About This Lesson
Print and cut these slips to share with someone when you see them display a Strength. Jot them a quick note or tell them what you spotted. You can start sharing with friends and acquaintances, but this is also a great way to engage with others in your community. You never know what kind of positive impact you can have on someone’s day when you reflect on the things they are doing RIGHT.
Here's what you'll get:
- Printable Strength Spotting slips to fill and hand out on the go
- Digital resources for implementing Character Strengths & Strength Spotting in the classroom
- Access to Strength Spotting lesson plans and a unit study
Why you'll love this activity:
*Focusing on what is right about ourselves and others tremendously impacts our wellbeing and community relationships and engagement.
* The activity is easy to read and implement
* You can use this resource as part of a comprehensive, science-based unit study.
* The associated free unit study for Strength Spotting comes with activities, downloadable worksheets, and even IEP and BIP recommendations tailored specifically to students with autism.
Ways to Use
- Use to support a positive school culture
- Incorporate into SEL curriculum
- Integrate into small groups and/or individual counseling sessions
- Families can use this at home, too!
- Use to spot strengths with family or friends at extracurricular activities and social events
What is Strength Spotting?
Humans have a biological need to be seen and appreciated for who we are at our core — in other words, our Signature Strengths. Positive Psychology researchers Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson created the Values in Action Survey or The VIA. This 96-item VIA survey identifies your capacity to exhibit each of 24 Character Strengths. These 24 strengths were identified as being valued by humans across many cultures and holding value throughout history.
Strength Spotting builds on the skill of Character Strengths, moving you from simply becoming AWARE of your strengths to EXPLORING and APPLYING them more intentionally. Strength Spotting is the skill of noticing, describing, and appreciating the Character Strengths in yourself and those around you. This skill encourages you to see people as an orchestra of strengths by shining the light on what is best with the people around you and in your community. This practice not only benefits you—it also helps others, including students with autism, increase their capacity to put their strengths into action in beneficial ways. Let's shine a light on what is RIGHT with us and those around us so we might all flourish together.
The Science of Strength Spotting
The evidence is clear — knowing and using your strengths positively impacts your life. If you keep your strengths top of mind and live them each day, you're significantly more likely to thrive. People who know their strengths and utilize the practice of Strength Spotting experience:
- Enhanced overall wellbeing and life satisfaction
- Greater happiness and less depression
- Greater relationship satisfaction
- Less stress and reduced anxiety
- Higher levels of positive work experiences
- Increased intrinsic motivation and engagement
Looking for more Strength Spotting resources?
* Explore the free Strength Spotting Unit Study, which comes with teaching slides, additional worksheets and activities, and even IEP and BIP recommendations tailored specifically to students with autism.
Proof Positive's resources are and will always be free. Be well!
★Bonus access to full lesson plans and unit studies on the skills of happiness at our Skill Center
