I recently saw a link to an on-line survey about character strengths. Apparently millions of people around the world have participated in it, and the cumulative results seem to be spot-on for me.

According to the survey website,

This … survey is a simple self-assessment that takes less than 15 minutes and provides a wealth of information to help you understand your core characteristics. Most personality tests focus on negative and neutral traits, but the … survey focuses on your best qualities.

I have long believed, and the author of this survey confirms, that understanding your most positive characteristics helps you become a better person, because you can optimize those characteristics to your favor.

So after taking the survey and answering questions honestly, my results show information that confirms my own self-perceptions. Nothing earth-shattering, but confirmational to my psyche. Here are my top 10 of 25 characteristics rated on this survey:

Honesty

You are a straightforward person, not only by speaking the truth but by living your life in a genuine and authentic way. You are down to earth and without pretense; you are a “real” person.

Judgment

Thinking things through and examining them from all sides are important aspects of who you are. You do not jump to conclusions, and you rely only on solid evidence to make your decisions. You are able to change your mind.

Perseverance

You work hard to finish what you start. No matter the project, you “get it out the door” in timely fashion. You do not get distracted when you work, and you take satisfaction in completing tasks.

Prudence

You are a careful person, and your choices are consistently prudent ones. You do not say or do things that you might later regret.

Love

You value close relations with others, in particular those in which sharing and caring are reciprocated. The people to whom you feel most close are the same people who feel most close to you.

Leadership

You excel at encouraging a group to get things done and preserving harmony within the group by making everyone feel included. You do a good job organizing activities and seeing that they happen.

Gratitude

You are aware of the good things that happen to you, and you never take them for granted. Your friends and family members know that you are a grateful person because you always take the time to express thanks.

Kindness

You are kind and generous to others, and you are never too busy to do a favor. You enjoy doing good deeds for others, even if you do not know them well.

Forgiveness

You are good at forgiving those who have done you wrong. You always give people a second chance. You believe in mercy, and not revenge.

Fairness

Treating people fairly is one of your abiding principles. You do not let your personal feelings bias your decisions about other people. You give everyone a chance.

Summary

Everyone’s results will be different, and having more (or less) of these results does not mean that if something is rated lower, it doesn’t mean that you cannot have or demonstrate that characteristic. It just means that your “core characteristics” of your top-rated results are demonstrated in how you act and behave on daily basis.

Life is short: to thine own self be true.