Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence
"I recognize, emotionally experience, and appreciate the beauty around me and the skill of others."
Become Aware Of Your Strength
What is Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence?
Those who express an appreciation of beauty & excellence 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. This strength is deeply associated with a heightened awareness of the world around us.
People high in Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence are responsive to these three types of goodness:
Physical Beauty.
This may include auditory, tactile, or abstract. This type of goodness produces awe and wonder in the person experiencing it —often sparking artistic or emotional reflection.
Skill or Talent (Excellence).
This is often energizing and compels a person to pursue their own goals. It inspires admiration.
Virtue or moral goodness (moral beauty).
Virtuous goodness makes someone want to be better, more loving, and creates feelings of elevation and may influence one's own project or personal values.
Unlocking Growth Through Character Strengths
Whether you're looking to deepen your self-awareness, improve social bonds, or contribute more meaningfully to your team or project, developing this strength can be a powerful way to engage with life.
By developing this strength over time, individuals often find a richer appreciation for both their inner and outer worlds. Recognizing excellence in others becomes not just an observation, but an invitation to grow, collaborate, and work toward becoming one's best self.
Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence is a strength within the virtue category of transcendence, one of six virtues that subcategorize the 24 strengths. Transcendence describes strengths that help you connect to the larger universe and provide meaning. The other strengths in Transcendence are appreciation of beauty & excellence, gratitude, hope, humor, and spirituality.
Explore and Apply Your Strength
Where does appreciation of beauty & excellence appear in your character strengths profile?
Science says exercises focused on increasing appreciation of beauty and excellence have been shown to boost happiness and lower depression, in the short term and possibly beyond. Learn how to activate this strength and all of your other strengths with your personalized Total 24 Report.
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence Character Strength
- What does it mean if Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence is one of my top strengths?
It suggests that you regularly notice and value beauty, skill, or moral excellence. You may often feel uplifted or inspired, and this strength likely plays a key role in how you connect with the world and make decisions. If you want to dive deeper into understanding your strengths, you can explore other personality report options for further insights.
- What if it’s not ranked high in my profile?
That doesn’t mean you lack it—it just may not come as naturally. All 24 character strengths are present in everyone, and with intention, any strength can be developed and used more often in your life.
- How can I apply this strength more in my everyday life?
You can start by identifying situations where you're most likely to notice beauty or excellence—whether in nature, people, or performance—and make a habit of pausing to reflect on those experiences. Journaling, sharing what moved you, or incorporating it into creative work can help it grow.