Why I Love Personality Tests

Myers-Brigg
The Enneagram
Style tests
Buzzfeed

Okay, that last one was kind of a joke, but it shows that we have an obsession with doing tests that tell us "who we are". The two most popular are definitely the Myers-Brigg and the Enneagram. You've probably seen and heard about them, even if you haven't taken a test and there are a lot of opinions on the validity of tests like these but you can decide for yourself. I'm simply going to share why they have been helpful in my own life.

I'll start with Myers-Brigg, because that's what I did first. From what I understand, the accurate version of this test is the paid one, but you generally don't do that version unless it is for you work. I did not do a paid version and I still think it was accurate to me.

I've taken the test twice, several years apart, and I like the idea of retaking it for two reasons. One, you change as you get older and two, if you chose, you can make the effort to work on things that these tests show you and maybe change yourself. Both times I took it, I got the same result, ISFJ. The difference was, the first time I was 90% introverted and the second time, it was only 80%! Improvement :)

I've also taken the Enneagram test and I got a 9. There is a lot of the 9 that makes sense for me, but I also relate strongly to a lot of the 6 stuff. So maybe I'm just a 9 going in the 6 direction. (If you don't know much about the Enneagram, you are a certain number, but other numbers have roles in your personality too. So my other numbers that can work with the 9 are 6, 3, and 8 and/or 1. Do some research if you're interested; it's really fascinating!)

Here's what I like about these tests - they bring to the forefront things about me that I had never really recognized as driving forces in my life. Until I learned what and introvert was, I didn't understand certain things about how I related to others. When I learned about how 9s do and don't do things, a lot of my behaviors began to make so much sense! Now that I understand myself better, I can not let my natural inclinations and behaviors control me.

Being an introvert is not bad or wrong. But letting it get so bad that it doesn't allow you to have relationships and function in society is a problem. If I didn't understand being and introvert and what that means, I could do one of two things: I could end up hiding in my house all day every day because "I'm introverted and I don't do people" OR I could try to "be like everyone else" and just throw myself into the fray but I'd burn out and it would not be good for me or anyone else. Understanding brings balance. It means realizing that I am not someone who can or should have an activity every night of the week. It means that, as much as I can, when I have a busy, full day, I should try to not schedule another busy, full day for the next day. If I know I have a crazy week, I try to limit what I add to the next week.

If I take the traits of a 9 and say, "well, that's it, I'm a 9 and so that excuses X, Y, or Z about me", that would not be good. One of the biggest insights for me was that 9s are called "The Peacemaker". When I learned how 9s avoid conflict, a lightbulb went on in my head! I had not consciously recognized that in myself and I think being unaware of it has led to problems in my life. Knowing this about myself is going to help my going forward with relationships. Any relationship depends on communication, of the good and the bad. If I avoid conflict, that means I'm not communicating when I'm hurt or have a problem that someone else caused and that means pushing people away. Not good.

I like these tests because they reveal something about me. Sometimes I find that my assessment of myself was correct and sometimes I learn something new. What I don't let it do is give me an excuse or a way out. As much as these tests show strengths, they also show weaknesses and then I take those to God and ask Him to work on them in me. Sometimes I know that my fear or reluctance about something is tied to an aspect of my personality and I need to push through.

My Myers-Brigg type or my Enneagram number do not define me. They are helpful tools and I am very thankful for them, but ultimately, God is bigger than my personality and can work despite it. I want Him to strengthen my weaknesses and teach me how to follow Him through my weakness.

This has gotten really long, so I'm going to save the last test for another post. I'd love to hear from you! Have you taken these or other tests? How have they been helpful to you? If you'd like, share your MBTI type or Enneagram number with your comment!