- 340 Ways to Use VIA Character Strengths by Tayyab Rashid & Afroze Anjum -
CORE VIRTUE----WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE
acquisition and use of knowledge
I. Curiosity [interest, novelty-seeking, openness to experience]: Curiosity is taking an interest in all of ongoing experience. It involves actively recognizing and pursuing challenging opportunities and seeking out new knowledge. Curiosity can be broken down into three categories: interest, novelty seeking, and openness to new experience. It is this strength that drives individuals to make discoveries and to explore the boundaries of human knowledge.
Movies: October Sky (1999) Amélie (2001-French)
1. Look for jobs in which you are charged with acquiring new information daily, such as journalism, research, teaching, etc.
2. Expand your knowledge in an area of interest through books, journals, magazines, TV, radio or internet, for half an hour, three times a week.
3. Attend a function/lecture/colloquium of a culture that differs from yours.
4. Find a person who shares your area of your interest and learn how he/she increases his/her expertise in that area.
5. Eat food of a different culture, explore its cultural context and become aware of your thoughts.
6. Connect with a person of a different culture and spend at least an hour, twice a month to learn about his/her culture.
7. Make a list of unknowns about your favorite topic.
8. Try things that challenge your existing knowledge and skills.
9. Visit at least one new town, state or country yearly.
10. Identify factors which might haven diminished your curiosity in an area and search three new ways to rejuvenate it.
11. Get engaged in more open-ended learning experiences (i.e., making ice cream to understand physics and chemistry or taking a yoga class to understand different muscle groups).
12. Explore processes of nature, for at least one hour weekly, by being in the woods, park, stream, yard, etc.
II. Creativity [Originality, ingenuity]: Creativity is the process of using one’s originality to devise novel ways to positively contribute to one’s own life or the lives of others. Such originality can range from everyday ingenuity to groundbreaking work that becomes highly recognized. Creative people are able to apply their imaginations in new and surprising ways in order to solve the problems that they encounter. Traditional notions of creativity focus on artistic expression and scientific discovery, but this strength can be applied to any area of life in which obstacles can be addressed imaginatively.
Movies: Shine (1996), Amadeus (1984)
1. Create and refine at least one original idea weekly in an area of your interest.
2. Do at least one assignment weekly in a different and creative manner.
3. Write an article, essay, short story, poem, draw, or paint in relation to your passion once a week.
4. Offer at least one creative solution to challenges of a sibling or a friend.
5. Compile an original and practical list of solutions or tips that will address common challenges faced by you and your peers. Look for different and creative ways to spend more time at tasks you do best.
6. Brain-storm ideas on a challenging task with your friends.
7. Audition for community theatre or choir.
8. Redesign your room or home.
9. Take a pottery, photography, stained glass, sculpture or painting class.
10. Learn about an exotic and creative art such as Feng-shui or Ikebana.
11. Read about famous creative people and identify what made them unique.
12. Use leftovers (food, stationary and such) to make new products.
13. Design a personalized card instead of buying.