Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

How to Cultivate Your Character Strengths | Angela Duckworth

15 snips

Feb 23, 2022

Angela Duckworth, the founder of Character Lab and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses how character strengths like self-control and grit can shape personal success and well-being. She explores three dimensions of character and shares how they can be nurtured in children. The conversation also touches on resilience through trauma, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and the growth that comes from adversity. Finally, Duckworth offers practical strategies for integrating character strengths into daily life for personal mastery.

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ANECDOTE

Near-Drowning Incident

Angela Duckworth's mother nearly drowned while snorkeling.
This near-death experience gave Duckworth a renewed perspective on life.

INSIGHT

Trauma and Avoidance

Trauma forces people to reorganize their lives to avoid re-traumatization.
This can manifest as avoidance behaviors related to specific sensory triggers.

ANECDOTE

Mother's Optimism

Despite the traumatic experience, Duckworth's mother remained optimistic and focused on learning.
Her first text from the hospital expressed gratitude for the experience.

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This week’s conversation is with Angela Duckworth, the founder and CEO of Character Lab, a nonprofit whose mission is to advance scientific insights that help children thrive.

She is also the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, faculty co-director of the Penn-Wharton Behavior Change for Good Initiative, and faculty co-director of Wharton People Analytics.

A 2013 MacArthur Fellow, Angela has advised the World Bank, NBA and NFL teams, and Fortune 500 CEOs.

Angela completed her undergraduate degree in Advanced Studies Neurobiology at Harvard, graduating magna cum laude. With the support of a Marshall Scholarship, she completed an MSc with Distinction in Neuroscience from Oxford University. She completed her PhD in Psychology as a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania.

We all know Angela from her book, “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” the #1 New York Times best seller, which was the impetus for our first Finding Mastery conversation back in 2016… that’s Episode 029 if you’re looking for it.

I wanted to have Angela back on to discuss her new research on character, and how character development can be actioned to benefit others (and oneself).

As Angela says, the term “character” is used far too vaguely most of the time. She shares the 3 dimensions of character – and – ways to train them.

She is incredibly grounded in the scientific evidence on how character strengths like self-control, curiosity, and gratitude are critically important to social and emotional well-being, physical health, and achievement.

Angela is amazing. Her work is a gift to us all. This conversation, and our friendship for that matter, is a breath of fresh air - life-giving and life-lifting.

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