are validated and more insightful.

[@inuhundchien6041]

Is there a way to make the test less about our own self perception and more about reality/others perception of us? Also, the wording is a bit ambiguous for me.

[@hansolowe19]

The survey requires registration. Never.

[@jeffrey-825]

It's difficult to figure out what your strength is and what can help you move on with as a tool when you're in the slumps.

[@שאולנקר]

GREAT IDEA THAT WILL DEFINITELY BE HELPFULL !

[@foursite]

All good but...Now I have to think about Job Crafting while economic inflation slowly kills my creativity and steals my happiness despite my best efforts.

[@starryfishs]

also, her ideas of being happy at work really give all these bad practice companies a pass which i dont like too much

[@johnclark1371]

I’m not sure that she’s just saying be happy at work. I think you can practice virtue at work by being courageous enough to try to create a better work environment for yourself and your coworkers, by confronting the unfair practices of your employer. I definitely don’t think you have to give your employer a pass to practice virtue in all elements of your life, including work. It’s just the game is stacked heavily in favor of the employer, so there is only so much a courageous employee can do. But the virtue is in doing your best to hold the employer accountable, and to change the political dynamic that gives the employer such power.

[@Munchausenification]

Now i wonder how many virtues you should focus on in your job? Lets say you excel in 4 of these character strengths, will it be better to focus on 2 or all 4 at the same time? Perhaps its a learning process and varies from person to person.

[@M3l_0N666]

Hey only you place limitations, id ask, how strong are your convictions.

[@hetalkhatri8018]

Wow , I love this video ❤

[@shethewriter]

Santos is such a great speaker, I remember a TED Talk she gave like a decade ago

[@WhirledPublishing]

@38 seconds: Truthfulness isn't even on your radar - even though truthfulness is one of the most important virtues, along with peacefulness, kindness and helpfulness.

[@diddlybop]

I did the survey as well as looked at the list and picked the ones that I resonate with. The results were basically exactly the same, so I highly recommend skipping the survey not only do they try to collect all kinds of information from race, gender, marital status to income and household size, but at the end they try to sell you extra results. Talk a about a scam information farm. Just looking at the list and choosing the ones that resonate with you is a good exercise though.

[@Michadoo]

It's ok to rest/ be passive when you're not at work y'all.

[@Morjixxo]

I took the test! Some results are surprising (until they are not XD). Is it common to have big differences in the ranking between strengths of the same domain? (for example, really high Judgment, really low Curiosity, like if all the "Wisdom energy" was specialized in one trait)

[@AshrafIslam-t1m]

If you guys, with an open mind, read about the religion of Islam---not what the media says, not what modern day Muslims do; but actually look in depth and studying the religion of Islam without bias; you will note that it possesses all the high noble virtues.

[@gmoore1786]

This is great for personal growth and development but absolutely feels like a corporate sponsored research project that makes happiness an individual’s responsibility. Not that it isn’t but she doesn’t mention outside forces that play major roles in people’s quality of life. Like maybe how much (or little) a company pays you. And how expensive rent and groceries are. If a person has any sort of medical conditions. But nah you just inject xyz virtue in your jobs routine and you’ll be happy and more fulfilled. Idk it just seems like a gilded turd mindset. Rather than have a job that’s truly satisfying with reduced outside stressors. We’re just encouraged to make the best of systemic problems with bandaid solutions because of the conclusions of work like this. It’ll make you happier! Maybe that means you’ll be able to tolerate your unsatisfying work with less stress! Instead of better work and working conditions. Sorry, I’m sure that’s not the message this lady would endorse. But I’m sure cool work like this will show up in bogus positive work environment seminars 😢

[@RodrigoRocha1980]

*Resumo*: Laurie Santos fala sobre a importância das virtudes e como elas podem impactar nossa felicidade e desempenho no trabalho. Ela destaca a teoria de Marty Seligman e Chris Peterson, que identificaram seis domínios de virtudes com cerca de 24 diferentes virtudes do caráter. Laurie explica que cada pessoa tem algumas virtudes que ressoam mais com ela, chamadas de "virtudes principais", e que ao engajarmos nessas virtudes, nos tornamos mais virtuosos e felizes. Ela também menciona o conceito japonês de 'ikigai', que envolve fazer um trabalho significativo alinhado com nossas forças pessoais. *Timestamps*: - 0:00 - Introdução sobre a importância das virtudes - 2:30 - Marty Seligman e Chris Peterson identificaram seis domínios de virtudes e 24 diferentes virtudes do caráter - 4:45 - Engajar-se nas virtudes pode impactar nosso comportamento, sentido de significado e felicidade - 6:20 - Identificar nossas virtudes principais e como elas podem nos fazer sentir melhor - 8:40 - Engajar-se nas virtudes principais pode melhorar o amor pelo trabalho e o desempenho - 10:30 - Amy Wrzesniewski e a prática de 'job crafting' para engajar mais as virtudes no trabalho - 13:00 - Importância de engajar as virtudes no lazer e como identificar suas próprias virtudes principais - 16:00 - Conclusão sobre a importância das virtudes para o desempenho e bem-estar *Destaques*: - 🧠 Importância das virtudes para uma vida plena - 📚 Identificação de 24 virtudes do caráter em seis domínios - 💪 Engajamento nas virtudes pode impactar comportamento e felicidade - 😄 Virtudes principais são aquelas que ressoam mais conosco - 💼 Engajar-se nas virtudes principais pode melhorar o desempenho no trabalho e a satisfação - 🎨 Prática de 'job crafting' para incorporar virtudes no trabalho - 🌟 Importância de engajar as virtudes no lazer - 🔍 Formas de identificar suas próprias virtudes principais *Conclusões*: Laurie Santos destaca a importância das virtudes para uma vida plena e feliz, citando estudos que mostram como o engajamento nas virtudes principais pode melhorar o desempenho no trabalho e a satisfação. Ela também enfatiza a importância de identificar suas próprias virtudes principais e encontrar maneiras de incorporá-las em sua vida, tanto no trabalho quanto no lazer.

[@musiqtee]

Oh, well… A strange thing happens when we re-contextualize some truths without criticism of our given (actual) context. Weird words but; since the 1850’s we’ve had a strong belief in “social-darwinism”, an intricate construct of appropriating nature (?) into economic models and how we understand both power and leadership. That doesn’t make the Ancient Greek virtues “untrue”, but we’re obviously biased to regard said virtues through modernist productivity, growth, happiness, or waged work. “Work” in a societal context is also labour, but not all labour is work for a virtuous good. Aren’t we just creating a “golden calf” again? These issues are ever present (why even Christianity adopted the same virtues and added some), but I can’t see a solution by even more reductionist analysis. What we get is a “faith” in economic solutions, not very different from “faith” we criticise during the Middle Ages or in any fallen empire back in time. In a truly global ecological and economic “one-ness”, why do we still evade holistic insights? Just wondering out loud…👍

[@muanesy9275]

The "VIA Character Strength Test" also labelled as "A survey" is not really a character strength test! It just reflects what a person "thinks" or "believes" are their character strengths... Does not take into consideration that a person is "Too Close" to themselves to see their own reality. In a nutshell; it asks you in a long list of questions "What do you think are your strengths?" Then it gives you a list of them! and asks for some money for more details and information.

[@mialovestarot]

If I choose words from a list that describe my strengths, how is it a "test" and how does it reveal anything I didn't set myself by choosing those words? 🤔

[@zconradji]

That’s nice but workers should be paid more. Even if your research says it won’t make us happier. CEOs and executives shouldn’t be making all the profit while you blame workers for not giving enough of a shit about their low-paying jobs to feel fulfilled.

[@ziziroberts8041]

I took this professor's class. This is going to be about character strengths. Seligman's tests are available online.

[@GlennGoryl]

Work hard. Honor your Father, Mother, Spouse, & Children. Honor your own body by exercising, eating healthy, managing your weight.

[@monacojerry]

What if your character strengths lead you to becoming the CEO of a tobacco company and thus becoming a “desk murderer?” I could give thousands of similar examples. To a large extent it is very difficult to act virtuously in a society based on exploitation. Every time I buy bananas I think about the long history of violence, expropriation, and exploitation that brought those bananas to me. Was it possible to be an executive of the United Fruit Company in 1954 and be a virtuous person? This was at a time when the United Fruit Company was assisting in the overthrow of democratic governments and supporting death squad regimes that killed thousands of people. A lawyer like Bradley Palmer could play financial games that he loved that would lead to mass expropriation of lands from indigenous people and relax comfortably at his Massachusetts estate never confronting the devastation he initiated. Is this virtuous? And yet by the standards of our current society Palmer led a good life.

[@typicalairhead6846]

Virtue is not the same as morality tho.

[@monacojerry]

@typicalairhead6846 The videoographer spoke of a virtuous life. Thus, I used her terms in reply. I would argue that it is neither moral nor virtuous to sit in Washington or New York and make decisions that overthrow democratically elected governments and replace them with business-friendly dictatorships. But I would like to read how you make a distinction between a virtuous life and a moral life. Your statement may be correct, but I don’t know what you mean on a practical level. It is merely a semantic distinction between "virtue" and "morality" when you assert the distinction without explaining it.

[@soyaleye]

For real, why tie it to work though. And even if getting paid more for work doesn’t lead to better job satisfaction, do it still, it leads to better economic satisfaction for the individual.

[@adamalvarez4190]

🔥

[@djtomoy]

I probably have a very large amount of all those virtues

[@deemushroomguy]

I totally read that as the "wheel of viruses"... 😂 I need more coffee.

[@M3l_0N666]

Bruh

[@retroactiveIifestyle]

Me too 😂

[@jerrym3261]

I love psychological knowledge based on empirical evidence vs based on innate knowledge. We have smart people, we just don't use them. Dr Laurie Santos is definitely a smart person. I think if we look around, we can see where we get to when people seek validation for their own wrong thinking. People don't want to hear, "If you feel like something is missing from your life, it's probably you." They want to hear, you are a victim and somebody has taken yours.

[@robertdouglas8895]

That's right. Finding others wrong so you can be their victim is how we believe we can escape punishment, but it doesn't work. We are already self-punishing.

[@jerrym3261]

@@robertdouglas8895 I don't know who I stole these words from from but, the key to unhappiness is to focus on what you don't have and/or aren't getting. You can double that unhappiness if you can blame somebody or something for taking that away from you. This like most ideas is just repackaging the same in different words. Dr Laurie Santos and others share this idea over and over again.,

[@robertdouglas8895]

@@jerrym3261 If we think we are lacking, we can blame others or oneself, but either way you are missing that truth that we have all that we need. When we hunt down others to blame and find they are not at fault, we can realize we were just looking at the world and realizing it is just a mirror. Which part of the world do you want to look at? The one that is always lacking or the one that is abundant? When we realize that we have plenty to give, we are part of the abundant world. We receive what we give. It's all one.

[@jerrym3261]

@@robertdouglas8895 At the heart of it all, however you see your life, you are correct. If you tell me you have a crappy life, there is nothing I can do. You have a crappy life no matter what I point to. You win.

[@robertdouglas8895]

@@jerrym3261 We all come to the point of realizing that we are responsible for our unhappiness because it doesn't go away when we blame others. That's the parable of the prodigal son. Then we go home.

[@AustinThinker79]

What if you constantly move the paintings and plants in a clinic for OCD patients?

[@M3l_0N666]

CDO

[@danielletaylor773]

Where is the survey?

[@Krasbin]

It all sounds very interesting, but how much of the variability of phenomena with character strengths remains after controlling for personality (FFM/Big 5/OCEAN or HEXACO)?

[@richardward2469]

I wish the earning more money bit was true. I feel I have all of those strengths in buckets,I have also learned that money means nothing. The only things that matter are your family and your true friends. That’s all you need.❤️❤️🤟🤟

[@richardward2469]

Good weed helps as well 😬😬🦦🦦🦦

[@hwway4488]

Can we define virtues, or answer the question what are virtues? And maybe also, why are they good for us/society? Are they synonymous with our individual ‘signature strengths’?

[@Achalacha]

ask gpt, you could get a nice answer while awaiting their reply

[@perlamargarita8040]

This list has already been defined, being based on the work of the Greek philosophers. Or did you mean subjectively?

[@hwway4488]

@@perlamargarita8040 to only point to the way a Greek philosopher spoke about it is not a definition and since I don’t know Ancient Greek using the word also doesn’t clarify the meaning

[@hwway4488]

@Qakei genuinely helpful, thanks

[@wordzmyth]

The test is life.

[@AzEagletarian]

Sounds a lot like a progression from Stoic philosophy. See the work of Ryan Holiday.

[@leoelliondeux]

So you’re saying if i work my dream job ill be happier? But if I don’t work my dream job, all I have to do is think about my job differently and I’ll be happier. Sounds like corporate propaganda

[@ohreally4065]

The "How to hack.." approach (the first slide/card in this video) is utterly at odds with the pursuit of virtues approach. The aim is not to "hack" anything, but rather to set one's purpose, commit to it, invest the effort, solicit support, evaluate one's progress relative to one's aim (ideal). "Shortcutting" is not a virtue and will not lead to eudaimonia, according to the very work being discussed. As Professor Santos says, the path to attainment is not as direct or efficient as possible-see 3:00 or so. Another useful discussion about virtue is by Barry Schwartz, who also uses an example of custodian in a hospital. It's important to note the end point of this talk, "meaning". As it happens, research psychology is not very good at dealing with this concept, and neuroscience, does not deal with it effectively at all. If meaning and purpose are important to you, you will need to go beyond scientific studies.

[@sergiotlx]

So, where can we get a copy of the red/orange wheel of virtues with the six domains? (the one in the thumbnail)

[@bigthink]

Hi @sergiotlx, if you scroll down this page you'll find the wheel infographic: posproject.org/character-strengths/ And you can take the character strengths survey here: www.viacharacter.org/account/register

[@sergiotlx]

@@bigthink Thank you so much!!! I hope others get to see it as well!! It's really beautiful

[@griffinkirkland9087]

what about your weaknesses?

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

"Reflect upon the Past. Embrace your Present. Orchestrate our Futures." --Artemis 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind’s journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul’s fate revealed. In time, all points converge, hope’s strength re-steeled. But to earn final peace at the universe’s endless refrain, We must see all in nothingness... before we start again." 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨ --Diamond Dragons (series)