"Your Country Needs You" By Dr. Ryan Niemiec

“Your Country Needs You” is a powerful poem by Dr. Ryan Niemiec that calls upon each of us to embrace our unique character strengths in service of the greater good. Through qualities like curiosity, compassion, and bravery, the poem inspires reflection on how we can contribute to a more just and compassionate world.

Read the poem and try the activities below to activate, reflect on, and use your character strengths.

1. Pause and take two deep breaths. Then ask yourself: Which of my 24 character strengths can I bring to this moment?
2. Choose one character strength and take an intentional action with it. Reflect, meditate, or journal on how it feels and what it means to you.
3. Identify your signature strengths (your top strengths). Commit to putting one into action each day this week.
4. Imagine each of the 24 character strengths as "seeds" within you. Choose one to “water” with your attention and effort. Which strength will you nurture this week?