Love of Learning

Virtue of Wisdom and Knowledge

This virtue is finding and using information to help promote a healthy life-your own and others. All the virtues are based on doing no harm to yourself and others. Wisdom and knowledge contains five character strengths: creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, and perspective. To practice a virtue we need to express on a regular basis two or more of the related character strengths. Character strengths can be developed thru our consistent and conscious effort.

Love of Learning

This strength looks at enjoying the process of learning and the benefits that occur when we learn new ideas. Love of learning takes place across our lifespans. We interact with the world more effectively as we learn from our experiences. Trial and error learning is when we try something, see if it works or does not. We make changes. We modify and adapt what we learn to fit our lives. Learning can be gaining new ideas, learning skills, and building on existing knowledge and skills. According to Peterson and Seligman (2004), love of learning has not been studied as a character strength. It is considered tentative until further research is done.

As we pursue the love of learning, we enjoy learning for its own sake. We gain positive feelings. Love of learning can be frustrating as we struggle to apply new ideas or new skills. The Chinese have a phrase for love of learning that translates as our heart and mind want to learn. Learning is both an emotional and intellectual pursuit. Love of learning is demonstrated by institutions and practices, all types of schools, training programs, internships, mentoring, supervision, and being coached. 

Developing Love of Learning

Name one or two things you have recently learned. Talk to a friend and let her or him know what you have learned.

Think of one thing you have wanted to learn and have not done. What is one small step you can take to learn in this area?

Reflect on how your life has improved because of what you have learned and applied.

Adapted from  Peterson and Seligman (2004)

Virtue of Wisdom and Knowledge

Virtue of Wisdom and Knowledge

This virtue is finding and using information to help promote a healthy life-your own and others. All the virtues are based on doing no harm to yourself and others.

Wisdom and knowledge contains five character strengths: creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, and perspective. To practice a virtue we need to express on a regular basis two or more of the related character strengths. Character strengths can be developed thru our consistent and conscious effort.

Open-Mindedness (Judgment, Critical Thinking)

A way of thinking which shows flexibility, broad-mindedness, and complexity. Judgment is negative when it shows rigidity, prejudice, intolerance, and dogmatism. Judgment with open-mindedness is the opposite.

Open-mindedness is a style of thinking which shows that we think through our decisions and understand our reasons. We examine our thinking in light of reason. We use our thinking as well as our heart. Does it make sense? Does it feel right?

When we are open-minded, we can talk to a trusted friend, colleague, or counselor to get their opinion and use it as a reality check. Sometimes we may be blinded by our thinking because it is reactive and unexamined.

Empathy, the ability to understand another person’s views, relate to his/her thoughts and feelings, requires us to be open-minded. Open-mindedness allows us to respect people’s different points of view. We do not have to agree to show our understanding and respect.

People with various mental health disorders, such as depression, can hold irrational ways of thinking. A depressed person may think, “I will always be depressed. I can’t change.” Rational emotive behavior therapy by Albert Ellis and cognitive behavioral therapy by Aaron Beck provided specific ways to challenge a clients’ irrational thinking. Clients are taught to examine their thinking and replace close mindedness with healthier and more adaptive ways of viewing themselves, others, and life.

                                  Developing Open-Mindedness

·         When making a decision, list the pros and cons.

·         Talk to a trusted friend when making a decision. Explain your thinking and feelings. Ask for your friend’s opinion. We need other people to help us see other points of view or look at our own blind spots.

·         Browse at a local bookstore. Look for books that address a topic you are dealing with. Sit down. Read. Open your mind. It is easier to become open minded with an open mind.

·         Read about an opposing view. Talk to someone who holds differing views. Listen and learn. Rather than defend your position or debate take in the information.

·         If you are dealing with an addiction--drugs, sex, gambling, or food seek out a support group. Listen to other’s experiences. Learn from their life’s story. Do you see similarities in your own?

Curiosity-Character Strength

Virtue of Wisdom and Knowledge

This virtue is finding and using information to help promote a healthy life-your own and others. All the virtues are based on doing no harm to yourself and others.

Wisdom and knowledge contains five character strengths: creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, and perspective.

Curiosity

Curiosity-An interest in ongoing experience. Curious people look for variety and challenge. They desire to know things. Curiosity is different than the character strengths of love of learning and vitality/zest. We enjoy people who have varied interests and talents. We can feel appreciated and valued when someone is curious about what we think. A person who is overly curious can act intrusively—asking too many questions. The opposites of curiosity are boredom and a lack of interest in life or people.

According to Erickson, who developed a theory of psychosocial stages of human development, curiosity as a character strength can be developed between the ages of 3 to 6 years old. During this age range, children need to learn to start their own activities and gain confidence in oneself. Children can initiate their own play with themselves or with others.

Curiosity can be expressed through introspection-turning our attention inward to our subjective experience. We can show an interest in our own thoughts and feelings throughout the day. Check in with yourself throughout the day and ask, “How am I feeling? What am I thinking? How am I behaving?”

Noticing Curiosity

        Think of one way you express curiosity in your everyday life.

        Think of one way you are curious at work.

         Is there one thing you have been curious to learn about and have not taken the         time to explore? 

        Would you be willing to take a few minutes today and pursue an interest?

Cultivating Creativity

Virtues and Character Strengths

In the next several months I will be discussing with you the six virtues and twenty-four character strengths as identified by Peterson and Seligman in their book Character Strengths and Virtues (2004).

Many ways exist to cultivate an ethical life. I like this classification of virtues and strengths. As an exercise of introspection, I invite you to visit the website www.authentichappiness.com. Select the questionnaire entitled “VIA Signature Strengths Questionnaire.” It takes about thirty minutes to complete. You then get the results of your character strengths from the top one to number twenty-four. You can refer to it as I explain the virtues and character strengths.

Virtue of Wisdom and Knowledge

This virtue is finding and using information to help promote a healthy life-your own and others. All the virtues are based on doing no harm to yourself and others.

Wisdom and knowledge contains five character strengths: creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, and perspective. To practice a virtue we need to express on a regular basis two or more of the related character strengths. Character strengths can be developed thru our consistent and conscious effort.

Creativity-Character Strength

Creativity- It improves your life and the life of others. Creativity is all around us. People have created the furniture in our homes, the movies we watch, the music we listen to, the books we read, and the inventions that make our life easier. A person who is creative does not hurt of harm others with his/her creation. Everyday creativity abounds—a family member who plays piano, a neighbor who makes birdhouses, our friend who writes poetry, and cooking a meal for our family. Society encourages creativity in the forms of classes in drama and dance, music, cooking, and learning a language. The opposites of creativity are descriptions such as boring, dull, and lacking imagination.

Noticing Creativity

1. Think of one way you are creative in your everyday life.
2. Think of one way you are creative at work.
3. Is there one thing you can do today that is a creative act?
4. Is there one class or activity that you would like to do?
5. Think of one person whose creativity you admire. Let them know you appreciate how he or she expresses it.

What is my purpose?

     When you wake up in the morning, do you feel comforted, knowing that you are going to spend some part of your day, expressing your own personal sense of meaning. A belief that your life matters? An inner sense that you want to share something of value?
      This matter of purpose and meaning came up today. I had heard about a friend who had lost his brother. His question that he posed sent shivers through me. What is my purpose in life? He had thought that his brother had died too young not knowing his purpose.
       Living a purposeful life is something we have to discover for ourselves. I like the concept of us developing guidelines that inform our speech and behavior, a moral or ethical compass, so to speak. The underlying foundation of morals or ethics is to practice as best as we can to do as little harm to ourselves and others.
        I think developing our character is forged in the trials and errors of everyday living. Religions and philosophies around the world have wrestled with the question of what is a meaningful life. Positive Psychology has identified six virtues that appear valued by cultures around the world. These virtues are: wisdom and knowledge; courage; humanity; justice; temperance; transcendence. The virtues are principles that need to be expressed through our actions as character strengths. Character strengths are what we admire in people--our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, our family members, our leaders, and most of all, what we like about ourselves.
        Character strengths show up in our behavior, how we treat ourselves and others. The way we practice a virtue is to develop and display a character strength. Positive Psychology recognizes twenty-four character strengths.

Turning Inward



Take a few moments and reflect on what you like about yourself, perhaps how you showed kindness to a stranger in the grocery line by letting her go ahead of you. Think about what your close friends or family have complimented you on. Relate those positive qualities to a principle, such as kindness, justice, or a sense of teamwork.
       Stay with me for future posts about the character strengths and how you can develop these.

Peace of Mind

                                           

            A few weeks ago, I along with ten thousand people, listened to the Dalai Lama speak in Long Beach. He is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people living in exile in northern India. He spoke about how we can find peace of mind living in turbulent times.

            Peace of mind is grounded in the principle of turning inward to cultivate a serenity, a steadiness of mind. It weathers the storms of our bad days. Peace of mind is opposite of a state of apathy or a spaced out zone. Peace of mind is what we can daily work on developing in ourselves. For me inner peace provides a source of happiness, a contentment with myself and others.

           The Dalai Lama talked about various ways we can develop this peace. First, let go of needlessly dwelling on the past or hovering over the future—a source of anxiety and distress. Do what needs to be done to make plans and learn from the mistakes of the past. No need to obsessively dwell in the past or future. Peace of mind is found in the present moment. Second, he believes in the basic premise that we want to be happy and free from suffering. The Buddhist view sees suffering as a continuum of experience—from physical pain, lack of material sustenance, to the range of negative emotions such as worry, frustration, and despair. Third, enduring happiness is not found in the endless pursuit of material gain and pleasures. Happiness and peace of mind are closely related inner states. Peace of mind is developed by living our lives following the simple guideline—practice ethical behaviors. Ethical behaviors show up in our lives as strengths of character.

          The Dalai Lama emphasized what he calls a universal ethical principle, the practice of compassion. Compassion recognizes that we all want to be happy. We are all interdependent on one another. We rely on each other to meet many of our needs. Practice self-compassion and compassion towards others. See what happens. Find out if you experience moments of peace of mind.

Arthur Jersild said: “Compassion is the ultimate and most meaningful embodiment of emotional maturity. It is through compassion that a person achieves the highest peak and deepest reach in his or her search for emotional fulfillment.”

Companionship on the Inner Journey

I heard this quote many years ago. Its wisdom has stuck with me. "When you explore the dark recesses of your mind, it helps to have a trusted friend to hold a flashlight."

For many years I thought I could solve a lot of my problems by turning inward, thinking things out, problem solving, and then applying the solution. Yes, in some cases, it works. Like making a decision about a big purchase. Or deciding to tell a friend about a problem I am having with him.

When the issues are deep seated--childhood wounds, conflicting values, confusing emotions that remain, relying solely on myself has not led to greater wisdom and clarity. If anything, loneliness and isolation has followed.

I have learned a few things in the last couple years about finding balance between turning inward and having trusted friends to help me. I have been active in a 12 Step Fellowship, Al-Anon. I have been turning inward, exploring my inner world, with a twist.  I have kept a trusted friend within an arms reach. A sponsor to help me work on the 12 Steps, a fellowship of Al-Anon members, journaling, and my Higher Power according to my own understanding.

I guess when you find something that works, your heart sings. My heart sings with delight. I have found a comfortable fit for me. My loneliness has diminished, I spend less time ruminating. If I start thinking too much, around in circles, coming to the same conclusion, it is time to reach out and connect with someone or my Higher Power. I feel more balanced. Progress not perfection they say.

This is only one way to make the inner journey more successful. For you your companions may be a therapist, a trusted friend, a partner, a spiritual teacher, a coach. Give yourself permission to journey inward. Keep props or supports as you go. You alone take the journey inward. But with a twist. You have someone to bear witness to your journey. Someone to hold a flashlight. Light dispels darkness. Light does not fight darkness. It gently and penetratingly illuminates darkness. One step at a time, one day at a time, darkness breaks up, softens, and melts away.