Challenging the notion that people are stuck with the character attributes they are born with, a new 8 minute film reveals how it is possible for anyone to learn, practice, and cultivate their character strengths.
The film called The Science of Character (watch it below) urges everyone to build up their core character strengths and use them to achieve personal and professional success and happiness.
What are your top five strengths? How can you bolster them to help you live the life you want?
The film is accompanied by free resources, such as a list of 24 character strengths that make it easier for people to hone in on their top five. Downloadable discussion guides are available for elementary, middle and high school students, as well as adults.
The Gallup organization also has a great resource to indentify your strengths. StrengthsFinder 2.0
“We are blown away by the response from schools and organizations that want to bring this important conversation to their community,” said Tiffany Shlain the filmmaker. “Our goal was to reach 250 schools, and now to be at 1500 and counting is incredibly inspiring. Knowing the social science and neuroscience about how we can develop who we are is empowering for everyone.”
The film is the fourth installment in the Let it Ripple: Mobile Films for Global Change series, in which Shlain and her team use the collaborative power of the Internet’s “cloud” to engage a global audience in creating short films that inspire action around political, cultural, and social issues. Shlain calls these films “Cloud Films” and has spoken and led workshops on the power of “Cloud Filmmaking” at the Sundance Film Festival (2014), the Tribeca Film Festival (2013), and internationally in Israel and, upcoming, in Egypt.