Who Do You Think You Are?

Before I became aware of this question as to the voice of Imposter Syndrome, I sought to answer the question literally.

I looked to personality tests, and as usual, I over did it as I do with most things, to give me an awareness of who I am.

What follows is my journey of self-discovery through personality profiles.

Myers Briggs

Early in my spiritual walk; my small group leader had us all do the in-depth MBTI analysis. Not really my idea of fun, but he was a corporate kind of guy!

We all went around and shared our personality type and read the description.

I came out as an ENFP, also called a Campaigner on 16 Personalities. It fit me accurately, and I was excited about statements like this:

Few personality types are as creative and charismatic as Campaigners. Known for their idealism and enthusiasm, Campaigners are good at dealing with unexpected challenges and brightening the lives of those around them. Campaigners’ imagination is invaluable in many areas, including their own personal growth.

But then there is the other side of the coin:

Yet Campaigners can be easily tripped up in areas where idealism and kindness are more of a liability than an asset. Whether it is finding (or keeping) a partner, staying calm under pressure, reaching dazzling heights on the career ladder or making difficult decisions, Campaigners need to put in a conscious effort to develop their weaker traits and additional skills.

What is interesting, I still remember the room we were sitting in when we shared our personality type, the people in the circle and where they were sitting, even though it was back in 2006.

Spiritual Gifts

When I first heard about spiritual gifts, I was blown away that God would give us each a unique ability to be used supernaturally. Spiritual gifts are not something that we possess for ourselves; they are gifts that were given to us and that we give away.

My friend Dave talks about spiritual gifts as like a word from Daphne. When someone is walking along, in step with the spirit, in touch with God, God gives them something to say or do, they give it, and it is exactly what the other person needed at that moment.

• Encouragement – God-given ability to present truth to strengthen, comfort, or urge those who are discouraged or wavering in their faith.
• Leadership – God-given ability to cast vision, inspire, and direct people to harmoniously accomplish the purposes of God.
• Shepherding – God-given ability to nurture, care for, and guide people toward ongoing spiritual maturity and becoming like Christ.
• Giving – God-given ability to contribute money and resources to the work of the Lord with cheerfulness and freedom.
• Wisdom – God-given ability to apply spiritual effectively to meet a need in a specific situation.

Understanding spiritual gifts have been pivotal in my journey with God. There is nothing like the thrill it is to be used by God to bring about heaven on earth.

Strengths Finder

The StregnthsFinder is described as what is best about what you do at work. There are 36 strengths themes, and after taking a test, you discover your top five. A strength is a combination of talents, knowledge, and skill. What I like about the profile is that it help you discover what you are best at which allows you to make the greatest contribution at work. It is not about fixing where you are weak but developing where you are strong.

• Learner – this is a desire to learn and improve continually. It not so much the outcome and the subject matter can change, but being involved in the learning process — the steady and consistent journey of going from ignorance to competence. I feel at home with a fast-changing environment and thrive in a dynamic world where learning is necessary.
• Positivity – this is the strength of energy and enthusiasm and looking for the bright side of every situation. It’s about making everything more fun and vital. I bring the enthusiasm and energize people towards excellence. I like to get other people excited about what they are doing so that they can be more productive.
• Achiever – this is the drive and constant need for achievement. At the end of the day, I need to achieve something worthwhile to feel good about myself. Unfortunately, I even approach spiritual disciplines this way. Achiever is the theme that keeps me moving and striving and motivated to achieve goals.
• Includer – this is the desire to welcome people and make them feel part of the group. It is the belief that fundamentally, we are all the same, all equally important and no one should be ignored. It is the strength that helps individuals, groups, and communities be unified and effective. I am appreciative of this strength and working to develop in to be more empathetic to connect more deeply with people.
• Significance – wanting to be seen as significant in the eyes of others. Significance is not just wanting recognition for the difference I make but also want to have an impact on society as a whole. I want to do something that matters; I want to push people and help them be all that they can be. This strength is a driving force to produce substantial and lasting change.

Enneagram

I was first introduced to the Enneagram in 2008 or 2009 at training by Shauna Neiquest for student ministry leaders. I thought I was a couple of different types and then I took a test and Type 7 described me very clearly. At first, I was like, “yeah, of course, that’s who I am.” I’m positive and enthusiastic and the life of the party.

Over time I have learned to see the depth that they enneagram offers for not just understanding ourselves but also why we do what we do. I now see it as a tool or a lens to look at different parts of my life, good and bad, and find a path for transformation.

• Type Seven – The Enthusiast
  • Sevens are extroverted, optimistic, versatile, and spontaneous. Playful, high-spirited, and practical, they can also misapply their many talents, becoming over-extended, scattered, and undisciplined. They constantly seek new and exciting experiences, but can become distracted and exhausted by staying on the go. They typically have problems with impatience and impulsiveness. At their Best: they focus their talents on worthwhile goals, becoming appreciative, joyous, and satisfied.
  • Basic Fear: Deprived or trapped in pain

• Eight Wing – The Realist
  • Achieve desires by combining forcefulness with a fun-loving style. Success oriented seeks to accumulate enjoyable resources. Can be impatient and blunt; may be attracted to positions of power.
• Sexual Subtype
  • One-to-one Sevens are idealistic dreamers, who need to imagine something better than what might be true in their everyday reality. Extremely enthusiastic and optimistic, they have a passion for seeing things as they could be or as they imagine them to be (as opposed to how they really are).

VIA Institute on Character

The VIA character report is similar to the Strengths Finder in focus on the positive qualities of someone. It helps you become aware of what is best about yourself and embracing and capitalizing on these strengths.

The VIA assessments looks are what is best about who you are.

What I liked about this assessment is that it gives a boarder perspective on strengths that includes domains other than work and groups your strengths under core values.

These are my results:

• Zest: vitality, enthusiasm, vigor, energy

• Love of Learning: Mastering new skills, topics, and bodies of knowledge

• Spirituality: faith, purpose

• Love: being close to people

• Hope: optimism, future-mindedness, future orientation

• Curiosity: Interest, novelty-seeking, openness to experience

StandOut

This assessment is from Marcus Buckingham, who was the author of some of the Gallup Organizations books on Strengths Finder.

What I loved about this assessment is that it looked at your strengths and defined them into roles that you can play in different areas. It came with a guided path that gave ways to grow in your roles and be effective in using your strengths.

Somewhat descriptive of my results, I was a beta tester on the assessment and the development pathway! Haha.

• Influencer
  • You engage people directly and convince them to act. Your power is your persuasion.
• Pioneer
  • You see the world as a friendly place where, around every corner, good things will happen. Your distinctive power starts with your optimism in the face of uncertainty.

When you be the assessment, they will send tips and content by email. They would send me emails with subject lines like: “You resist the rules,” “You love beginnings” or “You thrive on the wild ride!” It was so much fun!

You keep innovation high on the agenda, challenging us to make the exceptional real.

That cartoon of the penguin in the Hawaiian shirt, standing amongst hundreds of penguins, singing out “I gotta be me!”? You can relate. You are usually the first on the block to own the newest toy or gadget, and you love to tell the stories of how you got it, how it works, how it’s going to revolutionize… everything. As soon as everyone starts buying what you’re selling, however, you’re on the waiting list for version 2.0. You revel in introducing ideas that create a furrow in people’s brow. If you see a skeptical, quizzical look in their eyes, you know you’ve hooked someone. You don’t like to rally behind anything obvious or conventional. If everyone else is doing it, it pains you to toe that line. In fact, you will swim against the tide for the simple joy of seeing if you can get anyone to swim with you.

Shadow Types

Shadow Work is based on the archetypes developed by Carl Jung. It involves bringing into the light the dark sides of your personality. The Men’s ministry Crucible Project introduced me to it in 2010, and it has provided a space for inner work.

Only recently did I recently the Shadow Types test with the help my mate Kenny. I found it insightful not just for self-awareness but also as a means of transformation.

• High Sovereign – The sovereign holds a vision for the good of the people, motivates them to reach for the vision, and blesses and supports them along the way.
• The Idealizer – Idealizing refers to our capacity to envision something new that has not existed before, and specifically, to anticipate something good in the future, such as a dream for our life or a vision of possibilities for how the world could be better. Idealizing also refers to our ability to see someone or something in the best possible light, as when lovers see their beloved as perfect. People with high Idealizer scores are likely to see the world as full of opportunities and to have an active, creative mind that readily generates new ideas for how things could be.

You Are More Than Your Personality

Now after saying all that, the main thing is to figure out your personality, who you think you are, to give it some handles to hold on to, so that you can put it down and realize, that is not who you truly are.

You, me, we are more than our personality traits. Much more. Thank you, Jesus.

And it is about whose you are!