My Favorite Personality Tests

This essay originally appeared in the Monday morning newsletter on 2/17/20.

I thought the topic of personality types would be perfect for today’s newsletter for two reasons:

1. Maybe you have today off work and you’re looking for something to do. And if you are working, maybe you want something that can be a quick break from the grind. Taking a quiz could be a great way to spend your time!
2. And second, the below feels timely coming off a week all about love and relationships. 

The below leads us to a great revelation… We all have unique personalities. We interpret and react to situations differently. And this can lead to some tricky situations and/or miscommunications in regards to relationships. What’s a big deal to me may not be a big deal to you. 

I think we can infuse more happiness into any relationship by taking the time to understand and become more familiar with our own innate preferences, expectations and quirks. Additionally, learning more about different personality types helps us see things from another point of view and work to better understand our partner, work colleague, mom, best friend, etc.

So, without further ado, here are my top three favorite personality quizzes: 

1. The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin: Simple, straightforward and only eight questions. If you only have time for one personality quiz today, I would recommend this one. This idea focuses on analyzing how we respond to outer and inner expectations. Figuring out our “tendency” helps us identify effective strategies to meet our goals, stick with habits and more. Just as important, learning about the other tendencies helps us understand and work with people more effectively. Personally, I am a textbook “Upholder.” 
2. The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman: Another simple, yet powerful personality quiz. This one is all about our preferred ways to receive love. Figuring out how we receive love and how the people in our life receive love can help us all give in a more meaningful way. My love language – for better or worse – is definitely “Words of Affirmation.” Want an easy trick for figuring out someone else’s love language? Think about how that person typically gives or shows love. Our output is usually a mirror of what we hope to receive. 
3. The Enneagram Institute: This is the big one. “Enneagram” is derived from two Greek words meaning “nine” and something “written” or “drawn.” By definition, it is a model of the human psyche and features nine interconnected personality types. There are a lot of different tests out there (some free and some for purchase), but I wanted to make sure I was getting the most accurate Enneagram assessment (if you are familiar with this model, can you guess what number I am already?). So, I paid the $12 to access the quiz from The Enneagram Institute and spent about 30 minutes going through the 144 questions. After the quiz, you receive a ton of information about your type and the other eight types. I’ve found the information helpful for recognizing my strengths and weaknesses and identifying the ideals I value most. I am a 3 wing 2.

What do you think? Do any of these quizzes or models sound interesting to you? 

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