Search underway for Canterbury’s hidden strengths

Search underway for Canterbury’s hidden strengths

All Right? Media Release for immediate use, 30 May 2016

All Right? is on a mission to help Cantabrians’ find their hidden strengths as part of their latest campaign.

Ciaran Fox, All Right? mental health strategist, says discovering your strengths can make you more effective and give you a sense of meaning and purpose in life. This is central to experiencing higher wellbeing.

“Canterbury has been through a lot over the last five years and many of us feel tired, busy and over it. With the weather suddenly getting colder and the days shorter, it’s important we all try to find ways to live brighter. Discovering what you are best at is a great way to find your spark,” says Ciaran.

All Right? is working alongside US non-profit organisation the VIA Institute on Character to help Cantabrians’ find their hidden strengths. VIA has developed a 10-15 minute survey that uses science to identify character strengths. There are 24 strengths in total, including curiosity, creativity, teamwork, fairness and leadership.

Finding ways to bring your top strengths to life by using them often has been shown to lead to improved happiness, confidence and job performance.

“We’ve all got strengths, it’s just a matter of recognising them and finding ways to build them into our lives and share them with others,” says Ciaran.

Ekant Veer, Associate Professor of Marketing at University of Canterbury, says it’s more important than ever that people take the time to discover their strengths.

“It feels like we’ve never been busier - we hardly ever take the chance to stop, take a breather, and think about our lives and where we’re heading, says Ekant.

“We’re always being told the things we can’t do – don’t smoke, don’t drive fast – it’s great to turn that on its head by encouraging people to play to their strengths. In this way, we no longer feel that good health is just about not doing something, but about doing what we’re really good at,” says Ekant.

To do the VIA survey and find your hidden strengths go to www.allright.org.nz/strengths.

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