Character Strengths Worksheet
Identify the strengths you already have, then plan concrete ways to use them more often, the single positive psychology exercise with the most evidence behind it.
About this tool
Character strengths are the positive traits we draw on at our best: qualities like kindness, curiosity, perseverance, and fairness. The VIA Classification, developed by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman, organizes 24 such strengths under six broad virtues. The idea is that everyone holds all 24 to some degree, but a handful sit near the top for each person. These top few are often called signature strengths because they feel authentic, energizing, and central to who you are.
Decades of research suggest that the path to greater wellbeing is less about fixing weaknesses and more about recognizing and deliberately using the strengths you already have. In a landmark study, people who identified a signature strength and used it in a new way each day for a week reported higher happiness and lower depression, with effects that lasted for months. This worksheet walks you through that exact exercise.
Naming a strength is only the start. The shift comes from application: taking a strength you may use on autopilot and aiming it somewhere new on purpose. If curiosity is a top strength, that might mean asking a coworker about their work in real depth. If kindness is, it might mean one unplanned act of generosity a day. The novelty keeps the practice fresh and the benefit alive.
- Peterson C, Seligman MEP. Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification. Oxford University Press; 2004.
- Seligman MEP, Steen TA, Park N, Peterson C. Positive psychology progress: empirical validation of interventions. Am Psychol. 2005;60(5):410-421.
Character Strengths Worksheet FAQ
What are character strengths?
They are the positive traits we draw on at our best, such as kindness, curiosity, and perseverance. The VIA Classification describes 24 of them, organized under six broad virtues. Everyone has all 24 to some degree, with a few that stand out as signature strengths.
How does using a strength in a new way help?
Research found that people who used a signature strength in a fresh way each day for a week reported lasting boosts in happiness and reductions in depression. Aiming a familiar strength somewhere new keeps the practice meaningful rather than automatic.
Is my information saved?
No. Everything stays in your browser. Your entries are never uploaded or stored, and the PDF is generated on your own device.
Is this the same as the official VIA Survey?
No. This worksheet helps you reflect on and apply your strengths. The full VIA Survey is a separate validated questionnaire. This exercise works well whether or not you have taken it.