The Label
Discover Your Label
There seems to be a constant desire to understand one’s own personality or the personalities of those we interact with. The drive to understand what makes each other tick, why we would act in such a way, what motivates us to keep moving through this life has certainly intensified over time. There are no shortages to online quizzes to discover ones personality or the animal that correlates with their personality. There are long form tests that analyze who you are and how you will function in situations or in a job. Job applications even have a place to fill in all your results from personality profiles. We seem to be consumed with the desire to understand one another.
That’s Not Me
I have always struggled with personality test and their results as many times I feel like a part of it is true but so often it can not define me completely. In chapter 9 of Daniel Nettle’s book “Personality” he addresses this struggle. He acknowledges that the 5 major personality dimensions and have infinite variations. “Of course, the five-factor framework allows for a great number of different personality configurations-technically an infinite number, since the scales are continuous.” (235) Nettle discusses the fact that our genetics and the hard wiring of our brain absolutely play a role in our personality but the life experience and decisions we make can also impact how that is lived out and how we present in the world. There is a level of personality that is hard wired and unchangeable that we can take ownership of and then there is the level of personality that is where our decisions and growth can take place, these are the behaviors that we choose to live out in the midst of who we are wired to be.
Which is Better
It seems as though when we take these personality quizzes we are searching for identity, happiness, or even a way to be better than those who are different than us. Nettle says this, “The positive message of this book is that there is no reason to wish one’s basic personality disposition to be anything other than what they are.”(244) The idea that we need to compete in the realm of who we intrinsically are to be better than one another is false. This is a reminder that we are created as unique individuals to live into who we are created to be. Nettle reminds us that “Thus there is no intrinsically better or worse personality profile to have…” (245) He also notes that we are not victims of our personalities but that there is a purpose for us in using the gifts we have been given. “It is rather a question of finding fruitful expressions of the profile we happen to have inherited by capitalizing on the strengths and minimizing the effects of the weaknesses. Viewed in this way the dispositions you have are a resource to be drawn on, not a curse to be wished away.” (245)
Evidence of Our Creator
In our society we seek to label, to classify, to distinguish, to highlight our differences and categorize. Discovering our hardwired personality can lead to this type of behavior unless we look at it through the lens of being created. When we view who we are as uniquely created children of a loving creator, our hardwired personalities are a gift to be stewarded. A creator who “knows the number of hairs on your head” most certainly did not leave to chance the personality that will lead to the choices you make and the way you live out your life. Our deference personalities are not simply a label to fall victim to, but an opportunity to be uniquely you in the world, and to point back to the one who created you by living fully into who you are cerated to be. There is a choice everyday of how you will enter into the world and live fully in each moment. Your personality will guide those choices, so understanding your personality and its strengths and weaknesses will help you to lean more fulling into the choices before you. Your personality does not have to be a label that confines you but and opportunity to celebrate who you are created to be.
1. Nettle, Daniel. Personality: What Makes You the Way You Are. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.
About the Author
Sara Taylor Lattimore
Sara is adopted, a wife of 17 years, a mother to 2 amazing children who give her opportunities to be a cheerleader, dress up like a princess, play soccer in the mud, and go on amazing adventures. With a Bachelors in political science and sociology, Sara worked for Child Protective Services as a legal caseworker before following a call into full-time ministry in 2008. During her time in full-time ministry Sara has served in medium to large size local congregations, as well as camp ministry. Sara has a passion for serving others, writing, and speaking. In 2016 Sara worked on a joint publication as a Curriculum Writer. Sara wrote the Intergenerational/Family & Day Camp Resources in “Beyond Belief” for InsideOut Christian Resources for Outdoor Ministry- Published by Chalice Press- Release Date 2018. Sara is looking forward to writing her own book next. Sara completed her MDiv from Iliff School of Theology in 2019 and is currently working on her Doctorate in Leadership and Global Perspectives from Portland Seminary. Sara currently serves as Lead Pastor of a local church in Southwestern Montana. She has previously served in ministry positions leading congregations in engaging globally in healthy mission and outreach partnerships, living life missionally, building innovative programs, and building relationships as the Director of Missions and Outreach, College Ministry Coordinator, Family and Children’s Ministry Director, Director of Christian Education, and Camp Program Director. She is an innovator and visionary who looks to find empowering and dignity restoring ways of building communities of belonging, while listening and partnering with others to find ways to also address the needs of the communities she is planted in. Beyond her work, Sara dreams of growing her family through adoption, kayaking with Orcas, going on pilgrimage on the Camino De Santiago in Spain, traveling in an RV across North America, and traveling internationally.6 responses to “The Label”
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Sara,
Great ending and synopsis. Well done!
Thanks Greg! Your encouragement is always perfectly timed and meaningful in the midst of trying to do school work and life!
Yes! I like to remind people that labels are information NOT identity. Your post described that perfectly, Sara.
Laura, Thanks for your reminder that labels are not identity. I have been avoiding labels all myeline which is probably why have struggled with the personality test. Our true identity is in the one who created us.
Sara, I love this: “This is a reminder that we are created as unique individuals to live into who we are created to be.” God created each of us uniquely. Psalm 139 is my favorite psalm. The reminder of how He created me, of how deeply and intimately He knows me is so incredible to me. You mentioned that you have struggled with personality quizzes. I confess, I am a chronic quiz taker! I love those personality quizzes. I know they do not define all of me, but they give me glimpses into aspects of myself. How has this book changed your perspective on learning about aspects of your personality?
Becca, great questions. I do take quizzes and try to identify my strengths and weaknesses. I have learned a lot about myself and to value some of this “labels” and quizzes. I think the key is to not solely rely on one but to experiment with divergent ones and then look at how they are similar and pick up on the traits the are similar that seems to be where the authentic personality can be identified.