Sense of Self

(1) Make a List of Your Strengths & a Visual

This one is sort of weirdly obvious once you think about it, but also easily forgotten when you’re going through it (it being depression and/or excessive anxiety.) If you’re having trouble identifying your strengths, enlist the help of others (scary, I know).

Keep the list handy for when you’re having a crappy day or you’ve incorrectly assessed that you’re a loser with no good qualities.

Finally, find a picture you or someone else has taken, a piece of art, a document you’ve received or something, anything that represents one (or more) of your strengths and hang it up! Even if it is only obvious to you that what you’ve hung up represents your strength, this visual will help remind you in a subtle and effective way. Hang up as many as you want, but at least start with one :)

(2) Key Character Strengths

Character strengths are the parts of your personality that make you feel authentic and engaged. 

Identifying your top character strengths and using them more in your daily life can help:

• Boost confidence 

• Increase happiness 

• Strengthen relationships 

• Manage problems 

• Reduce stress

Take the free survey offered by the VIA Institute on Character to identify your strengths. 

Then get a piece of paper, write your top 4-5 character strengths, and identify ways you already use them and new ideas come for how to use them, and bonus points if you track this over time as this will help you build the habit into your overall lifestyle. 

I first learned of character strengths through the course “The Science of Well-Being” developed at Yale college and now offered for free through Coursera. This course is great for learning about overall well-being especially if you enjoy learning through professor lectures, data points, and research, within the overall context of psychology.