How to Take Personality Tests for Self Awareness

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How to Take Personality Tests for Self Awareness: A Journey Inward

The ancient dictum, carved into the pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, whispers across millennia: “Know Thyself.” This imperative, simple in its phrasing yet profound in its challenge, has echoed in the hearts of philosophers, leaders, and seekers for centuries. In our modern world, one of the most accessible tools we have to answer this call is the personality test. Yet, these tools are often misunderstood. They are not meant to be definitive horoscopes that box us in, nor are they mere entertaining quizzes to be shared on social media. When approached with intention, personality tests become powerful catalysts for self-awareness—a mirror held up to the intricate, often unconscious, patterns of our being.

This journey of using personality tests for genuine self-discovery is both an art and a science. It requires more than just answering questions; it demands curiosity, honesty, and a willingness to explore the landscape of your own mind. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to engage with these tools to unlock a deeper understanding of yourself.

Part 1: The Foundation – Choosing Your Compass

Before you answer a single question, it’s crucial to select the right tool for your journey. Not all tests are created equal.

• Seek Robust Frameworks, Not Just Labels: Prioritize well-researched, psychologically-grounded models over viral fads. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), for instance, is beloved for its accessibility and ability to describe how we perceive the world and make decisions, categorizing us into 16 personality types (e.g., INFJ, ESTP). The Big Five (OCEAN) model is highly respected in academic psychology for measuring five core traits—Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism—on a spectrum, rejecting simple typology. The Enneagram dives deeper into core motivations, fears, and desires, outlining nine interconnected personality types, each with a unique path of growth and stress.
• Understand the “Why”: What are you hoping to discover? Are you looking to understand your communication style (e.g., DiSC assessment), your career aptitudes (e.g., Strong Interest Inventory), or the fundamental drivers of your behavior (e.g., Enneagram)? Aligning your goal with the test’s purpose will yield far more valuable results.
• Embrace Multiple Perspectives: No single test can capture the entirety of your personality. Consider taking a few different types. The MBTI might illuminate your cognitive processes, the Big Five might confirm your level of assertiveness, and the Enneagram might reveal the underlying why behind your need for achievement or harmony. Together, they create a richer, more nuanced portrait.

Part 2: The Art of Answering – Honesty Over Idealism

The moment of answering the questions is where the real work begins. This is a private conversation with yourself, not a performance for an audience.

• Answer as You Are, Not as You Wish to Be: This is the golden rule. It is tempting to select the answer that portrays the most confident, organized, or compassionate version of yourself. Resist this. Self-awareness is built on the foundation of truth, not aspiration. Are you truly energized by a crowded party, or do you just feel you should be? Do you make decisions based on logic, even when you tell yourself you’re being empathetic?
• Go with Your Gut Reaction: Often, our first, instinctive response is the most authentic. Overthinking a question can lead you to rationalize an answer that aligns with your self-image rather than your actual behavior. If you find yourself agonizing over a question, note it down—it might indicate an area worth exploring later.
• Consider Context, But Find the Pattern: It’s true that we behave differently in different situations (e.g., at work vs. with family). However, personality tests are designed to find your default setting, your natural inclination when no external pressure is applied. Ask yourself, “What is my most natural, effortless tendency?” rather than “What do I do in my most demanding role?”

Part 3: The Moment of Revelation – Interpreting Your Results

You’ve received your type, your acronym, your spectrum scores. This is not the end; it is the beginning of the most important phase.

• Read the Description with an Open Mind: As you read the profile of your type or traits, don’t just look for what fits. Also, pay close attention to what makes you uncomfortable, what you resist, or what you immediately want to deny. Carl Jung famously said, “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” The same can be said for the parts of a profile that irritate us. That resistance is a signpost pointing toward a blind spot.
• Look for the “Aha!” and the “Oh, No…”: genuine self-awareness often comes with two simultaneous reactions: the joyful recognition of “Yes, that’s me! I finally have a word for it!” (the Aha! moment) and the uncomfortable twinge of “Ouch, they’ve seen a flaw I try to hide” (the Oh, No… moment). Embrace both. The former validates your experience; the latter presents an opportunity for growth.
• It’s a Description, Not a Prescription: Your results describe your natural preferences, much like being right or left-handed. You can develop skills with your non-dominant hand, but it will never feel as natural. Similarly, an introvert can learn superb public speaking skills, but it will drain their energy rather than create it. The test explains why certain things energize you and others deplete you, freeing you from judging yourself for it.

Part 4: Integrating the Knowledge – From Theory to Practice

A map is useless if you never take the journey. The true value of a personality test lies in applying its insights to your daily life.

• Identify Patterns in Your Life: Use your new vocabulary to reframe your past experiences. “No wonder I felt so drained after that project; it required constant extraversion and spontaneous decision-making, which goes against my natural preferences.” Or, “My conflict with that person makes sense now; they prioritize efficiency (Thinking) while I prioritized team harmony (Feeling).”
• leverage Your Strengths and Tend to Your Growth Areas: Knowing your innate strengths allows you to lean into them consciously, creating a life and career that feels more authentic and effortless. Simultaneously, understanding your potential pitfalls—like a tendency toward perfectionism, avoidance of conflict, or impulsivity—allows you to spot them early and develop strategies to manage them.
• Enhance Your Relationships: Share your results with close friends, family, or partners. This is not to excuse behavior but to explain it. It creates a shared language for understanding differences. “I know you need to talk things out to process them (Extraversion), but I need some quiet time to reflect first (Introversion). Can we find a balance?”
• Revisit and Reassess: You are not a static being. While your core preferences are likely stable, your understanding of them will deepen over time. Retake tests every few years. You may find that certain questions now have different answers as you’ve grown and developed, leading to a more refined understanding of your unique self.

A Final Word of Caution and Encouragement

Remember, you are infinitely more complex than any four-letter code or set of scores. These tests are a starting point, a framework for understanding, not a final verdict. They should empower you, not limit you. They are a single, insightful voice in the ongoing conversation you have with yourself—a conversation that includes introspection, feedback from trusted others, and your own lived experience.

So, embark on this journey with a spirit of gentle curiosity. Let the tests hold up the mirror, but have the courage to look deeply into it. See your strengths with pride, your challenges with compassion, and your entire being with a newfound sense of clarity. For in the intricate mosaic of your personality, with all its light and shadow, you will find the unique and powerful essence of who you are, and that is the greatest discovery of all.