What do a flute player, a sprinter, a butterfly, and Mother Teresa have in common? They are all examples of beauty and excellence we can appreciate in our wonderful world. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is a positive psychology character strength worth exploring.
According to viacharacter.org, those with this strength “notice and appreciate beauty, excellence and/or skilled performance in all domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.” According to Sarah Monk, positive psychology specialist, “this can include anything from a beautifully crafted cabinet corner, the wonder of a sunset, to admiration of an athletic performance, scientific discovery or a literary gem.” Three types of beauty or excellence are inspiring:
- PHYSICAL BEAUTY “which includes auditory, tactile or abstract…and produces awe and wonder in the person experiencing it.” We respond to beauty in nature, art, music, and people.
- SKILL OR TALENT (EXCELLENCE) “is often energizing and compels a person to pursue their own goals. It inspires admiration.” Monk observed: “This can include a gold-medal performance, a perfectly baked cake or an elegantly solved equation.” For example, I am in awe of NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes who plays football at high levels due to his skill and diligence. And I marvel at gifted singers who work hard to hone their craft, like Celine Dion.
- VIRTUE OR MORAL GOODNESS (MORAL BEAUTY) “makes someone want to be better, more loving and creates feelings of elevation.” According to Sarah Monk “moral beauty is…often overlooked in considering this strength. It refers to noticing virtuous goodness in others which can produce feelings of elevation and inspire people to try and be better themselves.” Think of Mother Teresa—her sacrificial love for outcasts in India is an example of moral beauty.
Sarah Monk described two types of well-being, both important to our overall ability to thrive:
- “Hedonic well-being refers to the seeking and presence of pleasure and comfort in life.”
- “Eudaimonic well-being involves seeking meaning and personal development.”
She comments that “appreciation of beauty and excellence seems all about hedonic pursuits and experiencing those lovely positive emotions we all need. But transcendence helps explain the real power of this strength. What really moves me when I observe something beautiful…is how this experience makes me feel simultaneously small and insignificant but also connected and part of a bigger whole…and can help you engage with wider questions about meaning in your life.” Sherri Fisher, coach and best-selling author, wrote that positive psychology experts Peterson and Seligman described Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence as “the human tendency to feel powerful self-transcendent emotions.” Sarah Monk explains that “exercising appreciation of beauty and excellence can promote key positive emotions, such as awe, admiration.” This character strength relates to the virtue of transcendence, “which refers to our ability to connect to the wider universe and meaning in our life.” I encourage you to take time to observe the beauty and excellence around you this week!