It can be quite easy to spot the person strong in Adventure, since they're likely to be the one pushing themselves to do the things that others won't - whether because of concern, fear, or simple lack of risk appetite! How Adventure combines with the other strengths in our profile will shape what gives us our buzz, as well as influencing the types of situations in which it plays out.

If you have Curiosity and Adventure, you could find yourself in all sorts of intriguing situations as you follow your nose without being too concerened about where it might lead. Christopher Columbus most likely had this combination, as did Charles Darwin, Amelia Earhart, Louise Arner Boyd - and any number of other travellers and explorers.

When Adventure meets Drive, the combination creates a person who steps out into the unknown to see how far they can go - particularly in testing themselves against themselves, against others, against fate, against the universe. How far can I push myself? How far can I go? What would happen if...? As Ptolemy said of Alexander the Great, "All great men reach and fall, reach and fall." This could be the catchphrase of this dynamic, for in the "falling" those who have reached also get to redefine for the rest of us what is considered possible.

Combine Adventure and Courage, and you have the super-charged dynamic of the person who is prepared to take a risk, defend a position, and stand up for something that they believe in. Aung San Suu Kyi exemplifies this combination, as does Martin Luther King. Here the two strengths reinforce and support each other, creating a ratchet effect that drives the person on against all odds.

Adventure paired with Prevention is a calibrated combination - calibrated, because in this dynamic, one strength pulls one way, and one strength pulls the other. The person with the Adventure-Prevention combination is prepared to take risks and step into the unknown, but the downside and its probabilities will always be calculated and prepared for.

In contrast, bond Adventure and Optimism, and there is the risk that this could be an explosive combination! Optimism helps us to assume that everything will always work out for the best, which is fuel to the fire of the Adventure strength that always wants to push the boundaries of the unknown and the unexperienced. Be careful not to step too far if this dynamic characterises you, but remember also that the Realise2 Adventure strength had the highest correlation with a validated measure of resilience - suggesting that as we stretch ourselves, we also build our resilience to cope with the setbacks we will inevitably encounter along the way.

In closing, if Adventure isn't a strength for you - don't worry - you're not alone! It ranks 53rd out of 60 strengths in our Realise2 population data. This makes evolutionary sense - not everyone with Adventure would have survived, so we might expect to see just a few people with this emerging as dominant in their profile. To improve your Adventure, summon up your courage to think about the worst that could happen, and how you would cope with it. If you can cope, go for it. You'll find that the worst doesn't always happen, and that some risks are worth taking. Carpe diem!

With best wishes,

Alex Linley