Start with Strengths

About this Course

In this character strengths course, you will learn positive psychology principles to explore your character strengths and how to use them to improve the areas of your personal life that matter most to you—whether that’s your work, with your family and friends, or in your community.

Who Should Take This Course?

Individuals interested in personal growth and development, greater well-being, and finding strengths-based solutions to personal problems.

Helping professionals who work with individuals to make positive life changes, including consultants, coaches, managers, educators, psychologists and social workers.

How Strengths-Based Practices Help People and Professionals Thrive

Character strengths are more than just positive traits, they are tools that help people flourish in both personal and professional life. In positive psychology, decades of research show that when individuals focus on and apply their unique strengths, they experience higher well-being, greater resilience, and stronger connections with others.

Using Strengths in Everyday Life

When you know your character strengths, through the VIA Survey or personal reflection, you gain language and focus for what’s best in you. Applying these strengths daily can:

• Reduce stress and create a more positive outlook

• Strengthen family bonds and friendships

• Increase motivation and productivity at work

• Bring a deeper sense of purpose and meaning

One simple but powerful approach is to choose one of your top strengths and find a new way to use it each day. This keeps your strengths active and helps you build habits that support growth.

Strengths in Coaching, Education, and the Workplace

Strengths-based approaches aren’t just for individuals; they are equally powerful in professional settings. Coaches, educators, and leaders who integrate strengths into their work often see people unlock hidden potential and improve performance. For example:

• Coaches use strength language to help clients set goals, build confidence, and overcome challenges.

• Educators highlight character strengths to nurture resilience and perseverance in students.

• Leaders and workplaces focus on strengths to build more engaged teams, foster collaboration, and increase job satisfaction.

By identifying and leveraging character strengths through a mindfulness and character strengths assessment, professionals can help people grow both personally and collectively, creating environments where individuals feel seen, valued, and motivated.

The Virtues That Connect Us

Every one of the 24 character strengths contributes to the six universal virtues: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence. Whether it’s a leader showing fairness, a teacher encouraging curiosity, or a friend expressing kindness, these strengths-based practices help people bring out the best in themselves and others.