tertiary · Transcendence

Playfulness

Part of the Character Strengths Wheel

What is Playfulness?

A light, irreverent engagement with life that refuses to take itself too seriously. Playful people are often the most creative — because they are free from the weight of excessive self-importance.

When you might feel playfulness

Playfulness is a specific form of humor, which itself is a type of transcendence. You might experience this feeling in situations where transcendence is present, particularly when the circumstances align with the nuances that define playfulness.

Emotional Hierarchy

TranscendenceHumorPlayfulness

Explore Playfulness on the Interactive Wheel

Use our free interactive feeling wheel to explore playfulness and discover related emotions.

Open Character Strengths Wheel

Related Emotions

Appreciation

The practice of noticing and acknowledging the good in your life — the people, m...

Thankfulness

An active, relational expression of recognition — letting others know that what ...

Optimism

The sustained belief that good outcomes are possible and that your own efforts c...

Future-Orientation

The ability to hold a compelling vision of what could be and allow it to guide p...

Lightness

The ability to find and offer lightness in difficult moments — not as avoidance,...

Deep Respect

A deep sense of respect and awe in the presence of what is sacred, profound, or ...

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