Personality Test — Step One

please choose first second third   Type 1 — Ones place an emphasis on personal integrity and self-control. Their attention goes toward seeing and correcting what is wrong, and doing the right thing. They are known for their honesty, dependability and common sense. Ones are responsible, so much so that they may resent other people who do not take life as seriously as they do. They have high standards and tend to see the world in black and white, right and wrong. It's easy for them to be critical, of themselves as well as others. They work hard at being right all the time. They are idealistic and will exert great effort to improve the world around them, which often puts them in the role of social reformer. Their crucial elements of growth are to learn to accept their imperfections and tolerate other people's points of view. Speaking style is precise and detail-oriented, with a tendency to sermonize or preach. Lower emotional habit is resentment, which comes from getting angry, but holding it in. How you might describe yourself: "I have high internal standards for correctness, and I expect myself to live up to those standards. It's easy for me to see what's wrong with things as they are, and to see how they could be improved. I may come across to some people as overly critical or demanding perfection, but it's hard for me to ignore or accept things that are not done the right way. I pride myself on the fact that if I'm responsible for doing something, you can be sure I'll do it right. I sometimes have feelings of resentment when people don't try to do things properly or when people act irresponsibly or unfairly, although I usually try not to show it to them openly. For me, it is usually work before pleasure, and I suppress my desires as necessary to get the work done."

please choose first second third   Type 2 — Twos focus on relationship. They excel at making connections and empathizing with the needs and feelings of other people. Usually good at supporting others and helping bring out their potential,Twos find turning their attention toward themselves and their own needs much more difficult. They want to be accepted and liked by others, and will adapt or change to earn this approval. Emotionally sensitive,Twos need to be very careful what they absorb from the people around them. Setting personal boundaries can be challenging, although they may have emotional outbursts to relieve the pressure. While being a special person or earning the approval of others has its advantages, it doesn’t substitute for being loved for oneself. Speaking style is being nice and sympathetic, giving advice, sometimes militant for the cause. Lower emotional habit is pride about being special, important or indispensable in relationship, poor self-esteem when approval is not forthcoming. How you might describe yourself: "I am sensitive to other people’s feelings. I can see what they need, even when I don’t know them. Sometimes it’s frustrating to be so aware of people’s needs, especially their pain or unhappiness, because I’m not able to do as much for them as I’d like to. It’s easy for me to give of myself. I sometimes wish I were better at saying no, because I end up putting more energy into caring for others than into taking care of myself. It hurts my feelings if people think I’m trying to manipulate or control them, when all I’m trying to do is understand and help them. I like to be seen as a warmhearted and good person, but when I’m not taken into account or appreciated I can become very emotional or even demanding. Good relationships mean a great deal to me and I’m willing to work hard to make them happen."

please choose first second third   Type 3 — Threes channel their energy into getting things done. They take the initiative and work hard to accomplish their goals. Highly adaptable, they excel at “feeling out” and meeting the expectations of others when that will lead them to success. Threes like to stay active and on the go, so they find it hard to stop or slow down. Their focus on keeping up their image and achieving results can get in the way of personal needs and health. In American business, a particularly strong Three culture, performers get a lot of positive reinforcement for being productive and efficient. A danger for Threes is concentrating on external praise or material rewards while losing contact with who they are inside. It’s difficult for them to step out of their roles, feel their own feelings, and decide for themselves what is important. Speaking style is enthusiastic, motivating themselves and others for success. Lower emotional habit is vanity, based on keeping up a good image and always being successful. How you might describe yourself: "Being the best at what I do is a strong motivator for me, and I have received a lot of recognition over the years for my accomplishments. I get a lot done and am successful in almost everything I take on. I identify strongly with what I do, because to a large degree I think your value is based on what you accomplish and the recognition you get for it. I always have more to do than will fit into the time available, so I often set aside feelings and self-reflection in order to get things done. Because there’s always something to do, I find it hard to just sit and do nothing. I get impatient with people who don’t use my time well. Sometimes I would rather just take over a project someone is completing too slowly. I like to feel and appear on top of any situation. While I like to compete, I am also a good team player."

please choose first second third   Type 4 — Fours are a feeling-oriented type who often experience a sense of longing or melancholy. Something is missing for them, which can lead to feelings of envy. They seek meaning and depth in their relationships, their work or their quest for personal creativity. Many Fours are artists who excel at expressing universal human emotions in dance, music and poetry. While they are good at creating an image, it’s most important for them to be authentic. Often passionate, sometimes overly emotional, their attention moves back and forth from empa¬thizing with others to their own inner experience. Individualists at heart, they need time alone. To heal and grow, Fours must balance sadness with the capacity for happiness and satisfaction, even if the relationship or the experience seems flawed or incomplete. Speaking style is sometimes warm and full of feeling, sometimes flat and dry, they tend to be subjective and try to be aesthetically correct. Often a tone of sadness or dissatisfaction. Lower emotional habit is envy or melancholy arising from the experience of disappointment or deficiency. How you might describe yourself: "I am a sensitive person with intense feelings. I often feel misunderstood and lonely, because I feel different from everyone else. My behavior can appear like drama to others, and I have been criticized for being overly sensitive and over-amplifying my feelings. What is really going on inside is my longing for both emotional connection and a deeply felt experience of relationship. I have difficulty fully appreciating present relationships because of my tendency to want what I can’t have and to disdain what I do have. The search for emotional connection has been with me all my life and the absence of emotional connection has led to melancholy and depression. I sometimes wonder why other people seem to have more than I do – better relationships and happier lives. I have a refined sense of aesthetics and I experience a rich world of emotions and meaning."

please choose first second third   Type 5 — Fives are mental types who focus on intellectual understanding and accumulating knowledge. They are often scholars or technical experts because of their keen perception and analytical ability. Fives value privacy and personal autonomy, and other people may be experienced as intrusive. The ability to detach from other people and from emotional pressure provides personal freedom, but also may create loneliness. Many people of this type are intellectually brilliant or knowledgeable, while feelings and relationships present an enormous challenge. For others, family and friends are important, but they still require much time alone to pursue their own interests. Fives need to balance their tendency to withdraw or withhold from people by reaching out to others, even if that means discomfort or conflict. Speaking style is rational and content-oriented, most comfortable in their area of expertise. Not big on small talk. Lower emotional habit is avarice or hoarding, which means holding on to information or other resources based on the fear of shortages, either in oneself or the environment. How you might describe yourself: "I would characterize myself as a quiet, analytical person who needs more time alone than most people do. I usually prefer to observe what is going on than to be involved in the middle of it. I don’t like people to place too many demands on me or to expect me to know and report what I am feeling. I’m able to get in touch with my feelings better when alone than with others, and often enjoy experiences I’ve had more when reliving them than when actually going through them. I’m almost never bored when alone, because I have an active mental life. It is important for me to protect my time and energy, and hence, to live a simple, uncomplicated life and to be as self-sufficient as possible."

please choose first second third   Type 6 — Sixes are mental types who use their perception and intellect to understand the world and figure out whether other people are friendly or hostile. They focus on guarding the safety of the group, project or family. Sixes are good at anticipating problems and coming up with solutions. Knowing the rules and making agreements with other people is important, yet at the same time they tend to doubt themselves and question others. They can oscillate between skepticism and certainty, rebel or true believer. Some Sixes are “cautious” – they hesitate, worry and procrastinate. Other Sixes prefer to stay in the “strength” mode – they rush into action and seek to brace themselves physically or ideologically as a way of overcoming their fear. As Sixes learn to trust themselves as well as other people, they become more flexible and develop the courage to act, even in the presence of doubt or ambivalence. Speaking style is setting limits on themselves and others, having serious questions, and playing devil’s advocate. By contrast, sometimes they are ideologically zealous. Lower emotional state is suspicion or distrust, which can lead to either fearfulness and holding back or an aggressive and pushy attitude. How you might describe yourself: "I have a vivid imagination, especially when it comes to what might be threatening to safety and security. I can usually spot what could be dangerous or harmful and may experience as much fear as if it were really happening. I either avoid danger or challenge it head on. My imagination also leads to my ingenuity and a good, if somewhat offbeat, sense of humor. I would like for life to be more certain, but, in general, I seem to doubt the people and things around me. I can usually see the shortcomings in the view someone is putting forward. I suppose that, as a consequence, some people may consider me to be very astute. I tend to be suspicious of authority and am not particularly comfortable being seen as the authority. Because I can see what is wrong with the generally held view of things, I tend to identify with underdog causes. Once I have committed myself to a person or cause, I am very loyal to it."

please choose first second third   Type 7 — Sevens are mental types who are forward thinkers and forward movers. They usually bring an optimistic and positive attitude to all of their activities, which reflect an interest in many different subjects. Not wanting to be limited to doing one thing, they prefer to keep their options and possibilities open. Although they can be excellent communicators, Sevens are less concerned with image and other people’s approval than other types. They put a priority on having fun, whether that’s found in travel and adventure or more intellectual pursuits. Since they are enthusiastic consumers of new ideas, new technology and pleasurable experiences, too much of a good thing can be a problem for them. Because their attention shifts so quickly, it’s challenging for Sevens to focus in depth and to stay the course in work and relationships. Slowing down, being in the moment, and learning to tolerate their own and other people’s suffering can bring needed balance. Speaking style is personal storytelling, which can be either highly entertaining or simply self-absorbed. They also focus on the positive, and tend to ignore or quickly reframe the negative. Lower emotional habit is gluttony, which isn’t just about food, but rather a kind of intoxication or over-consumption of ideas,fun experiences or substances. How you might describe yourself: "I am an optimistic person who enjoys coming up with new and interesting things to do. I have a very active mind that quickly moves back and forth between different ideas. I like to get a global picture of how all these ideas fit together, and I get excited when I can connect concepts that initially don’t appear to be related. I like to work on things that interest me, and I have a lot of energy to devote to them. I have a hard time sticking with unrewarding and repetitive tasks. I like to be in on the beginning of a project, during the planning phase, when there may be many interesting options to consider. When I have exhausted my interest in something, it is difficult for me to stay with it, because I want to move on to the next thing that has captured my interest. If something gets me down, I prefer to shift my attention to more pleasant ideas. I believe people are entitled to an enjoyable life."

please choose first second third   Type 8 — Eights tend to take charge of situations and step into the leadership role. Energetic and intense, they can be intimidating to other people at times. Impatient with rules and regulations, they like to do everything their way. Eights place a high priority on fairness or justice. If they feel wronged, they will fight back, since in their experience weakness or vulnerability will precipitate an attack from the outside world. The strength (and aggression) generated in this mission can be awesome, but also misapplied. Eights’ challenge is to combine assertion and control with interdependency and cooperation, as well as learning how to curb their often excessive appetites. Speaking style is assertive and exerts strong leadership. Eights tend to be bossy and often get angry when something goes wrong. Lower emotional habit is anger and excessiveness, with a revengeful attitude toward people. How you might describe yourself: "I approach things in an all-or-none way, especially issues that matter to me. I place a lot of value on being strong, honest and dependable. What you see is what you get. I don’t trust others until they have proven themselves to be reliable. I like people to be direct with me, and I know when someone is being devious, lying or trying to manipulate me. I have a hard time tolerating weakness in people, unless I understand the reason for their weakness or I see that they’re trying to do something about it. I also have a hard time following orders or direction if I do not respect or agree with the person in authority. I am much better at taking charge myself. I find it difficult not to display my feelings when I am angry. I am always ready to stick up for friends or loved ones, especially if I think they are being treated unjustly. I may not win every battle with others, but they’ll know I’ve been there."

please choose first second third   Type 9 — Nines share a common problem with inertia or momentum. Whether they are lazy in the traditional sense or hard workers continually on the move, Nines have a problem with priorities and find it difficult to change directions or shift attention to what is most important. They are self-forgetful, meaning they forget their own agenda. Nines excel at seeing all points of view, so while it might be difficult for them to make personal decisions, they can be excellent mediators and peace-makers for others. Nines seek harmony in their environment. As body-based types, they have a strong sense of gut-level knowing, although paradoxically, they can be out of touch with their bodies in other ways. Speaking style is inclusive and welcoming at their best, Nines may have trouble getting to the point. They can be linear and controlled, or quite scattered. Lower emotional habit is laziness of attention, or heedlessness. This makes it hard for them to face priorities or conflict. How you might describe yourself: "I seem to be able to see all points of view pretty easily. I may even appear indecisive at times because I can see advantages and disadvantages on all sides. The ability to see all sides makes me good at helping people resolve their differences. This same ability can sometimes lead me to be more aware of other people’s positions, agendas, and personal priorities than of my own. It is not unusual for me to become distracted and then to get off task on the important things I’m trying to do. When that happens, my attention is often diverted to unimportant trivial tasks. I have a hard time knowing what is really important to me, and I avoid conflict by going along with what others want. People tend to consider me to be easygoing, pleasing and agreeable. It takes a lot to get me to the point of showing my anger directly at someone. I like life to be comfortable, harmonious and accepting."