Jennifer Ransaw Smith
What would it be like if you lived each day, each breath, as a work of art in progress? Imagine that you are a masterpiece unfolding, every second of every day, a work of art taking form with every breath.
- Thomas Crum
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Welcome to the VIA Inventory of Signature Strengths
VIA Inventory of Strengths is the work of VIA Institute on Character, an initiative of the Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation. VIA is pleased to make the VIA Inventory of Strengths free to the public.
The VIA Inventory of Strengths is a 240-item self-report questionnaire that is intended for use by adults. It measures the degree to which respondents endorse each of the 24 strengths of character in the VIA Classification. It takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. A report is immediately generated indicating 5 top strengths, a description of each, and a comparison of your scores to others who have taken the test.
Dr. Martin Seligman and Dr. Chris Peterson, along with other top scholars in the country, led the research effort to create the VIA Classification. They found surprisingly strong agreement worldwide with regard to six general categories, or "virtues", which were labeled: wisdom, courage, justice, humanity, temperance, and spirituality. They then defined the paths by which each of these virtues are expressed resulting in 24 "character strengths" that are distributed across the six virtue categories.
Click here to see the VIA Classification of six virtues and 24 character strengths.
Click here for Usage and Interpretation Guidelines for the VIA Inventory of Strengths.
( Itook the survey this morning and agree with all of the findings!)
Ok I'll admit it, I'm late. For some reason, I was really scared to join the social networking scene. I don't know what I thought was going to happen, but I knew I didn't want to find out. So I sat on the sidelines and watched as others made these incredible connections with people from around the world. Then a few weeks ago, my girlfriend Lea put together a ning site for our high school in LA (Westchester class of '88). I joined immediately and couldn't believe how "cool" it was. We reminisced about our memories of riding the RTD back in LA, our school lunches and dances. Soon more and more people started to join and I started connecting with people I hadn't seen in almost 20 years! How cool is that. So I decided to take the plunge with facebook and join...I can't tell you how glad I am that I did. I absolutely love it. The technology is so superior that it lets you know who knows whom and connect with like-minded people. My network has grown over the past few weeks to over 325. Many of the people are absoluetly incredible. I'm connecting with people in Denmark who love the same books I do, or people in Australia that share some of my philosophies. I check my account daily and am simply amazed by how connected we really are. If you aren't on facebook, sign up and join me (I love watching my network grow). I can almost bet that you will be glad you did.
Ok, I wanted to share my latest find with you. It's called CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture). A CSA allows you to pay a certain amount of money (usually $400-$600) to help the farm to cover their anticipated costs of farm operations and salaries. In return, you get a bountiful supply of fresh fruits and veggies weekly. Clean, often organic food picked in the morning and sitting on yourtable at night. Last week was our first week participating and I was over the moon as I drove ( to the next town) to pick up my week's supply, which is enough for a family of four. Our CSA also gives us eggs, bread (from a local breadery) and honey. Our supply last week consisted of the following: Beets, green beans, broccoli, red potatoes, cucumbers, eggs, multi-grain bread and blueberries. Yummy, yummy. It felt so good as I bagged up my own food at the farm. The kids were over the moon and it is actually much cheaper than going to the store (about $32 per week). Our seasons will last from now until November. So for the next five months we can expect seasonal fruits and veggies. To find your local CSA, just google your state and put in the words "CSA." Give it a try...it's not only good for you, it's good for the world.
Everyone should know the important things in their life---your family, your partner, your health and well-being, your children---anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be devastated.
Here are five tough questions to help you discover what's important to you:
1. If you were on your deathbed and you wanted to tell your children
-- or the young people to whom you are close -- the three most important things that you've learned in your life, what would they be?
2. What gives you the greatest joy, satisfaction and renewal in your life and how could you do more of it?
3. Who are you without your job, your money? Describe in detail.
4. What activities could you add to your life that would be a source of richness and joy?
5. Think of someone you admire deeply--and explain why.
John G. Agno
Certified Executive & Business Coach
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Copyright 2005 by Signature, Inc.--reproduction is encouraged, with the following attribution:
From 'Coached to Success,' by John G. Agno, Certified Executive & Business Coach, Signature, Inc. (734) 426-2000 or www.CoachedtoSuccess.com __