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VIA Institute On Character

Strengths Basics

Discover how you can harness your character strengths, the positive aspects of your personality, to help you thrive.

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Strengths Basics
Your Strengths Provide Insight You Can’t Get Anywhere Else
Discover how your strengths can open up new opportunities and insight.
By Kelly Aluise
Strengths Basics
Want a Better Life? Research Says, Start Here
Start with Strengths focuses on amplifying the good in yourself, your life and those around you. With strategies like mindful strengths use, strengths spotting and using your strengths in new ways, you’ll discover effective ways to improve your health, happiness and relationships.
By Kelly Aluise
Course

Start with Strengths
Book

The Power of Character Strengths: Appreciate and Ignite Your Positive Personality
The Science of Character

Meet an Expert

Dr. Ryan Niemiec

Ryan M. Niemiec, PsyD, is author or co-author of nine books, an award-winning psychologist and a widely traveled international speaker. Ryan is the creator of MBSP and has led hundreds of mindfulness groups over the last two decades. As education director of the global nonprofit, VIA Institute on Character, he's a leading voice in the education, research, and practice of character strengths. He lives with his family, which includes three young and zestful children, near Cincinnati, Ohio.

Learn More about Ryan

More articles on Strengths Basics

Strengths Basics
Tips for Using Each Character Strength in a New Way
Two ideas for activating each of your 24 character strengths.
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
3 Insights to Deepen Your Strengths Knowledge
Three key mindsets when looking at your strengths.
By Jane S. Anderson
Strengths Basics
Committing to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
A perspective from VIA Product & Practice Development Consultant, Ruth Pearce.
By Ruth Pearce
Strengths Basics
Ignite Your Strengths and Build a Life of Meaningful Stories
You have the power to create a life full of strengths-filled stories. The key...
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
The Overuse, Underuse, and Optimal Use of Character Strengths
How to find balance in using your strengths.
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
Your Strengths Provide Insight You Can’t Get Anywhere Else
Discover how your strengths can open up new opportunities and insight.
By Kelly Aluise
Strengths Basics
Appreciating Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence: The Strength Booster (Part 1)
Focus on the strength of appreciation of beauty and excellence to boost others.
By Ruth Pearce
Strengths Basics
How Does Judgment Show Up In Your Career?
3 tips to help you hone your decision-making skills.
By Nancy Fredericks
Strengths Basics
Appreciating Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence: The Strength Booster (Part 2)
Focus on the strength of appreciation of beauty and excellence to boost others.
By Ruth Pearce
Strengths Basics
ROAD MAP to Strengths Use
Use this helpful acronym to spot character strengths.
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
Widen Your Perspective! 6 Different Ways To View and Boost Your Strengths
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
3 Questions to Help You Exercise Your Strength of Perspective
When negative thoughts are swirling...learn how to shift your focus.
By James & Suzie Pawelski
Strengths Basics
A Comparison of Personality Models: VIA and Big 5
Character strengths are not separate from you personality, they are a component.
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
Want a Better Life? Research Says, Start Here
Start with Strengths focuses on amplifying the good in yourself, your life and those around you. With strategies like mindful strengths use, strengths spotting and using your strengths in new ways, you’ll discover effective ways to improve your health, happiness and relationships.
By Kelly Aluise
Strengths Basics
Strengths in the Time of Coronavirus
When times are difficult your strengths can provide hope and energy.
By Mary Judd
Strengths Basics
Get Comfortable with Your Strengths
6 ways to explore how your strengths impact your thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
By Caroline Adams Miller
Strengths Basics
What Are Your Signature Strengths?
Having and active awareness of your signature strengths can improve your well-being.
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
5 Steps to Strengthen the Quiet Strength: Humility
Humility involves thinking less of ourselves and quietly focusing on others.
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
Help! I'm Confused By My Strengths?!
Gain a deeper understanding of your strengths profile.
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
How a Love of Learning Can Save Us All
How can you find meaning in new knowledge?
By Goali Saedi Bocci
Happiness
Why NCAA Basketball is Good for You!
How to employ your strengths in March Madness.
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
Worried Your Strengths Are Boring?
What to do if you don't like your strengths.
By Michelle McQuaid
Strengths Basics
Could A Strength Mantra Improve Your Day?
A big part of advertising is creating a slogan that people will remember, and hopefully, encourage some type of action. What if you took this "advertising" approach to your character strengths?
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
Heart and Character Strengths: When Love Is The Way
When you discover your strengths, you'll see how they impact all aspects of your life.
By Jennifer Cory
Strengths Basics
Tried and True Tips to Boost Your Mental Health and Well-Being
Learn from others who have applied strengths to improve their well-being.
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
3 Surprising Facts about Strengths
Learn some of the common misconceptions about strength use. And learn the truth!
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
How is the VIA Survey Different from StrengthsFinder?
Which of the two popular strengths assessments should you use?
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
Research Points to Two Main Reasons to Focus on Strengths
Discover why focusing on your strengths can lead to greater happiness.
By Dr. Ryan Niemiec
Strengths Basics
Why Top Strengths are the Secret to Your Success
Discover why your top strengths can outweigh your other strengths.
By Kelly Aluise

Products & Tools

Profile Reports

Total 24 Report

Explore all your character strengths to maximize engagement, relationships and well-being.
Top 5 Report

Focus on your signature strengths to improve your life and thrive.

Courses

Positive Relationships

Explore strengths-based strategies to create stronger, more meaningful relationships.

Books

Mindfulness and Character Strengths A Practical Guide To Flourishing

Learn how to blend mindfulness and character strengths practices to create your best life.

Downloadables

VIA Classification With Adult Icons
Finding The Golden Mean

A chart to show underuse, overuse and optimal use of strengths.

Videos & Multimedia

Overcoming Illness with Strengths
Re-building a Life Through Character Strengths
Character Matters

Coaches, Leaders & Educators

Integrate character strengths strategies into your work and help others on their journeys of self-discovery and problem-solving. See our wide range of professional resources.

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Researchers

VIA collaborates with researchers across the globe to provide free access to the VIA Survey and raw data for use in hundreds of research studies. Read studies or get help conducting your own.

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