The Puzzle Behind our Perceptions: W/ Personality Tests and Astrology
Understanding the puzzle of our perceptions means realizing that we typically only perceive about 5% of the world at any given time. During the first five years of our lives, we lay the foundation for our understanding of the world and our place in it.
Sometimes, the perceptions we form are shaped by external influences, such as what others tell us, the limitations of our educational system, or personal trauma.
Part of comprehending our perceptions involves exploring modern tools like personality tests and, yes, even astrology.
If you're new to the world of self-exploration, as I once was, you'll need to challenge your existing perceptions of yourself and construct a new understanding. It's about uncovering your unique strengths and purpose in this vast world, which often requires:
Shedding insecurities
Recognizing your intrinsic value
Gaining insight into your strengths and weaknesses across multiple dimensions of life
This journey delves into the depths of your self-talk:
How you communicate with yourself
How you interact with others
How you navigate conflicts
It extends to identifying the issues in the world that ignite your passion, the challenges you aspire to address and overcome.
To embark on this transformative journey, you'll need to reforge neural pathways within your mind, cultivating a profound understanding of your authentic self while seeking innovative ways to optimize your thought processes and behaviors.
This expedition will lead you to newfound wisdom and self-empowerment. As you'll soon discover, it's a path well worth taking.
Join me as we plunge into the realms of self-discovery and personal growth. Together, we'll unearth the hidden potential within and embrace the hero's journey that awaits us.
Navigating My Inner World with 16Personalities
16Personalities is an online personality assessment tool based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It categorizes individuals into one of 16 distinct personality types, each characterized by a combination of traits such as introversion or extraversion, intuition or sensing, thinking or feeling, and judging or perceiving. It provides insights into how people perceive and interact with the world, make decisions, and approach various aspects of life.
I took the test myself and it revealed that I'm a Campaigner (ENFP-A)!
It broke it down into this chart to help me understand where I fall in each category of Myers Briggs.
To gain further insight, I decided to dive into the accompanying PDFs, each encompassing approximately 80 pages and breaking down my personality type into specific areas like career, relationships, and personal growth. So far, I've only scratched the surface with the career section, but the revelations have been nothing short of eye-opening.
This wisdom prompted a profound restructuring of my daily routine. I realized the importance of tackling the toughest tasks early in the morning, creating a system that highlights the most urgent and important priorities. This shift in approach has worked wonders, making me feel more productive and purposeful.
In the past, I often found myself enjoying the thrill of starting numerous tasks but achieving little. This pattern left me with low confidence, a sense of failure, and the nagging feeling that I was going nowhere fast.
But here I am, writing this blog at 8:30 in the morning, with a newfound determination to finish it. The journey of self-discovery is an ongoing one, and I'm excited to share more insights and transformations as we explore together.
The Five Pillars of Personality: A Deep Dive
UnderstandMyself.com is an online personality assessment tool that delves into personality traits based on the Big Five Personality Model, also known as the Five Factor Model (FFM). It assesses individuals across five key dimensions:
Agreeableness: Measures how cooperative, compassionate, and trusting a person is.
Conscientiousness: Evaluates traits related to organization, responsibility, and self-discipline.
Extraversion: Assesses the extent to which an individual is sociable, outgoing, and assertive.
Neuroticism: Gauges emotional stability and resilience in the face of stress.
Openness to Experience: Measures a person's openness to new ideas, creativity, and intellectual curiosity.
UnderstandMyself.com provides a detailed breakdown of an individual's personality across these five dimensions and offers insights into various aspects of their behavior and emotional responses.
Comparison with 16Personalities:
Framework: UnderstandMyself.com uses the Big Five Personality Model, which focuses on five broad dimensions of personality, while 16Personalities employs the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), which categorizes individuals into one of 16 distinct personality types based on four dichotomies.
Complexity: The Big Five Model is often considered more scientifically rigorous and comprehensive, as it assesses personality traits on a continuous spectrum, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of individual differences. In contrast, MBTI classifies individuals into distinct categories.
Trait vs. Type: UnderstandMyself.com focuses on assessing personality traits along a spectrum, providing a more flexible and multifaceted view of an individual's personality. 16Personalities assigns individuals to specific personality types, which may feel more categorical but can oversimplify the complexity of human personality.
Three years ago, I took a deep dive into understanding my personality using the Big Five Personality Model, and the insights I gained have continued to shape my self-awareness and interactions with others. Let's break down what those results revealed:
High Openness: My test showed a high score in openness. This means I have a natural inclination towards embracing new experiences, ideas, and creative thinking. I'm drawn to art, beauty, and the unconventional. This trait has made me an innovative thinker and someone who enjoys intellectual and artistic pursuits.
Low Politeness: On the politeness scale, my score was low. This suggests that I tend to be straightforward and direct in my communication. I prioritize honesty and authenticity, even if it means bypassing some social niceties. While this trait can lead to candid and genuine relationships, I've learned that it's important to balance it with sensitivity to others' feelings when appropriate.
Low Conscientiousness (Orderliness and Industriousness): In both orderliness and industriousness, my conscientiousness was rated low. This indicates that I'm less inclined toward structure and routine in my life. I often prefer flexibility and adaptability over strict planning. While this can result in creativity and spontaneity, it does mean I need to put in extra effort to stay organized and meet deadlines.
Low Neuroticism: My score in neuroticism was low, suggesting emotional stability and resilience. I'm less prone to intense mood swings or anxiety, even in stressful situations. This emotional stability has been a valuable asset in maintaining composure and making rational decisions, even under pressure.
These insights continue to be a cornerstone in my understanding of myself and how I interact with others. Here's how they've been applicable:
Handling Tasks: My high openness and low conscientiousness in orderliness and industriousness have encouraged me to approach tasks with creativity and flexibility. I thrive in roles that require innovation and adaptability. However, I've also recognized the need for effective strategies to manage deadlines and stay organized.
Perceived by Peers: Understanding my personality traits, especially in comparison to the Big Five results of my peers, has helped me navigate social dynamics more effectively. For example, when I work with friends who have high conscientiousness, they appreciate clear plans and schedules, while my openness contributes fresh ideas to the mix.
Learning Astrology to optimize your mission:
In the first five years of life, our brains are in a crucial phase of development, forming up to 90% of their capacity. And right from our birth, the clock starts ticking, influencing how we absorb and interpret information based on the seasons.
As we navigate the world, our perceptions are primarily shaped by our senses—what we see, feel, touch, smell, and hear. It was only when I began noticing patterns in my relationships, both personal and professional, that I realized the potential significance of astrology. Could it hold the key to making more strategic life decisions? Decisions that, in turn, could positively impact not only my personal journey but also enhance the good I can do in my business life?
We can use 3 of my main placements to understand:
Rising Sign ⬆
In astrology, your rising sign is like the first brushstroke on the canvas of your personality. It represents the zodiac sign that was ascending on the eastern horizon at the time of your birth, shaping your outer demeanor, physical appearance, and initial interactions with others. It's the intriguing mask you wear as you step into the world.
My Taurus rising sign, with its innate ability to bring beauty into form and create stability from available resources, deeply influenced my entrepreneurial journey during the first decade. It guided me from selling Mary Kay to mastering the art of makeup and hair, eventually leading to the ownership of a successful lash and brow business for ten years. This sign, known for grounding and nourishing those around it, also carries a stubborn streak. I discovered that I could channel my capacity for creating beauty into various industries after gaining invaluable experience in the beauty sector.
Sun Sign ☀️
Your sun sign is the heart of your astrological makeup, representing your core personality traits and the essence of who you are. It's the sign that the sun was in at the time of your birth, and it plays a significant role in shaping your fundamental character, values, and life purpose. Your sun sign is like the central theme of your life story, defining your ambitions, motivations, and the qualities that make you unique.
With a Sagittarius sun, I've embraced my natural inclination as a seeker, thriving on adventure and unbridled optimism. I've learned that for me, the journey often holds more significance than the destination itself. My insatiable intellectual curiosity and love for learning have been both a boon and a challenge, occasionally making me dogmatic. The lifelong lesson has been to balance my desire for autonomy with consideration for others. As I've accepted and nurtured my adventurous side, I've realized that my passion for exploration serves as a gateway to profound insights, connections with kindred spirits, and invaluable contributions to my goals.
Moon Sign ☾
Our moon sign is the emotional core of your astrological profile, unveiling the hidden facets of your inner world and emotional responses. It represents the zodiac sign the moon occupied at your birth and influences your instincts, emotional needs, and how you react to life's challenges. Your moon sign is like the soundtrack of your life, coloring your feelings, instincts, and subconscious drives, providing depth to your personality beyond what meets the eye.
My Aquarius moon, which craves space and treasures intellectual debates that broaden horizons, has been a source of emotional security for me. I've found that stimulating conversations are my cornerstone, and I connect with others through dry humor, engaging debates, and the sharing of intriguing articles. My preferred approach to emotions is to reason through them, requiring space to decipher the underlying reasons for my feelings. In the past, I found myself in relationships where my penchant for deep conversations was misunderstood and criticized. It was only when I liberated myself from those situations that I embraced these qualities as valuable and essential to my true self.
Discovering the intricate layers of my personality through tools like astrology and personality assessments has been nothing short of transformative. It's not merely about knowing myself; it's about rewiring my neural pathways and seeing myself through a different lens. This newfound self-awareness guides me in recognizing whom I can truly assist, which projects align with my purpose, and the kind of leader I need to be on those journeys.
We grew up in a world that often emphasized conformity over individuality, and breaking free from those molds requires a profound mental reconstruction. We're each unique puzzle pieces, designed to connect and contribute to a greater universal mission. I believe we're here for the ultimate group project, and the universe acts as the ultimate facilitator, assembling the teams we need.
Yet, it's essential not to overlook the personal journey of individuation, for it's in this process that we attract the right people to our teams. Busy schedules should no longer be an excuse, for when we trust others to share in our mission, the possibilities are limitless. In the end, it's about embracing our individuality to serve the collective good and fulfill our cosmic role on Earth.
Thanks for reading-
Miranda Ogletree: Founder of Innovative Compass
