Love of learning involves enthusiastically studying new skills, topics, and bodies of knowledge. People with this strength enjoy the cognitive engagement of acquiring new skills to satisfy their curiosity, even when the material benefits of learning may not be immediately available. Love of learning allows people to persist in the face of frustrations and obstacles that arise during education, both formal and informal.
How to demonstrate this Character Strength:
Movies: Billy Elliot (2000), A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Songs: On the Road to Find Out (Cat Stevens)
Suggested strategies that correlate with this strength:
- Deliberately learn five new words, including their meaning and usage, at least twice a week.
- Visit a new museum every month and write about new things learned
- Read a non-fiction book monthly on a topic you find absorbing and engaging.
- Read and research a topic by visiting the library at least once a week. Write one page of pragmatic ideas to advance that field and discuss them with someone.
- Converse with someone on a topic of mutual interest.
- Follow an ongoing global event through newspapers, TV or the internet.
- Join a local book club.
- Attend a new gallery/exhibition openings in your area
- Read aloud with your loved ones
- Arrange a teach-learn date with a friend, learn a skill, and teach what you are best at.
By monitoring the above, you can catch when there is an incongruence in this personal strength. An incongruence will compromise you and cause inner conflict, so the above will help you keep on the right track.
References:
Niemiec, R. M, 2017, Character Strengths Interventions, Hogrefe, Boston
Tayyab, R., Anjum, A., 2005, 340 Ways to Use VIA Character Strengths, University of Pennsylvania
