Imagine a world where your work self has no memory of your home life, and your home self has no recollection of your work. This isn’t just the premise for the Apple TV show Severance; it’s a portrayal of the disconnect many of us feel between different aspects of our lives.
We strivers often try hard to compartmentalize our existence, attempting to be one person at the office and another at home. But that is mission impossible. What if there were a universal constant that connected every facet of your being, regardless of your role, circumstance, or environment?
SEVERING WORK FROM LIFE
If you aren’t familiar with the hit Apple TV show, Severance, the premise is that a monolithic and powerful company (Lumon) has created a technology (a brain implant) that enables persons who receive it to “split their brain”. These people are referred to as “severed people”.
Severed People
Specifically, when the person arrives at the basement floor of the work location (hilariously set at the former location of Bell Labs), the person has no memory of their life outside of work. The person’s entire past does not exist while at work. The person is completely severed from the identity of their “outie” (the person they are outside of work). Likewise, when the person leaves the work floor, they have no memory of anything that happened at work. The “outie” is completely severed from the identity of the “innie” (the identity of the person at work).
Experience Shapes Perspective
As a result of the divergent experiences of the innies and the outies, their personalities don’t just diverge, they are wholly different.
In some ways, the innies are happier than the outies – without a long history of the little “t” and big “T” traumas of life, the innies are free to navigate the world of the present. Simple pleasures, like a cart of fresh fruit referred to as the “melon bar,” resonate deeply with the innies.
That said, it is also apparent that the more expansive and richer lived experience of the outies (including both joy and suffering) is more enriching and fulfilling despite their having experienced more of life’s struggles. While the outies would hardly take note of a melon bar, there is a depth to their experience you can sense in their relationships, their pain, and the more transcendent/spiritual aspects of themselves.
Everything about severed people (other than their body) seems to be different at work and outside of work.
Except maybe not not…
VIRTUES TRANSCEND
Despite the divergence in the personalities of the innies and outies, it’s becoming clear that there is a thread connecting the “being” of the innies and outies. It’s their virtues.
Across cultures and spanning centuries, virtues such as wisdom, courage, justice, temperance, humanity, and transcendence are universal. Whether you approach virtues from a philosophical or scientific perspective, there is an uncanny synergy with respect to the role of virtues in living a flourishing life.
The Role of Virtues in Stoicism
Stoic philosophy considers virtuous living as the “sole good”; the main aim of life. The Stoic virtues include wisdom (understanding and acting in accordance with nature), justice (fairness and treating others rightly), courage (facing adversity with reason and resilience), and temperance (self-control and moderation).
The Stoics believed that by practicing these virtues, individuals could achieve eudaimonia, or a flourishing life, regardless of external circumstances. Virtue, therefore, is not merely a desirable trait, but the ultimate aim of life, providing inner peace and freedom from the disturbances of passions and external events.
The Role of Virtues in Positive Psychology
In positive psychology, virtues are viewed as core characteristics valued across cultures, contributing to individual and collective wellbeing. The Values in Action (VIA) classification identifies six universal virtues which mirror those of the Stoics: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.
Each is comprised of various character strengths (24 in total across the six virtues), such as creativity, bravery, kindness, fairness, self-regulation, and gratitude. The importance of virtues in positive psychology lies in their role in fostering flourishing, enhancing resilience, and promoting a sense of meaning and purpose.
Research by Pelin Kesibir and Ed Diener (known as Dr. Happiness) suggests that by cultivating these strengths and actualizing them optimally, individuals can experience greater life satisfaction and contribute positively to the work, family, and community aspects of their lives.
YOUR LIFE ISN’T AN EPISODE OF SEVERANCE
Unlike in Severance, it is important to realize that you can’t be a different person at work than you are in your “life”.
“Wherever you go, you take yourself with you.”
NEIL GAIMON
More fundamentally, work isn’t separate from life, it is an aspect of life.
But just like in Severance, your virtues can be a constant. Your “job” in life is to permeate your unique blend of character strengths into every aspect of your life.
“The man who has virtue is in need of nothing whatever for the purpose of living well.”
CICERO
If I asked you to write down your virtues, you likely would struggle to find the words. Even if you were able to capture the essence of your virtues, it can be difficult to connect them to the day-to-day actions we take and the decisions we make.
So, where to begin?
FINDING YOUR THROUGH LINE
Your virtues are the through line that will keep you connected and in harmony with your nature in every aspect of your life. Science provides us a clear pathway for knowing, actualizing, and discovering meaning in our virtues.
Start by Getting to Know Yourself
If you wish to begin the journey of actualizing your virtues, I recommend starting by taking the Values in Action (VIA) Character Strengths Assessment. Character Strengths are the positive parts of your personality that impact how you think, feel, and behave. By taking this survey, you will discover your unique character strengths profile, including your signature strengths – your top 5 that are the most central to your identity, most aligned with your “real self,” and are easy, natural, and energizing for you to express. Knowing and applying your character strengths is the key to being your best self.
Practice Actualizing Your Signature Character Strengths
Once you have identified your strengths, you can explore how to use them more frequently in various aspects of your life, including work, relationships, and personal growth. It is critical to learn how to apply your character strengths effectively, including not overusing them.
For example, the character strength of “honesty” is one I see frequently being overused. Some “truths” should be kept to ourselves.
By leveraging their strengths, individuals can experience positive impacts on themselves and others, leading to improved relationships and enhanced wellbeing. Research shows that using signature strengths in new ways each day is strongly associated with increased happiness and improved work effectiveness.
Extend Your Virtues to Create a Through-line of Meaning
Knowing and practicing our character strengths acts as a powerful compass, guiding us towards a “through line of meaning” that can permeate every facet of our lives. Instead of viewing life as a series of disconnected roles or tasks, understanding our character strengths allows us to consciously weave these authentic qualities into everything we do. Through the consistent activation of our authentic selves, we create a cohesive narrative across our personal, professional, and social lives, allowing meaning to flow naturally and powerfully through every experience we undertake.
UNSEVERING YOUR LIFE: EMBRACE YOUR VIRTUES
The captivating world of Severance highlights a profound truth: while circumstances and experiences may try to compartmentalize us, our virtues remain a constant. Unlike the “innies” and “outies” of Lumon, your life isn’t meant to be split. The wisdom of both Stoicism and positive psychology demonstrates that embracing your virtues is the pathway to a truly flourishing existence and to achieving your ambitious goals.
Your unique blend of character strengths—your signature virtues—are the through line connecting every aspect of your being. By identifying these innate qualities through tools like the VIA Character Strengths Assessment and intentionally applying them across your work, relationships, and personal pursuits, you unearth a profound sense of meaning and purpose.
This isn’t about becoming a different person; it’s about becoming more of who you authentically are.
