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Myers-Briggs
Toward Self-Awareness
Questions for self-exploration that can yield practical benefit.
Posted January 27, 2020 Reviewed by Lybi Ma
For most people, self-awareness is important, not just in making big decisions like what career to pursue, whom to get involved with, and what to donate to, but to improve the countless little decisions we make. Besides, it feels good to go through life with a clear self-concept.
Will 'tests" help?
Psychometrists agree that the reliability and validity of the widely used Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are weak. Some go as far as asserting that the Myers-Briggs isn’t much more valid than a horoscope. Even more valid instruments such as the Strong Interest Inventory are a full step from reality: They try to fit you into boxes based on questions you’re answering in the abstract and in isolation from context.
My clients have found self-report of their core abilities and current interests and values to be more helpful in deriving their self-concept and, in turn, in providing useful guidance on how to proceed in the world. The following are examples.
Your pleasurable successes
As in horse racing, the best predictor of your future is your track record. Of course, you’re not necessarily consigned to what you've done in the past, but your past isn’t a bad place to start in identifying your core self.
Start by making a list of the few projects, perhaps three to seven, from childhood to today, that turned out well and in which you enjoyed the process. Any common threads?
Also consider what you’ve been praised for, in words but perhaps also with money. For example, someone who has paid you for your creative work can be a more valid data point than, for example, a family member's.
Your core abilities
Rate yourself excellent, good, fair, or poor in how good you are at these core abilities as well as much you enjoy using them.
Explanation
Sensitivity to people’s feelings
Working with quantitative data
Working with qualitative data, for example, articles, books
Designing things
Repairing things
Entrepreneurialism—not just coming up with an idea but seeing it through to success.
An unusual ability (specify): For example, the ability to stay calm under pressure.
Your values
Values is another component of self. Rate yourself on these continua, both where you are and where you’d like to be. It’s hard to be honest with yourself about these but try.
Altruistic --> Selfish
Competitive --> Collaborative
Materialistic/Status-driven --> Minimalist
Cause-driven --> Self- and/or family-driven
Mining your interiority
We all have thoughts that pop into our heads throughout the day, even before we get out of bed. They can be revealing of your essence. Log all your thoughts for an hour or three.
Another approach to mining your interiority is to answer these questions, perhaps in writing:
These days, what are you thinking about?
What are you looking forward to?
Tell your life story in a few minutes.
Tell a story about yourself, whether true or fantasy, perhaps one that projects into the future.
What’s been your happiest and saddest moments?
What do you most hope for?
What makes you angry?
If you didn’t care what anyone thought, what would you do?
What do you give a damn about?
What do you want, what do you really want?
I hope that answering these questions can improve your self-awareness and, in turn, your decision-making.
