Strengths, Virtues, and

Talents: The Road to

Success (Well Show
You the Way)
By Julia Rootenberg, Franny Blanchard, Emma
Washington, and Duke Ejiofor
What are virtues?
They are the core characteristics endorsed by almost all religious and
philosophical traditions (p. 133)
The 6 Virtues (as determined by Seligman and his team)
1. wisdom and knowledge
2. courage
3. love and humanity
4. justice
5. temperance
6. spirituality and transcendence
What are virtues?
However, these virtues are pretty abstract and difficult to measure
So by examining strengths of character, we can see how to achieve
these virtues
What are strengths?
Strengths are moral traits
For example, integrity, valor, originality, and kindness are strengths
They can be built up and developed
A strength involves choices about when to use it and whether to keep
building it. (p. 135)
Talents versus Strengths
Talents, on the other hand, are non-moral traits
For example, having perfect pitch or being an extremely fast runner
We like to think of talents as things were born with
Talents versus Strengths
Talents are relatively automatic as opposed to strengths, which are
more voluntary
You cant choose whether you possess a talent or not, only whether you
choose to take advantage of it
For example, He is such a smart person, but he wasted his intelligence.
versus, He is such a kind person, but he wasted his kindness.
Difference between these two?
How and why are strengths important?
...with enough practice, persistence, good teaching, and dedication, they can
take root and flourish. (p. 134)
Anyone can develop their strengths. They are accessible to people
from all different walks of life.
What might be the value of understanding this concept
while in college?
Herein is my formulation of the good life: using your signature strengths
everyday in the main realms of your life to bring abundant gratification and
authentic happiness
The easiest path is usually not the most satisfying
Choosing to use and develop our strengths is usually
more difficult, but we feel better about ourselves
For example, taking 6 classes instead of 4, being involved in a variety of
organizations instead of being an uninvolved member of Wake Forest, etc.

Everyone take out those pencils!
Think of a time when you made the choice to
build upon a strength, even if it was the more
difficult course of action. In a few sentences,
write about this choice and what underlying
virtues you think you had to draw upon in order
to make your decision.