Discover Your Abilities Using Positive Psychology

Discover Your Abilities Using Positive Psychology

Last update: 18 August, 2017

Napoleon Hill believed that “strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” You can find many ways to grow through constant work, if you take this quote to heart. In this article, we’re going to talk about how this idea is related to positive psychology.

If you want to give the best of yourself, it’s obvious that you’ll have to put in some sort of effort. Giving your best effort means pushing yourself to the limit. We’re all different people with unique characteristics that define us, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t find common tools that allow us to grow, for example, positive psychology.

There are many different relevant factors that we could discuss here. We’ve already mentioned effort, which is very necessary for growth. You also have to draw on things you’ve learned in the past. For those lessons to be valid, a good dose of willpower is essential. And let’s also add motivation to that. Finally, genetics are also important, since we don’t all start from the same base, and we don’t all inherit the same genes from our ancestors.

Using positive psychology to grow

If you want to discover your best abilities, which are related to the key factors we mentioned above, is positive psychology really useful? How can you use it to grow?

It’s time to look to those who are most advanced in this field. Let’s look at psychologists Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson. Both sought to answer the following question: How can we move towards a happier and more positive horizon using our own abilities?

Martin Seligman

Dr. Peterson and Dr. Seligman established positive psychology as a formula to focus our attention on the skills that we should improve. That is, they encourage us to focus on things that can make us happier and more fulfilled. To do so, both professors reflected on the features and abilities that allow us to find and maximize our own potential. Through this search, a more satisfying life can be achieved.

Discover the best of yourself

Like we said before, everybody has strengths that make them unique. Logically, we’ve also been given a unique combination of weaknesses. So if you can balance them both wisely, reinforcing the good and minimizing the bad, you can discover your best abilities and be happier, more productive, and more complete as the unique individual that you are.

According to Seligman and Peterson, there are 24 essential strengths. Any one of them can help you gain satisfaction, control, productivity, and happiness in your daily life.

The psychologists view the motivation to learn and creativity as essential strengths. Others include curiosity, courage, critical thinking, perseverance, enthusiasm, and honesty.

We should also point out social intelligence and responsibility, friendliness, and the ability to work in a team. And it’s good to have a sense of justice, humility, and leadership. Being prudent, having self-control, and being able to forgive and appreciate beauty are also positive qualities. Finally, it’s also important to develop gratitude, spirituality, optimism, and humor.

“Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.”

-Og Mandino-

arms spread open

Dominate your strengths

If you want to maximize your abilities, you have to dominate your strengths. Through the use of positive psychology, which involves the search for happiness and fulfillment, you can find your inherent virtues.

Logically, after you’ve found them, you have to learn how to get the most out of them. Along the way, you should also be minimizing your weaknesses and working on your other, less developed strengths.

person touching star

With the right amount of motivation and effort, there’s no doubt that every day you’ll take another step in the right direction. It’s important not to lose your way or your motivation at any point. The results will come gradually, so try not to get discouraged.

“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”

-Arnold Schwarzenegger-

I would say that everything in life is focused on the search for happiness. Sometimes we make mistakes and get lost. But positive psychology can be a good tool to make yourself a better, happier, more complete person. So why not try it out? You’ve got nothing to lose.


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.