Why and How to Know Yourself
Why and How to Know Yourself
CONTEXT
We live in a society that is fast-paced and continually changing. There is an overabundance of stimulation from professional projects, personal responsibilities, advertisements, social media, entertainment, and more.
Every year there are important advances in science and technologies that lead to innovative products and services. Some of these radically disrupt whole industries in a few years. Just think back to what your life was like 10 or 20 years ago Now imagine what life might be like in the next 10 or 20 years.
These factors and many more cause the economy to be in flux. So the question becomes how does a person navigate these stormy waters? Specifically, what career direction might prove to have been a smart choice in the next 5 to 10 years?
Ultimately the future is uncertain. It is not possible to control the external variables. But what is possible is to take responsibility for personal thoughts, words, and choices. Time will continue to march on. Bills will keep coming due. Relationships will come and go. With age the physical body changes. But what remains the same?
I submit to you that the personality, strengths, and talents of a person remain the same. After reaching adulthood these do not change much. But they remain hidden. They exist under the surface. And thankfully over the decades, various companies have developed tests to reveal these. The links to those tests are offered later.
Studies show that a small percentage of people enjoy their employment. Most people tolerate, dislike, or hate their job. I suggest to you that somehow they find themselves in a setting where their internal world is in conflict with their external world. Their personality, strengths, and talents are not being put to optimum use. They may feel stuck in a rut and not know how to get out.
May I suggest that the next step to get out of a vocational rut or avoid getting stuck in a rut is to make it a high priority to discover and develop your talents? Make time in your busy life to learn about the vast potential that is buried inside. Then as you begin to understand and appreciate your strengths you can chart a vision and game plan to gain the needed education and experiences to make those marketable. Along the way enroll advisers, supporters, and fellow travelers on this journey to a satisfying career.
Here is the sad fact. You and you alone must take bold action steps that will include all sorts of challenges. You will encounter friends and foes along the way. You will learn patience and perseverance. You will need to avoid the ditches of perfectionism and procrastination. No person can do this internal work for you. It is a private adventure. That is why you must have a highly desirable long-term dream that will fuel your hope.
Essentially you are on your own but you are not alone. You are the one that makes the choices. Each choice leads to a consequence. What you sow is what you reap in terms of how you use your time, money, attention, and affection. There will be distractions, interruptions, temptations, accidents, and setbacks. So in order to make consistent progress toward your desired outcomes it is best to enroll mutually supportive friends and associates. These can serve as accountability partners, encouragers, sounding boards, advisers, mentors, etc. Locating like-minded individuals that are emotionally available and willing to develop a friendship is a treasure that you would be smart to seek and nurture.
LEADERS
The links to the tests that follow are orients to both individuals and leaders of teams. These might be business owners or managers in a corporate setting.
The results of these tests can prove to be a game-changer.
The leader can better understand each person and appreciate the potential that they might easily bring to the operations.
When the results are used to better delegate and assign the right person to the key projects then the entire enterprise can progress more smoothly.
Just like in any kind of leadership, it is best to lead by example. So it would be wise for the leader to take the tests and apply the results to their lives. Then there would be stories of improvements based on experiences.
Parents and Grandparents
Each person must find their way in life. Little by little each choice has consequences. Those consequences add up over time. The primary person that feels the individual and collective consequences is the person. And the secondary people that feel those consequences are the parents and grandparents. They hurt or feel wonderful depending on the outcomes of how their child or grandchild progresses in life.
During childhood, there is much time and many opportunities to influence the child. This decreases during the teen years. And decreases more during the young adult years.
Instinctively there is a natural bond between the person and their parent and grandparent. That can be nurtured or contaminated over time. Essentially the parent and grandparent want what is best for the child or grandchild. But due to the rapid changes in technology and cultural norms that is not easy to advise the younger generation.
However, there is a universal principle that applies. When a person knows themselves including their strengths and weaknesses then they have useful information to apply at the crossroad where critical choices must be made.
What a parent and/or grandparent can do is to strongly recommend that a few of the following tests be taken. Offer to pay if that is the obstacle. Then ask that the results of the tests be shared in order to help them discover and develop their strengths. That might mean offering to pay for lessons, tutors, and coaches.
Note that the following links are oriented toward adults. Surely there are similar tests for children and teens that can be found with diligent research.
INTRODUCTION
This is a menu of many options. Each one is valuable. Each one has strengths. None of them is perfect. So it would be wise to carefully choose a few that resonate with you at this season. Then by considering the combined results, you will have a more rounded understanding.
Each of these has been used by many thousands of people with remarkable outcomes.
I invite you to do your own research at the links offered below. Find the few that might best suit you at this time in your life.
Some of these tests are free and others have a fee. These free ones are sponsored by companies that offer other services and want your ongoing business. So keep that in mind. You do not have to continue with any of them but they will likely send you email promotions. You are free to unsubscribe from those emails at any time.
The free ones are useful. And the fee ones are good. You can perceive the price you pay for a test as an investment in your future. The insights from these tests can serve to help you navigate your personal and professional life. These can give you guidance about your direction, values, priorities, aspirations, and long-term goals.
RECOMMENDED
These tests are recommended for the following people.
Those about to graduate from high school or college
Those seeking to choose a college major
Those that are seeking vocational guidance for the following reasons
Stuck in a rut and beginning to explore career alternatives
Laid off and considering shifting career focus
Divorced and entering the job market
Those seeking career development for the following reasons
How to best choose Continuing Education units to renew a license
Hit a ceiling in terms of advancement
Chart a course toward a niche specialty that aligns with strengths
Considering going into business based on innate talents
Those that are retired and seeking meaningful uses of time
How to best invest talents to serve the community
What kinds of creative expressions are waiting to be released
What sort of part-time employment would be enjoyable
Those who are in a position to influence any of those listed previously like
Counselors
Therapists
Mentors
Coaches
Pastors
Parents
Grandparents
OTHER
Note that besides these options there are many others available at the career guidance counseling offices of community colleges and universities. You might want to inquire if those tests are offered to those that are not enrolled students. And you might ask if they recommend other such tests online or in a book.
OPTIONS
Here are lots of tests to understand your strengths and personality.
You can do all of these immediately. That would cost a lot of time and money. Plus it could get very confusing. However, you can carefully choose a few to start with and do a few others later. So it may be wise to set yourself a reminder to explore these possibilities again in a few weeks or months.
FREE OPTIONS
Notice that the free tests are a great way to get started in knowing yourself.
Each one has been used by many thousands of people that got useful results.
These are for-profit companies that have related ways to earn income.
After taking the free test you might be interested in paying for their other services.
Via Institute on Character
Explanation and link to free test
https://www.viacharacter.org/character-strengths-via
The test that reveals your hidden strengths | Laurie Santos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeHsqm4F-W4&ab_channel=BigThink
High 5 test
Explanation
High 5 Test for the Individual
https://high5test.com/personality-test-for-individuals/
16 Personality Types
Explanation of each type
https://www.16personalities.com/personality-types
16 Personality Types
Free personality test
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
123 Tests
Explanation
https://www.123test.com/holland-codes-career-tests/
DISC Personality tet
https://www.123test.com/disc-personality-test/
Personality test
https://www.123test.com/personality-test/
Competency test
https://www.123test.com/competency-test/
Work values test
https://www.123test.com/work-values-test/
Career test
https://www.123test.com/career-test/
Team roles test
https://www.123test.com/team-roles-test/
Jung personality test
https://www.123test.com/jung-personality-test/
Ten Free Career Aptitude Tests
https://novoresume.com/career-blog/career-aptitude-test
_________________________________________
Christian Free
Spiritual Gifts Test
https://spiritualgiftstest.com/
Chazon
https://www.life.church/chazown/
Younique
PAID OPTIONS
I invite you to consider the money spent on these tests as an investment in your future.
When the results of the free and paid tests are used it could lead to valuable benefits.
It might lead to an increased income in the future years due to finding your career niche.
It might lead to greater balance, happiness, and contentment in your personal life.
Clifton Strengths
Online assessment to understand top 5 of 34 possible strengths.
Useful for individuals and to lead groups.
Explanation
https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253676/how-cliftonstrengths-works.aspx
Top 5 Clifton Strengths
19.99
https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253868/popular-cliftonstrengths-assessment-products.aspx
Clifton Strengths 34
59.99
https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253868/popular-cliftonstrengths-assessment-products.aspx
Clifton Strengths for Managers
49.99
https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253868/popular-cliftonstrengths-assessment-products.aspx
Clifton Strengths for Leaders
49.99
https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253868/popular-cliftonstrengths-assessment-products.aspx
Clifton Strengths for Sales
49.99
https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253868/popular-cliftonstrengths-assessment-products.aspx
Clifton Strengths for Students
19.99
https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253868/popular-cliftonstrengths-assessment-products.aspx
Self Authoring
Explanation
https://www.selfauthoring.com/
Full suite
$29.99
https://www.selfauthoring.com/get-self-authoring
High 5 test
Explanation
High 5 Test for the Individual
https://high5test.com/personality-test-for-individuals/
High 5 for Teams
$49 per employee
https://high5test.com/personality-test-for-teams/
Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
Explanation
https://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/
MBTI for Career
$79.95
https://www.mbtionline.com/en-US/Products/For-your-career
MBTI for Personal Growth
$49.95
https://www.mbtionline.com/en-US/Products/For-you
16 Personality Types
Explanation of each type
https://www.16personalities.com/personality-types
16 Personality Types
Free personality test
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
16 Personalities Team Assessments
$19 per month per team member
https://www.16personalities.com/tools/teams
16 Personalities Pro Suite
Access to 30+ specialized tests
$169
https://www.16personalities.com/academy
MBTI Online
Explanation
https://www.mbtionline.com/en-US/How-it-works/How-it-works
MBTI Online Individual
$49.95
https://www.mbtionline.com/en-US/Products/For-you
MBTI Online Career
$79.95
https://www.mbtionline.com/en-US/Products/For-your-career
MBTI Team
$99.95 per participant
https://www.mbtionline.com/en-US/Products/For-your-team
Books
What Color Is Your Parachute?
$17.99
www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-Meaningful/dp/1984861204
Why You Do What You Do
$13.25
https://www.amazon.com/Why-You-What-Emotional-Mysteries/dp/0840791542/
Christian Paid
Clarify Your Calling Workshop
$7.00
https://go.jeffcarver.com/cyc-order
Personality Assessment
$25.00
https://spiritualgiftstest.com/personality-assessment/
Christian Books related to this subject
Chazown, Revised and Updated Edition: Discover and Pursue God's Purpose for Your Life
$21.00
https://www.amazon.com/Chazown-Revised-Updated-Discover-Purpose/dp/1601429983/
VIDEOS
Do not Negotiate Who You are by Brene Brown
Brené Brown Leaves the Audience SPEECHLESS | One of the Best Motivational Speeches Ever
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qfbpBzqitA&ab_channel=MotivationalInstinct
Be True to Yourself
Brené Brown । 15 Minutes for the NEXT 15 Years of Your LIFE - One of the Greatest Speeches Ever
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVsjbTlyE0&ab_channel=MotivationalInstinct
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