Fueling Our Values: The Six Universal Virtues and How They Shape a Life of Purpose
The Six Universal Virtues According to Martin Seligman
Martin Seligman, a prominent psychologist in the field of Positive Psychology, proposed six universal virtues that are foundational to human flourishing. These virtues can be used as fuel to align and strengthen our values, helping us lead more meaningful, ethical, and fulfilling lives. Below are the six virtues, how they fuel our values, and why they matter.
1. Wisdom and Knowledge
Virtue Definition: Wisdom involves the acquisition and application of knowledge, including creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, and perspective-taking.
How It Fuels Our Values: Wisdom allows us to make informed decisions that align with our core values. It helps us see the bigger picture, integrate diverse perspectives, and act with insight. When we cultivate wisdom, we enrich our understanding of our purpose, motivating us to live more intentionally and effectively.
Why It Matters: Wisdom fuels personal growth and the ability to navigate life's challenges with clarity. It empowers us to understand the world better, solve problems effectively, and make ethical choices aligned with our values.
Practical Insight:
Daily Habit: Dedicate time each day to learning something new—whether reading a book, listening to a podcast, or reflecting on a new idea. Use this knowledge to inform decisions in your personal or professional life.
Apply It: When facing a difficult decision, pause and ask, "What would a wise person do?" This can help guide your actions and strengthen your values.
2. Courage
Virtue Definition: Courage is the ability to face fear, uncertainty, and adversity with bravery and persistence. It encompasses emotional strength, integrity, and the willingness to act despite fear.
How It Fuels Our Values: Courage is what allows us to stand firm in our values, especially when faced with opposition or hardship. It fuels our ability to take bold actions and make difficult choices in line with what is most important to us. Without courage, we may falter or compromise our values.
Why It Matters: Courage empowers us to break through our fears and act according to our highest ideals, even when it’s difficult. It fosters resilience, helping us overcome setbacks and keep moving toward our goals.
Practical Insight:
Daily Habit: Start by identifying a small fear and face it head-on, whether it’s initiating a tough conversation or tackling a challenging project. This will build your courage over time.
Apply It: Reflect on times you’ve compromised your values due to fear. In those moments, remind yourself that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to act despite it.
3. Humanity
Virtue Definition: Humanity is centered on interpersonal relationships and includes kindness, social intelligence, empathy, and the ability to love and care for others.
How It Fuels Our Values: Humanity helps us prioritize love, compassion, and understanding, which are vital in building meaningful relationships. It encourages us to act with kindness, helping us align with values of cooperation, empathy, and mutual respect.
Why It Matters: Humanity fuels our connection with others and enhances the quality of our relationships. It fosters social harmony and creates a sense of community. By prioritizing humanity, we build stronger, more supportive relationships, contributing to our overall well-being.
Practical Insight:
Daily Habit: Perform one small act of kindness each day, such as complimenting someone, helping a colleague, or showing empathy to a friend. These acts nourish your sense of humanity and connection.
Apply It: When faced with conflict, try to understand the other person’s perspective before reacting. Practicing empathy allows you to strengthen relationships and act in accordance with your values of respect and understanding.
4. Justice
Virtue Definition: Justice refers to fairness, teamwork, and leadership. It includes the virtues of citizenship, fairness, and the ability to contribute to the well-being of the community.
How It Fuels Our Values: Justice empowers us to ensure equality and fairness in our actions, reinforcing values of integrity and moral responsibility. It strengthens our commitment to fighting for what’s right, creating an environment where everyone can thrive.
Why It Matters: Justice drives societal progress and fosters environments where people are treated equally and with respect. It matters because without justice, social structures become skewed, and individuals are left behind. It aligns us with values of equity and collective good.
Practical Insight:
Daily Habit: Advocate for fairness in your environment—whether in your workplace, community, or family. Speak up when you see injustice and take steps to remedy it.
Apply It: If you are in a leadership position, practice fairness by ensuring that all voices are heard and that decisions are made with the well-being of all in mind.
5. Temperance
Virtue Definition: Temperance is about moderation and self-regulation. It includes virtues like forgiveness, humility, prudence, and self-control.
How It Fuels Our Values: Temperance helps us avoid excess and make balanced decisions that align with our long-term well-being. It teaches us to act with restraint, focusing on long-term goals rather than immediate gratification, and promotes humility and balance in life.
Why It Matters: Temperance is crucial for maintaining harmony within ourselves and with others. It helps us make sustainable choices that prevent burnout, conflict, and regrets. It supports living a life that is measured and aligned with our most important values.
Practical Insight:
Daily Habit: Practice one act of self-control each day, such as limiting screen time, managing your eating habits, or being mindful of your responses in stressful situations.
Apply It: When faced with temptations or excess, pause and ask, “What would be a balanced choice that aligns with my values?” This can help you stay grounded and in control.
6. Transcendence
Virtue Definition: Transcendence involves cultivating a sense of connection to something greater than oneself. It includes virtues like gratitude, hope, spirituality, and a sense of awe.
How It Fuels Our Values: Transcendence gives us a broader perspective, encouraging us to rise above our individual concerns and align with a higher purpose. It strengthens values like hope, faith, and the pursuit of meaning, helping us to stay focused on what truly matters in life.
Why It Matters: Transcendence provides us with a sense of purpose and connection, helping us find meaning beyond material success or personal achievement. It connects us to a larger story, reinforcing our ability to endure hardships and pursue a life of greater significance.
Practical Insight:
Daily Habit: Take time each day to reflect on what you are grateful for. Cultivate hope by focusing on positive possibilities and growth.
Apply It: During difficult times, remind yourself of your larger purpose and how your actions contribute to something bigger than yourself. This perspective helps you remain resilient and focused on your values.
Why This Matters
These six virtues are fundamental to human flourishing because they are not only associated with personal happiness but also with a thriving, harmonious society. By focusing on them, we create lives of purpose, connection, and impact. When we intentionally cultivate these virtues, they fuel our actions, decisions, and interactions in alignment with our deepest values, making us more resilient, empathetic, and wise.
How It Helps Us
Building Resilience: The virtues help us stay grounded during challenges. Wisdom guides our decisions, courage helps us act, humanity nurtures our relationships, justice ensures fairness, temperance maintains balance, and transcendence connects us to purpose.
Enhancing Relationships: They strengthen our relationships by fostering empathy, fairness, and respect. Cultivating virtues like humanity and justice nurtures mutual understanding and trust.
Creating Meaning: They encourage us to align our actions with a higher purpose. By practicing transcendence, we are reminded that our lives have significance beyond the mundane, fueling a deep sense of meaning.
Incorporating these virtues into daily life creates a virtuous cycle: as we practice them, they become the foundation for living a more meaningful, connected, and flourishing life.
Reference
Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. Free Press.