How many times have you read the instructions before a personality test: “Answer the following questions honestly”? Then, after taking the quiz, you feel like the results only partially get you or you’re completely disappointed altogether? Sometimes it’s the fault of the personality quiz. If you’re looking to find out what fantasy creature you are or what color your soul is, I hope you realized before taking the quiz that it’s just for fun and not really meant to help you understand yourself. If not, let it go and take the quiz again until you like the result because it doesn’t matter. Laugh, share it on Twitter, and move on. Some personality tests seem like they’re legit, but are too broad or general in their descriptions to give you any true substance in learning about yourself. I won’t name names, but I have a difficult time with tests with only four differing results. These may be excellent places to start learning about yourself, but for those who are hungry for an in-depth understanding of how their mind works and their strengths and weaknesses, these tests aren’t enough. Everyone ends up having traits of all four results and the self-portrait you try to create ends up one big glob of paint mixed until no single color or shape is recognizable. This leaves the Enneagram and MBTI. I confess, I don’t know enough about the Enneagram to make a solid judgement (though I did take the test and got a type 4, wing 3), but with the Meyers-Briggs Typology I see huge potential to really get to know yourself. The problems start when one isn’t fully honest with themselves while taking the test. For this reason, I usually advise to trust the first result one got on the test without knowing what the types are beforehand. The second, third, and fourth times you take it, you know which answers lead to which result and can manipulate the test to get a result you might like better or subconsciously determine who you think you are instead of who you really are. So, what if you’ve taken the test so many times and gotten so many different results you haven’t a clue what your true type is? Never fear. Here are 5 tricks that can help you get back on track. 1 - Ask a close, honest friend to take the test for you.An outsider’s opinion may be invaluable. Be open-minded to their result and see if there’s any truth to it. Make sure you trust this person implicitly, however, as some may try to sugarcoat answers or have a tainted perception of your personality. 2 - Dissect the element of each Type.Intuitives approach planning for the future in a completely different manner than Sensors. Feelers have differing strengths and weaknesses from Thinkers. 3 - Remove false perceptions of the Types. ESFP’s aren’t all party animals. INTJ’s aren’t all know-it-all jerks. ISTP’s can actually settle down and have a family. ENFJ’s can be seriously manipulative bullies. Or perhaps you have a false perception that Feelers aren’t smart or Thinkers have hearts of ice. It’s a difficult conclusion to come to, but important to realize if you’re to move forward in the world of MBTI. 4 - Own your weaknesses and strengths.Before taking the test for the fiftieth time, it may be a good idea to break away from the stereotypes and what the MBTI gurus say and list what YOU think are your strengths and weaknesses. Do you have a vivid imagination? Do you cream everyone else at strategy games? Does everything come together easily for you or do you enjoy having a plan in place? Does your emotional spouse confuse you? Do you need people around to be productive and feel like you have a purpose? 5 - Take a break.Yeah, this is the hardest one, but probably the most helpful. Take a break and set discovering yourself on the back burner of your mind for a few weeks. Three is the most recommended. When you stop trying to force it to come, it will come on its own. I know some will have a rough time with this, but like a boomerang, you have to let it go for it to come back to you. Was this list helpful to you? What’s the biggest struggle YOU have when it comes to personality tests?
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AuthorRegan Guerra is a Personality Geek. As an ENFJ 4w3, she dreams big, wanting to build a ranch where others can rediscover themselves and learn to reimagine life the way it's supposed to be. Archives
February 2017
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