I read a fascinating article in the NYTimes magazine yesterday about a new school of Psychology aimed at helping people live happier lives. A certain Dr. Martin Seligman is heading up the research into what he calls Positive Psychology, and promoting it in colleges across the country. It’s controversial, but a lot of what the practice calls for makes sense for general well-being: daily meditation, helping others, taking time everyday to play, taking time everyday to be thankful for 3 things that happened to you that day.

Well I love personality tests, so when I went on Authentic Happiness, Dr. Seligman’s site, I was excited to see a whole bunch of tests I could take.

So I took the Signature Strengths questionnaire. Most of these I think are very spot-on. I’m a little confused about the gratitude one though, although it is something I’ve been striving lately to enhance in my life. But I’m not sure really how I can use that one in a career.

Here are your scores on the VIA Signature Strengths Survey. For how to interpret and use your scores, see the book Authentic Happiness. The ranking of the strengths reflects your overall ratings of yourself on the 24 strengths in the survey, how much of each strength you possess. Your top five, especially those marked as Signature Strengths, are the ones to pay attention to and find ways to use more often.

Your Top Strength

Capacity to love and be loved
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.
Your Second Strength

Creativity, ingenuity, and originality
Thinking of new ways to do things is a crucial part of who you are. You are never content with doing something the conventional way if a better way is possible.
Your Third Strength

Love of learning
You love learning new things, whether in a class or on your own. You have always loved school, reading, and museums-anywhere and everywhere there is an opportunity to learn.
Your Fourth Strength

Appreciation of beauty and excellence
You notice and appreciate beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in all domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.
Your Fifth Strength

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 your thanks.