Aug 12, 20214 min read

A Test You'll Actually Enjoy

Let's face it, taking a test isn't our favorite thing to do... so what test could I be talking about? Read on!

Introduction

Don't worry, this blog post isn't a test. Well. Not technically. It's more of an encouragement to take a test... or multiple tests if you're up for it.

I hope that wasn't a turnoff from this post; after all, I'm only referring to personality tests. So, they're fun tests! (I'll include some links at the bottom of this post if you want to take some at the end!)

Inspiration

A while back, my friend had asked me about my results for multiple personality tests. It was a pretty out-of-context question, so I had been confused at the time. The reason why she was asking, she told me, was so that she could be a better friend by knowing how to love me through my personality.

Wow. I've always loved personality tests; Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, The 4 Animals, Love Languages—any and all personality tests completely fascinate me. However, I'd never thought of the result of a personality tests as a mechanism to love someone better.

Now, you may be thinking: why is she making such a big deal over Buzzfeed tests? This is a valid question, considering those are the ones we hear about most. Actually, the first personality tests I took were on Buzzfeed, which means they were about which celebrity I should date or what type of candy I am based on my favorite Disney characters. While I had fun taking them, the quizzes were either very surface level or extremely improbable (I “matched” with Tom Holland and, let’s face it, that is never going to happen). The ones that my friend and I were referring to are more accurate and personal.

Introducing Me

Allow me to introduce myself in terms of these personality tests. I’m an ENFJ, also known as the Protagonist—natural leader, authentic, altruistic, reliable. I’m a 2, which is known as The Helper or The Giver—relationship-oriented, caring, giving, great communicator, empathetic. I’m a Golden Retriever—encouraging, adaptable, strong team player, good listener. My dominant love language is quality time—intentional, seeking to understand, thoughtful, relational.

What the Heck Does Any of That Mean?

Typing all that out made it sound like a foreign language, but I promise it's not as daunting as they sound. Let's dive in!

First, there's the ENFJ, which comes from the Myers Briggs test. The test asks questions to determine if you're introverted or extraverted, intuitive or observant, feeling or thinking, and judging or prospecting. So an ENFJ is just one of the combinations of these results: extraverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging. The site describes my personality type as "the Protagonist. They feel called to serve a greater purpose in life. Thoughtful and idealistic, these personality types strive to have a positive impact on other people and the world around them. They rarely shy away from an opportunity to do the right thing, even when doing so is far from easy." When I first read this, I felt completely called out—it's so accurate!

Next, I threw in a random number, which is from the Enneagram test. This test runs on the theory that there are 9 different personality types that people can be categorized as based on their motivations. I am a 2 wing 3, meaning I'm a two who carries quite a bit of 3 traits. Type two personalities fall under the "heart type" category, meaning they depend on emotional intelligence to navigate life. Specifically, "the 2w3 type tend to be strong communicators and focus on building deep relationships." Once again, I agree!

This next test assigns personalities among four animals: lion, Golden Retriever, otter, and beaver. I'm a Golden Retriever, which I think is adorable. The snippet from the website's description of this personality that resonated with me most was: "they’re naturally kindhearted and love helping, serving and looking for ways to come alongside others, particularly if they’re around people who are hurting." Yup. Three for three tests on accuracy!

The last result that I listed is the more common test out of these: finding out your love language. The premise of this test is centered around the idea that different personalities give and receive love differently. While everyone has and needs all these love languages, my dominant one is quality time. Essentially, I thrive when I spend undistracted time with the ones I love. I'm sure this isn't a surprise, but this is also accurate!

Important Reminder

Although the tests highlight my desire for connection and my caring spirit, they only touch on a small part of me; in my opinion, the best part of the test is that they don’t define the person taking them. There’s a beautiful mystery in the idea that there’s still more of me to reveal, more of me to know.

This leads me to the important reminder: I am not encompassed nor defined by the result of a personality test.

HOWEVER—these tests really can serve as a mechanism to love people (including yourself!!) better. By knowing I identify with the Protagonist, I can push myself to find opportunities to pour altruism and hope into the world. By knowing I'm a two, I can understand that I lead with my heart and be aware of how my feelings are impacting my life. By knowing I'm a Golden Retriever, I can make sure to spend time in community with others so that I can be a team player. By knowing my love language is quality time, I can tell my loved ones what I need so that I can be in fulfilling and healthy relation with them, as well as take time for myself. It is SO important to take time to know myself so that I can practice self love and know what I need.

The same can be said for knowing those around you better. By knowing what your loved ones need based on their personalities, you can love them better. If they speak the gift giving/receiving love language, then give them tokens of your appreciation; if they're introverted, make sure they're taking time for themselves.

These are opportunities to love better—and what an opportunity that is.