VIA Character System Of Virtue And Strengths

The natural response to any conscious raising exercises typically revolves around the question, “why?” (Prochaska et al., 2014). Unfortunately, many theories are helpful in discover the answer; however, dwelling on the past stagnates progress toward the goal. If a therapist dug into my past and asked me about the time my ex-wife cheated on me while I was deployed to Korea, the resulting discussion would arouse tension which could facilitate anxiety. This exercise in going back to the past might be needed for just a historical retrospective; however, dwelling there will only stagnate my current moment and stagnate my pursuit of my current laundry list of action-oriented, worthy goals toward competitive greatness.

Life hands us painful thoughts

First, ACT is an awareness, behavioral, mindfulness-based therapy since it is about taking action with a plan that focuses on what really matters in the moment through a process of accepting and then committing with a values-oriented approach to create a rich, full, and meaningful life (Harris…….). ACT promotes openness, curiosity, flexibility of attention, and does not fight the negative. Instead of resisting and running for cover, ACT opens up to the painful feelings, sensations, urges, and emotions by acknowledging them and making room for them to be accepted and adapted to, if required. It does not mean liking them (p. 10). Psychological flexibility is the ability to be in the present moment with full awareness and openness to our experience, and to take action guided by our values” (p. 12). This supports the solution-focused therapy mindset along with character virtues and strengths as the backbone to the client’s values. Freud believed that people “could find meaning in life in the midst of conflict” (Prochaska et al., 2014, p. 46). I believe Freud would like my theoretical orientation and how it has facilitated my survival through storms that he could never conceive. At his death in 1939, the jet airplane did not exist and the world as we know it with instant communications and space travel were science fiction. However, his work was not done in vain and perhaps at the foundational level of