Categories of Personal Strength

Guided Reflection Prompts

1. What are three things you do well? These can be large or small. Include skills you may take for granted because they come naturally to you.
2. What compliments or positive feedback have you received? Think about what teachers, friends, family members, or colleagues have praised you for. Even casual compliments can point to genuine strengths.
3. What challenges have you overcome? Identify two or three situations where you faced difficulty and came through. What personal qualities helped you manage those situations?
4. What do you value most about yourself? If you could keep only a few qualities about yourself, which ones would you choose? These are likely your core strengths.
5. What makes you unique? Consider the combination of experiences, perspectives, skills, and traits that make you who you are. No one else has your exact combination.

Putting Strengths Into Practice

• Use strengths intentionally Research shows that using a signature strength in a new way each day for one week significantly increases happiness and decreases depressive symptoms for up to six months (Seligman et al., 2005; replicated by Gander et al., 2020).
• Revisit this list during setbacks When you face failure or criticism, your attention naturally narrows to what went wrong. Reviewing your strengths provides a more accurate, balanced self-assessment during difficult moments.
• Ask trusted people for input Others often see strengths in us that we overlook. Ask a friend, family member, or therapist what they consider your best qualities and compare their answers to your own list.