Check out the video below to understand what strengths are, and how you can build upon them in new ways!
First step: Take this free strengths test to determine what your top strengths are.
Remember what your top strengths are. It may be a good idea to print it off or to take a picture of it with your phone.
Second step: Start finding ways to use your strengths in new ways. Below are some examples.
Love of learning
- Find a new thing to learn about
- Some cool psychology ideas: Love languages, confirmation bias, effective methods of communication, flow, and fake versus authentic apologies. Psychology Today has quick reads on some of these topics.
- Find a new way to learn (e.g., podcasts, YouTube videos, books, lectures, seminars, join a club, talk to an expert, app). Tell us about your experience of finding a new way to learn below! – Did you find a good podcast?
- If you want to practice and learn about mindfulness you could try the Mindfulness Coach app – its free!
- List to NPR’s Hidden Brain podcast to learn about a wide range of psychology topics
Humor
- Watch a stand up on Netflix or YouTube
- Gabriel Iglesias (AKA Fluffy) is super funny! Check him out.
- Send a silly snapchat to someone
- Create a funny TikTok
- Think of a difficult thing you’re going through and try to find a way to make light of it
Hope
- Create a vision board of what you want your future to look like
- Watch an uplifting and inspiring movie
- Good Will Hunting – A man with a stellar IQ but unused potential finds himself in trouble with the law, and as a way to avoid jail time, he sees a therapist and works with a mathematician. He has to confront his past and reevaluate his relationships to proceed to a better life.
- Hidden Figures – Three amazing and brilliant African American women help NASA put a man out into space. They face discrimination and other challenges, yet are able to overcome them and become vital to the success of the mission.
- Unbroken – A service member overcomes great obstacles – his plane crashed into the ocean, survived on a raft for 47 days, and was tortured as a POW. His remarkable resilience is inspiring.
Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence
- Go to a park and take some pictures of the beautiful scenery
- Go on a walk around downtown Norfolk
- Listen to some music that really speaks to you
- Cook or eat a visually pleasing meal
- Go to an art museum
Love
- Give someone you care about a gift (e.g., coffee, flowers, chocolate)
- Write little notes about what you love about someone and place it around their home/room to find (e.g., in a textbook, underneath their pillow case)
- Do something for a loved one like cook them dinner or go grocery shopping for them
- Hug your loved ones
- Face-time one of your loved ones who is far away or to practice good social distancing
- Plan a thoughtful date
Curiosity
- Try a new restaurant
- Smalls Smokehouse and Oyster bar on Hampton Blvd has some awesome pulled pork BBQ and delicious fried pickles
- Rajput Indian Cuisine in on 21st has some awesome saag
- Orapax on Redgate Avenue has tasty gyros
- Kung Fu Tea has some cool options for bubble tea
- Find a new park to explore
- Complete a puzzle
Please share with us below if you did acts of kindness. What did you do? What was the reaction of others? We would love to hear it and maybe steal some ideas!