10 Do's and Don'ts of Character Strengths for Mental Health

Do review the list of 24 character strengths and consider which are most important for your mental health.

Do make character strengths part of an annual mental health checkup.

Do ask your counselor or mental health professional to include character strengths in your treatment plan and in your discussions.

Do remember that all 24 character strengths are already present in your mind.

Do bring your character strengths to ANY goal you are pursuing.

Don’t listen to only one voice in your mind/thinking.

Don’t over-interpret any finding in the field of psychology, no matter how promising, positive, substantive, or strong the research may be.

Don’t focus on your weaknesses at the expense of your strengths.

Don’t allow character strengths to be the only tool you use to take care of your mental well-being.

Don’t lose hope.