Every human being is a separate universe shaped by diverse values, interests, sensations, and perceptions of the outside world. For this reason, the existence of conventional norms of judging one’s character is biased and hurtful in the long run. Instead of endlessly searching for a gold standard of human character, it is more productive to encourage people to embrace their strengths and individuality as a personal virtue that would allow them to use their natural talent. Society teaches people to develop culture- and gender-specific character traits such as kindness and bravery without understanding that some individuals are prone to courage in situations when the other’s response mechanism would be humor or prudence.
For this reason, it is of paramount importance to dwell on one’s individualistic traits in order to use them for personal and social good. My character survey results indicate that three of my major strengths include fairness, prudence, and honesty. Although I was not surprised by the results, I did not expect such a character trait order. I have always believed that my emotions are in balance with rational thinking, whereas, in reality, I am a person who always thinks rather than responds to the situation emotionally.
Fairness, which is a non-biased mindset, which seeks just treatment for every person despite their peculiarities, is essential for one’s proper approach to collaboration. For example, by relying on it, I avoid discriminating others when controversial issues are discussed in order not to go off-topic and hurt feelings or promote healthy communication by developing trust. Even though by excessively doing so I might risk appearing weaker than others when their manner of speaking is more intense, the pitfalls still can be addressed by emphasizing the significance of outcomes for everyone. Since early childhood, my open-mindedness and the lack of judgment have contributed to my ability to find compromises. These characteristics also apply to business as they facilitated the process of negotiating issues in this setting, especially when working with partners ethically. Consequently, the use of fairness led to greater self-awareness, which was gained through comparing standpoints instead of insisting on specific options, and compassion, which was the result of being a good listener. To strengthen this ability, I might develop critical thinking since this skill would allow me to distinguish between one’s actual needs and manipulation.
The second virtue of my character is prudence, associated with level-headed and cautious behavior. I recognize that cautiousness is a significant part of my personality because I subconsciously think several steps ahead before doing anything. The phrase “Will I regret it later?” is one of the most frequently asked questions in my head. For example, before spending my money impulsively, I tend to think of situations when this impulsive behavior could affect my life positively or negatively. Such virtue is, by all means, an asset for my future career because, as a leader, I would take responsibility for the whole team, and being cautious can save money and resources for everyone. Also, prudence allows an individual to develop more meaningful connections with people and increase the overall positivity of communication. The former implies that the essence of discussion is always put forward, and the latter adds to beneficial results by ensuring that the feedback is optimistic when all needs are considered. However, despite the benefits, prudence sometimes makes a person wonder if they are missing the beauty of spontaneity, and risks are still required.
Finally, my third character strength is honesty, defined as one’s ability to communicate how they feel without deception. I have always believed it to be a moral duty of every individual because being open with oneself and the world increases the chances of meaningful communication and change. As an honest person, I acknowledge my duty not to deceive myself and the people around me. Surprisingly, the latter is often easier due to my strength of fairness and compassion for others. Honesty has many benefits, such as the ability to bond with people emotionally and the opportunity to create an adequate self-image. The former provision allows individuals to gain support in innovative projects, whereas the latter complements it by creating the reputation of a transformational leader. In this way, honesty significantly contributes not only to personal life but also to career successes as it evokes respect and encourages to adopt one’s vision. The evident drawback of excessive honesty is saying things other people might find hurtful and unnecessary to hear. Thus, to maintain honesty as a blessing rather than a curse, one needs to find a balance between criticism and insult.
Considering the analysis above, I may conclude that my prevailing character strengths are the ones related to analytical and critical thinking rather than pure emotions. On the one hand, it is a good career prospect because business and leadership require a level-headed approach to day-to-day operations and planning. On the other hand, this analysis demonstrates that in some cases, I can become obsessively involved in rational thinking instead of being influenced by emotions and spontaneity. In this way, it is necessary for me to balance ratio, emotion, and intuition to create a more stimulative environment for growth and building new relationships.