--~~--~~--~~ Getting To Know Creativity By Ben Dean, Ph.D. Series Introduction This newsletter marks the beginning of what will be a whirlwind tour of 24 character strengths—strengths such as wisdom, honesty, spirituality, kindness, gratitude, curiosity, and creativity. If you have not already done so, you can receive feedback about your highest strengths by taking the Strengths Survey at <www.authentichappiness.org>. According to Dr. Martin Seligman, we can become lastingly happier by using our signature strengths more often and in new ways. Early support for this theory comes from a random-assignment study in which research participants were asked to use their signature strengths more often and in different ways. These participants were happier six months later; individuals who received a “control” exercise stayed the same. The recently published handbook by Peterson and Seligman (2004), Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification, summarizes all there is to know about each of the 24 strengths. So ideally, you and your clients can read the relevant chapters in the Handbook and use the knowledge contained within to inform your strengths work. Although we encourage you to use the strengths handbook, we recognize that the scope of this 700+ page book can be somewhat daunting to be busy professionals and clients. If this is the case, then you are in luck. What we will be doing over the next 24 newsletters is offering you the Readers Digest version of the Handbook. Each issue will be devoted to a different strength, and my focus will be on application. In each newsletter, we will present information that will make it easier for you and your clients to (1) own your strengths, (2) develop them further, and (3) use them in new ways. To start things off, allow me to introduce this strength, Creativity. Definition A creative person is someone who comes up with ideas that are (1) original and (2) useful. Like all strengths, creativity exists on a continuum. Some find it helpful to distinguish between “little c” creativity and “Big C” Creativity. Big C Creativity is reserved for once in a lifetime, creative acts. (Think Einstein, DaVinci, or Edison.) In contrast, little c creativity refers to day-to-day creativity. Points To Consider
Situations To Approach And Avoid When Exercising Your Creativity
Take Home Message
Just Do It
I hope you enjoyed this first in a series of E-newsletters about character strengths. See you in two weeks! ~~--~~--~~ AHC Program Resources 1. To experience the first Authentic Happiness Coaching Program Master Class with Marty, call 1-212-461-2698. (Call anytime, day or night. Only normal long distance charges apply.) 2. To hear Marty talk about his life and the Authentic Happiness Coaching Program, call 1-212-461-2688. (Call anytime, day or night. Only normal long distance charges apply.) 3. To hear Marty's Keynote at the 2003 Psychotherapy Networker Symposium culminating in a standing ovation, call 1-212-990-7245. (Call anytime, day or night. Only normal long distance charges apply.) 4. To hear what our participants are saying about the Authentic Happiness Coaching Program, call 1-212-461-8615. (Call anytime, date or night. Only normal long distance charges apply.) 5. To read what our participants are saying about the Authentic Happiness Coaching Program, click on 6. Questions? If you have questions about the Authentic Happiness Coaching Program, please E-mail us at or call us at 1-301-664-6756 (call anytime, day or night.) ~~--~~--~~ Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D. is the Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, the founder of the field of Positive Psychology, a Past President of the American Psychological Association (1998), and the author of 20 books including his most recent best seller, Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment. With Chris Peterson, he is co-author of the newly-released Character Strengths and Virtues: A Classification and Handbook. He is also the co-founder of Authentic Happiness Coaching LLC. Ben Dean, Ph.D., co-founder of Authentic Happiness Coaching LLC, is a psychologist and coach, and the CEO of MentorCoach, a virtual university that exclusively trains mental health professionals to become part-time or full-time coaches. For MentorCoach's home on the web and to subscribe to Ben's free E-newsletter, the MentorCoach™ eNewsletter, visit . ~~--~~--~~ AHC Speaking Schedule Marty will be giving a keynote address at the Dental Trade Alliance, 72nd Annual Summer Meeting on Thursday, August 5, 2004. The meeting will be held at the Hotel Del Coronado, 15000 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92188. For more detailed information about this keynote engagement please call, 800-582-2595, or click here, <http://www.dmanews.org/DMASection.cfm?pid=916>. Ben will be speaking in Iselin, NJ (7/16/04), and Philadelphia, PA (7/18/04). For more detailed information about these speaking engagements please visit, . ~~--~~--~~ To subscribe, send a blank email to newsletter-subscribe@authentichappinesscoaching.com. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to newsletter-unsubscribe@authentichappinesscoaching.com. © 2004 Authentic Happiness Coaching. All rights reserved. "Getting To Know Creativity" Volume 2, Number 12 |
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All content © 2005 Ben Dean, Ph.D., MCC, Editor, "Coaching
Toward Happiness" eNewsletter
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