Recognizing Your Traits – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Life became much easier for me when I learned what my natural traits are. This gave me the opportunity to accept the traits I like and to get rid of the traits that were not working for me. I was able to make a much better life for myself. And you can too.

What are your traits?

Recognizing your character traits is an essential part of self-awareness. It involves acknowledging your core values, strengths, weaknesses, and flaws. Understanding your traits can help you develop a better sense of self and improve your relationships with others. In this article, we will explore the importance of recognizing your traits, the benefits of doing so, and how to identify your traits. By doing so you will make a positive impact on your life and the lives of those nearest you.

Strengths & weaknesses

Recognizing your traits can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. By acknowledging your strengths, you can build on them and use them to your advantage. Knowing your weaknesses can help you work on them and improve yourself. It can also help you avoid situations where your weaknesses may be exposed.

Relationships

A positive side to knowing your traits can improve your relationships with others. When you understand your traits, you can communicate them to others more effectively. This can help you build stronger connections with people and avoid misunderstandings. It can also help you understand and appreciate the traits of others.

Honesty

Identifying your traits can be challenging. It requires self-reflection and honesty. However, the benefits of recognizing your traits are significant. It can help you become more self-aware, improve your relationships, and become a better version of yourself.

Let’s explore how to identify your traits and the different types of traits you may possess.

Understanding Personality Traits

When it comes to understanding your personality, there are a few different models and theories that can help you gain insight into your traits. Here are three popular models to consider:

The Big Five

The Big Five personality assessments, also known as the Five Factor Model, are a widely accepted framework for understanding personality. The five traits are:

Openness

Your level of creativity, curiosity, and imagination.

Conscientiousness

Your degree of organization, responsibility, and dependability.

Extraversion

Your level of sociability, assertiveness, and energy.

Agreeableness

Your degree of kindness, empathy, and cooperation.

Neuroticism

Your level of emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness.

Ocean Model

The OCEAN model is an acronym for Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. It is very similar to the Big Five model, but with a different name. It is a widely used model in psychology and can help you understand your personality traits.

Pen Model

The PEN model is an acronym for Psychoticism, Extraversion, and Neuroticism. This model is less well-known than the Big Five or OCEAN models, but it can still be useful for understanding your personality. The three traits are:

Psychoticism

Your degree of aggression, impulsiveness, and creativity.

Extraversion

Your level of sociability, assertiveness, and energy.

Neuroticism

Your level of emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness.

By assessing your level of each of these traits, you can gain a better understanding of your personality and how it may impact your behavior and relationships.

Overall, understanding your personality traits can help you make better decisions, improve your relationships, and live a happier life.

Recognizing Positive Traits

When it comes to recognizing your positive traits, it is important to take an honest and objective look at yourself. This can be a difficult task, as it can be easy to overlook the good qualities that you possess. However, acknowledging these positive traits can help you to build self-confidence and improve your overall well-being. The following is a list of positive traits that you may possess.

Openness

Openness is a trait that is characterized by a willingness to try new things and embrace new experiences. If you are open-minded, you are likely to be curious and adventurous, and you may enjoy exploring new ideas and perspectives. People who are open tend to be creative and imaginative, and they are often able to see things from multiple viewpoints. Being open can help you to grow and learn, and it can lead to greater happiness and fulfillment in life.

Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness is a trait that is characterized by a strong sense of responsibility and a commitment to doing things well. If you are conscientious, you are likely to be organized and dependable, and you may have a strong work ethic. People who are conscientious tend to be reliable and trustworthy, and they are often able to achieve success in their personal and professional lives. Being conscientious can help you to achieve your goals and build a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Honesty

Honesty is a trait that is characterized by a commitment to telling the truth and being sincere. If you are honest, you are likely to be straightforward and direct, and you may have a strong sense of integrity. People who are honest tend to be respected and trusted by others, and they are often able to build strong relationships. Being honest can help you to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings, and it can lead to greater trust and cooperation in your personal and professional life.

Recognizing and acknowledging your positive traits can help you to build self-confidence and improve your overall well-being. By focusing on your strengths and virtues, you can develop a more positive outlook on life and achieve greater success and happiness.

Identifying Negative Traits

It’s important to recognize and acknowledge your negative personality traits to work on them and become a better version of yourself. Negative traits can be harmful to yourself and those around you. Here are some common negative traits and how to identify them.

Antisocial

Antisocial behavior is characterized by a disregard for the rights of others and a lack of empathy. It can manifest as a tendency to isolate oneself, disregard for social norms, and a lack of interest in socializing. If you find yourself avoiding social situations, not caring about others’ feelings, or breaking the law, you may have antisocial traits.

Machiavellian

Machiavellianism is a personality trait characterized by manipulation and exploitation of others for personal gain. It can manifest as a tendency to deceive, exploit, and manipulate others to achieve one’s own goals. If you find yourself using people for your own gain, lying, or manipulating situations to your advantage, you may have Machiavellian traits.

Narcissism

Narcissism is a personality trait characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy. It can manifest as a tendency to exaggerate one’s achievements, a sense of entitlement, and a lack of concern for others’ feelings. If you find yourself constantly seeking attention, exaggerating your accomplishments, or disregarding others’ feelings, you may have narcissistic traits.

Identifying negative traits is the first step towards self-improvement. By recognizing these traits, you can work on them and become a better person. Remember, it’s important to be honest with yourself, identify your negative qualities and seek help if needed.

The Role of Behavior and Attitude

Your behavior and attitude play a significant role in recognizing your traits. They are closely linked and can affect your communication, decision-making, and leadership skills. Next we will explore the importance of behavior and attitude and how they impact these essential areas.

Communication

Effective communication is crucial in both personal and professional relationships. This can be the difference between effective leadership and being a bad leader. Your behavior and attitude can significantly impact how you communicate with others.

If you have a positive attitude and exhibit good behavior, you are more likely to have clear and effective communication with those around you and therefore be a good leader. Good leadership is contingent upon good communication skills.

On the other hand, negative behavior and attitude can lead to misunderstandings and conflict. For example, if you have a bad attitude and are dismissive of others’ opinions, you may not be receptive to their ideas. This can lead to poor communication and a breakdown in relationships.

Decision-Making

Your behavior and attitude can also impact your decision-making abilities. If you have a positive attitude and exhibit good behavior, you are more likely to make informed and rational decisions. You will also be more open to considering different perspectives and ideas, which can lead to better decision-making.

Negative behavior and attitude, on the other hand, can lead to impulsive and irrational decision-making. For example, if you have a bad attitude and are dismissive of others’ opinions, you may not consider all the available options before making a decision.  Negative attributes can lead to poor outcomes and negative consequences.

Leadership role

Leadership is another area where your behavior and attitude can have a significant impact. If you have a positive attitude and exhibit good behavior, you are more likely to be an effective leader. You will inspire and motivate those around you, and your team will be more productive and successful.

Negative behavior and attitude can lead to poor leadership. For example, if you have a bad attitude and are dismissive of others’ opinions, you may not be able to inspire and motivate your team. A poor leader may be responsible for a lack of productivity and poor performance record.

We’ve all seen this at work. How does it make you feel when the boss constantly ignores your great ideas and the ideas of other staff members? I am inclined to think this does not foster harmony in the workplace.

Your behavior and attitude are essential factors in recognizing your traits. They can impact your communication, decision-making, and leadership skills. By exhibiting positive behavior and attitude, you can improve these areas and become a more effective and successful individual.

Positive change

Recognizing your traits is an essential step to personal growth and development. By identifying your strengths and weaknesses, you can better understand yourself and make positive changes in your life leading to greater life satisfaction.

Accepting flaws is an option

Remember, it’s okay to have flaws. Nobody is perfect, and accepting your imperfections is a sign of strength. Instead of dwelling on your weaknesses, focus on improving them. Set realistic goals and work towards them consistently.

I am extremely impatient. I have an opportunity to practice improving my level of patience every time I get behind the wheel in my car.

Excellence

On the other hand see the bigger picture, don’t forget to acknowledge your strengths and celebrate your successes. Recognizing your accomplishments can boost your self-confidence and motivate you to continue striving for excellence.

Traits change!

It’s also important to keep in mind that your personal traits can change over time. As you gain new experiences and face different challenges, you may discover new strengths and weaknesses. Embrace these changes and continue to learn and grow to reach your full potential.

Overall, recognizing your traits is a lifelong journey. It requires self-reflection, honesty, and a willingness to change. By taking the time to understand yourself, you can live a more fulfilling and authentic life. 

I hope like me you will find life to be a much easier journey when you learn how to discern the traits you wish to keep and those traits you want to get rid of.

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Marj Bates is a life long ridiculously organized declutter-er and artist. Less is more are words Marj lives by in everything she does except collecting dogs. “Dogs are like potato chips! Can’t have just one.” says Marj. Marj wonders if growing up with a fanatically clean Jewish mom means her decluttering and organizational skills are in her blood.

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