OCTOBER 2021
Your identity: Personality and character traits
Capitalise on your personality traits and aim for the character traits you admire
There are at least FIVE dimensions of personality ("The Big Five"). Understanding your natural personality tendencies can help you to
capitalise on your existing strengths. There are also character traits that you could aim for which could improve your life and improve how
you see yourself. Below you can identify the natural strengths which come from your personality and below that you can identify which
aspects of character you may wish to target to further develop who you are. Over the page, you will consider how to build on your current
strengths and to develop other strengths.
Below are spectra with adjectives to describe the different personality traits. Circle those traits which describe you.
Creative Careful Genial Polite Moody
Inventive Dutiful Talkative Empathic Uptight
Reflective Orderly Outgoing Comforting Anxious
Intellectual Exacting Persuasive Contributory Irritable
Imaginative Particular Gregarious Soft-hearted Sensitive
Abstract thinker Expedient Enthusiastic Complimentary Often Blue
Interested in ideas Scheduled Enjoys attention Interested in others Easily stressed
Novelty Seeking Conscientious Extroverted Agreeable Sensitive
OPENNESS CONSCIENTIOUSNESS EXTRAVERSION AGREEABLITY NEUROTICISM
Conservative Casual approach Introverted Antagonistic Emotionally Stable
Narrow interests Unscheduled Prefers periphery Disinterested in others Even-tempered
Down to earth Disorderly Inconspicuous Critical of others Unflappable
Conventional Imprecise Blends in Contemptuous Laid-back
Traditional Careless Reserved Hard-hearted Resilient
Pragmatic Blasé Inhibited Antagonistic Sunny
Practical Slack Quiet Indifferent Calm
Which of your natural personality traits feel like important strengths to you?
How could I utilise or improve these strength to make more of my circumstances or improve things for
myself/my family/others? Write out an actionable example or project. What can you do? Be specific:
Tolerant of emotional discomfort
Sets boundaries Mindful
Assertive Listen to conscience
Delaying of gratification
Circle those you possess
Underline those you aspire to Take on responsibility Courageous Athletic Truthful
Decisive Makes something from ideas
Tolerant to physical discomfort
Completes tasks
Dedicated Disciplined
Dependable Uses schedule Routine-orientated
Which of the modifiable Character Strengths that you already possess should be further developed (circled above) ?
Choose one and ask yourself: How has this strength served me?
Exactly how could I utilise (or improve) this strength to make more of my circumstances (or improve things for myself or
others)? Write out an actionable example or project. Be specific: What? How? When?
Which of the Modifiable Character Strengths that you underlined do you most aspire to?
Ask yourself: If I dedicated energy to this, how could I achieve it and how might it improve my circumstances/life or help my
family? Write out an actionable example or project. Be specific: What? How? When?
What is another of the underlined Modifiable Character Strengths do you aspire to?
Ask yourself: If I dedicated energy to this, how could I achieve it and how might it improve my circumstances/life or help my
family? Write out an actionable example or project. Be specific: What? How? When?
If you continue as you are and didn't attempt to capitalise on your strengths or acquire new strengths what will your future
probably look like in a year, be specific?
This is inspired by the present authoring task, part of the self-authoring suite, available at selfauthoring.com
You may also benefit from the Big 5 personality testing available at understandmyself.com
