• Lives with a sense of awe 
• Notices beauty wherever it may be found 
• Appreciates excellence across the domains of life including the arts, math, science, etc. 
• Has a sense of awareness when in nature 
• Pursues wonder in everyday experience 

Yes, strengths can be overused…or underused

• Underuse: Oblivion
• Overuse: Perfection

Key Research:

• Rank order of Appreciate of Beauty and Excellence in populations from:
  • US : 15;
  • European:  14
  • Asia: 11
  • Latin America: 16
  • Sub-Saharan Africa: 13
  • Middle east: 15
• Among 226 employees, the strengths under the virtue of transcendence – hope, humor, gratitude, and spirituality (not appreciation of beauty/excellence) – had a direct positive relationship with a calling work orientation (Gorjian, 2006).

Psychological Impact of Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence

1. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is linked to happiness: Research has shown that individuals who score high on this strength are more likely to experience happiness and life satisfaction (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005).
2. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is associated with gratitude: People who appreciate beauty and excellence are more likely to practice gratitude, which can lead to increased well-being and positive relationships (Emmons & McCullough, 2003).
3. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is a key component of aesthetic experiences: Studies have found that individuals who appreciate beauty and excellence are more likely to experience aesthetic pleasure and enjoyment from art, music, and other creative activities (Kashdan & Ciarrochi, 2013).
4. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is linked to emotional intelligence: Research has shown that individuals who appreciate beauty and excellence are more likely to be emotionally intelligent, which can help them navigate complex social situations and build strong relationships (Goleman, 1995).
5. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is associated with open-mindedness: People who appreciate beauty and excellence are more likely to be open to new ideas and perspectives, and are less likely to be closed-minded or dogmatic (Kashdan & Ciarrochi, 2013).
6. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is a key factor in personal growth: Research has found that appreciating beauty and excellence can lead to increased self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-improvement (Hennessey & Amabile, 1988).
7. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is linked to social connections: Studies have found that individuals who appreciate beauty and excellence are more likely to form and maintain strong social connections, and are better equipped to navigate complex social situations (Gilliland & Dunn, 2003).
8. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is associated with flow experiences: Research has found that appreciating beauty and excellence can lead to flow experiences, which are characterized by complete absorption and engagement in an activity (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990).
9. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence can be developed and strengthened: VIA’s research has shown that appreciation of beauty and excellence can be developed and strengthened through practice, training, and experience, and that individuals can improve their appreciation over time (VIA Institute on Character, 2015).
10. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is a key component of wisdom: Studies have found that individuals who appreciate beauty and excellence are more likely to be wise, which can help them make informed decisions and navigate complex situations (Kashdan & Ciarrochi, 2013).

Tayyab Rashid and Afroze Anjum offer 340 Ways to Use VIA Character Strengths including these four for Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence:

1. Listen to a piece of music or watch a film and evaluate how it touches you aesthetically. Note patterns of aspects that you particularly appreciate.
2. Visit a museum, pick a piece of art, and consider how it touches you aesthetically. Hang a reproduction of the artwork on your wall or place it on your desk.
3. Explore expressions of beauty in different cultures. Are there cross-cultural similarities? What might account for differences?
4. Notice and admire excellence of someone’s character strengths. Appreciate them as a whole person with unique aspects.

The Biological Advantage of Being Awestruck – by @JasonSilva from Jason Silva on Vimeo.

Nature’s beauty can be fleeting — but not through Louie Schwartzberg’s lens. His stunning time-lapse photography, accompanied by powerful words from Benedictine monk Brother David Steindl-Rast, serves as a meditation on being grateful for every day.

Podcasts to feed your Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence