Ways To Discover Your Personality

Discovering your personality is the first step towards self-improvement. You need to know who you are. You need to know what makes you tick. The best way to do this is by getting a good understanding of your personality.

In order to get a good understanding of your personality, you will have to analyze several different aspects of yourself. Part of this process might make you feel a bit strange, but remember, this is for your own good and to get the most out of your growth.

Take this time to observe yourself. Look at your surroundings. It is likely, that some of your observations will come to you unbidden. Indeed, it would be best if you could embrace these feelings. They are your own feelings, and they are a reflection of who you are. In this article I am going to look at what personality is and ways to discover your personality.

What Is Personality?

Personality is a very hard thing to pin down. Some would say it is a set of habits and conditioning, which is true to some extent. In this way, it is like a habit or an action, but it is more, than that. It is how you act even when no one is looking and it is who you are on the inside. It is the choices you make that affect who you are and it is these choices, that shape your personality.

Your personality could be best described as a machine. Your mind and soul are the "machines" that keep you alive, and choices are the fuel, that powers these "machines". The more choices you make, the more your personality "machines" run, and the more you become who you are.

Given this description, it should be fairly clear, that your personality is shaped in part by your choices. Indeed, it would not be possible for it to be any other way. Your personality is what helps you navigate the world. It is what makes you who you are. It is what helps you deal with the situations you encounter. It is what keeps you happy and alive.

Besides helping you deal with the world around you, your personality is also who you are. It is who you will remain throughout your life. It is who your friends will know you as. It is who you will remember yourself to be. Your personality is etched in stone, and it can never be changed.

Life Lines

You begin with a set of life lines. What are life lines? Life lines are the basic personality traits, that every person has. These will determine your chances of success in life, for you cannot change them drastically.

How are life lines measured? They are measured on a spectrum, meaning that they can vary from person to person. Some people have a large amount of outgoingness, while other people are very independent. These are both positive life lines, as long as you understand, that there are other people who are independent and those, who are very outgoing. There is no down side to either.

Other life lines, that are important on the spectrum are dependability and reliability. These are life lines, that tell other people that you are there to back them up. People who are reliable tend to be the ones, who last longer in a position of power, because they make the other person feel secure. People who are dependable also tend to have higher incomes, as they are able to work more steady jobs.

The opposite of dependability is impulsiveness. People who are very impulsive tend to do better in positions of power, as they are able to do things that require quick thinking in the short term, such as being inventors or businessmen.

Further along the spectrum are status and dominance. People who are dominant tend to do better, than those who are submissive, whether that means being able to achieve goals or simply being respected by others.

Being Yourself During Peer Pressure

Peers are influential in molding who you are. When this influence is positive, you become more accepting and more open-minded. When it is negative, you become more closed-minded and less accepting. It is very important to have genuine friends. Having superficial friends does not help your development, but having genuine friends can help you become a better person.

It is very easy to become influenced by others. You must be careful, and aware of peer pressure. If you are in a situation where peer pressure is strong, the best way to respond is to be yourself. If you do this, your peers will either accept you for who you are, or they will move on. If they move on, that is OK. They are not really your friends anyway.

But it is important to stay true to yourself. If you do that, your personality will become more rounded and your personality will become more accepted. The more people that accept you, the happier you will be.

What Makes Us Act So Differently, Than Our Peers?

All of us act differently than our peers. Some of this is down to simple differences in upbringing, and some of it is due to certain personality traits we all have. However, there are certain personality traits, which differ greatly between normal, "peer pressured" and successful individuals. Be aware, that these differences do not directly follow the standard "peer-pressured" to "successful" mold, but there are still common elements within each group.

• Normal Peers: Normal peers in this case are those, who are around your age and who would typically be your peers. They are influenced by popular opinion and the actions of those around them. They tend to be more superficial, with less motivation, and more sensation-seeking.

• Successful Peers: Successful peers are those, who are successful within their careers. They tend to be more motivated to succeed, and are less superficial. Also successful peers have more motivation, more drive, and more ambition, than normal peers. This is due to a lack of confidence in their potential success when compared to other, more popular peers. They are also more ambitious, and will try harder in order to achieve their goals.

• You: You are the personification of your personality. You have certain motives, goals, activities and motivations. You have a certain amount of confidence in yourself. You act according to these motivations and personality traits. You are who you are, and you must remain true to yourself.

Forming Lifelong Personality Traits

Personality traits are formed through your life experience. Your childhood, your hobbies, your friends, your family, your school, your society and your culture. All have an influence on who you become. However, certain traits are more important than others. Some traits allow you to be more successful within your society. Some of these traits include:

• Confidence: Confidence is the most important trait, when it comes to personality. Confidence allows you to take risks, and this in turn leads to further success. Perseverance leads to success. Do not give up, and do not give in. Success comes with patience.

• Determination: Determined people are those, who do not give up, and who persevere until their goals are achieved. Those who achieve will have been determined enough to succeed. Be determined.

• Motivation: Motivation comes from a variety of sources. It can be from within, or it can be influenced from without. Some motivations will fade over time, while others will sustain. Be motivated by what is right. Your beliefs are true and your actions will not cause harm to others.

• Boldness: Taking risks and acting boldly is an important aspect of personality. Some risks pay off, while others do not. Do not fear failure. Fear will prevent you from achieving your goals. Fear is a hindrance. Be bold.

• Admiration: Find something about, which to be an expert. Something you can be good at. Something that you enjoy doing. Focus on one thing, and do it well. Do not branch out too much, lest you find yourself without a goal. Be admired.

• Curiosity: Try different things. Do not fear change. Curiosity will keep you alive, for your life must be filled with new things. Be curious.

• Pride: Know that you are good at something. Do not be ashamed of this. Who does not have something they are good at? It is a good thing to be proud of yourself. It makes others respect you and prevent them from taking advantage of you. Be proud of who you are.

• Accomplishment: Accomplishment is important. Accomplishment shows, that you are skilled and have achieved something. This is a good thing, and can put you in higher esteem. Do not worry about what others think of you, but instead, believe that you are good enough. By doing this, you will achieve great things.

• Belonging: Find a group to belong to. A group can be as small as a few people to something as large as a nation. Find something with which you can identify, and which will allow you to fit in. It is important to belong to something. Do not go through life having no bonds.

Before you can achieve your goals, you must first be given the chance. Be given a reason to get up in the morning. Do not long for glory or recognition, but instead, long for acceptance. Be a family member, a friend or any other positive relationship with those around you. It is better to be part of a group, than to be alone.