Personality Tests Are for Suckers—It Me. I'm a Sucker.

 The internet is so full of contradicting personality tests, that it's really impossible to accurately summarize your personality in just one test. Not to mention that a lot of the tests are absolute trash, so you probably wouldn't want to trust your life definition on those ones, either. I'll include links to the various tests I've taken so you can take them yourselves.

For example, the color test? Horrible! Boiling down all the nuances of personality into four groups is a recipe for disaster. Plus, it only focuses on the worst parts of each personality type and offers no solutions to the short comings. I don't think anyone feels really good about their results. I'm a "red" which arguably gets the most flack. Don't love that.

I purposefully found the worst picture I could because I hate this test so much.

The Myers-Briggs test is one of my personal favorites, because you can get a pretty in-depth look into the distinct personalities. They cover all the good and all the bad, with suggestions on how to improve the bad and maximize the good. (I'm an ENFJ with a little ENFP, if you're curious.)

I also have a major love-hate relationship with the Enneagram test (meaning I hated it when I first took it, and now I'm obsessed). I hadn't heard much about this test until a friend insisted I take it, but there are 9 "types" each with varying motivations. I would say that this test leans a little bit more towards the bad, but honestly I'm pretty sure it's just the type I got. Unfortunately, I would say it's pretty accurate. The thing is, you can find a lot of really great information on the internet about what it looks like to be the balanced version of your type and how to get there. I ended up following a few accounts on Instagram about my type, and I've actually found it to be pretty helpful. It's been very reassuring to understand what motivates me. I'm a Type 3.

Emphasis on the "workaholic," ask my friends.

And if we really want to get into it, the Sorting Hat quiz. I am a sucker for a good sorting hat quiz and insist on taking every single test that pops up on Buzzfeed. At this point, it's really only to test how accurate the quiz is, because I'm 100% a Slytherin. Again, definitely one of the personalities that gets the most flack, but I've accepted it, embraced it, and leaned into it. 

Woof, this is a dramatic picture, but that's kind of the point, right?

Like I said, I am a sucker for a personality test. I want to understand the nuances of my mind, and I think the better we understand ourselves, the better control we have of our choices and outcomes in our lives. I also love figuring out what my friends test as on the various quizzes I make them take, because it actually is a great way to be vulnerable and, again, find out more about why they do the things they do.

The thing is, personality tests should never be used as an excuse for your behavior. If you're not careful, it can become a box by which you limit yourself. On the other hand, understanding your personality from a variety of viewpoints (i.e. various personality tests) can give you a clear path forward to a balanced, happy life.

I highly recommend exploring some of these tests, especially the Enneagram and the Myers-Briggs (except the color test, because it's trash). Tell me about what you've learned about your personality in the comments!