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Signature Strengths

When I discovered my signature strengths, I made some simple changes to work to them, and raised my baseline happiness.

I first came across the Authentic Happiness web site in 2003 and it has been an inspiration to me. It focused me on the areas I wanted to pursue and gave me insight into why I react to some situations the way I do.

So at the risk of revealing too much (!) here are my top five signature strengths.

1. Humor and playfulness. (Don't ask me to take things too seriously).

2. Creativity, ingenuity and originality. You are never content with doing something the conventional way if a better way is possible. (My mother hates this about me).

3. Honesty, authenticity and genuineness. You are an honest person, not only speaking the truth but living your life in an authentic way.

4. Judgement, critical thinking and open mindedness. You do not jump to conclusions and you rely on solid evidence to make your decisions. You are able to change your mind. (Some would refer to that as indecisive).

5.Zest, enthusiasm and energy. Regardless of what you do, you approach it with excitement and energy. You never do anyhing halfway or halfheartenly. For you, life is an adventure. (Bull in a china shop, anyone?)

So, learning all this, what did it mean? Well, firstly, it was an affirmation. I knew some of these things, but had never really examined them as things that made me happy.

Secondly, it allowed me to focus my energies on putting myself in situations where these attributes could be used or were present.

So I changed what I did.

I got a job where a key requirement was to problem solve. It gave me the opportunity to use my signature strengths of 2,4 and 5. I stopped hanging around people and doing things I didn't really like or have fun at. I changed the way I spent my spare time so I could use as many of the attributes as I could.

And you know what? I became happier. Genuinely, honestly happier. My baseline for happiness rose. It was brilliant!

So now it's your turn. Once you've done the test, report your results in the Contact Us page.

Return from Strengths to Reflection

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Reflection
Reflection is vital before you can build a positive third age identity. You need to reflect on the life that you currently have and decide what to keep and what to turf.

Let Go
If we are to truly move on with setting new goals and achieving new things, we have to learn to let go of the things that have held us back in the past.

Happiness
Research has shown that we can raise our baseline happiness if we use our signature strengths every day. Test for yours and improve your happiness level forever.

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Meditation can add depth to the kind of reflection we are seeking to examine at this time in our life. Here we discuss some techniques that can be empoyed easily for the novice.,

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Overcoming Fear
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Forgiveness
Finding forgiveness for those who have done you an injury or a wrong in the past is the only way to learn to move forward successfully.

Signature Strengths
When I discovered my signature strengths, I made some simple changes to work to them, and raised my baseline happiness.

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Signature Strengths

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