Four of the Best Self-Discovery Tools (and Why You Should Try Them)

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I f this title peaked your interest it’s probably because you’re wired for introspection. But no matter your personality type it is “well and good” to invest in self-discovery!
There are a million ways to learn about ourselves. My husband is a risk-taker. He enjoys learning what his limitations are by flying in an aircraft that he builds in his garage. That kind of “self-discovery” makes someone like me want to vomit.
But, ask my guy to get on a stage (the place that I like to stretch my skills and quell my fears) and he’d tell you he’d rather take a bullet.
We're all wired differently.
Living life, trying new experiences, and getting feedback from the people we love and trust are important tools for learning more about what are our strengths and weaknesses.
But there are also well-respected, personality inventories that help us garner gargantuan revelation when it comes to understanding ourselves. But why bother?
We are all SO busy and these things take time. For myself, I’m inspired to take the time because of something my Pops taught me years ago.
My Dad was never an official financial planner but he took care to consult those who were. He would say—
“I don’t believe it makes sense to work 50-60 hours a week and then never think through the best way to use what I have.”
Bottom line, the time he took to evaluate what he had and what he thought he should do with what he had was to him, a matter of stewardship.
The same is true of our gifts (and we all have them).
Stewardship is a very good reason to take a personality inventory. But there are more good reasons.
When we know ourselves better, we know God better. After all, we are created in His image!
Understanding who we are (and why we are the way we are) allows us to have more self-compassion as well as compassion for others.
Finally, personality inventories help us help ourselves as well as help others.
Below is a list of four of the best inventories there are along with links for easy access.
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Myers Briggs Personality Types- Sixteen Personalities (FREE!)
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Strengths Finder- Clifton Strengths Assessment ($20)
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Spiritual Gifts Inventory- Spiritual Gifts Test (FREE!)
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Enneagram- Explore Your Type (FREE!)
The enneagram has been my tool of choice lately. Ian Cron’s podcast “Typology” is funny and informative if you want to learn more regarding the many nuances of the enneagram’s nine personalities.
I hope you’ll consider giving these a try. Perhaps you won’t have time until your Fall schedule lands into place but be encouraged by the fact that they don’t take long (10 to 15 minutes).
The most important thing to remember about self-discovery is that it’s a process but,
The process is the point.
The process is the point.
We have a good Father who delights in discovery. He loves watching us learn about ourselves and then seeing how we use those gifts for our own benefit as well as the benefit of others!
Savoring the journey with you,
Cindy
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Cindy Wilkins
Thanks to you I just found out that I am an Enneagram 2 and my top three spiritual gifts are: giving, discernment, and serving. Now I need to learn more and contimplate on this!