If humans were computers, our dominant traits would be the operating system that is embedded and hard-coded in our minds. These deeply ingrained behaviors run on autopilot, driving our every action without conscious thought. Like breathing or blinking, we can actively choose to control our actions with enough concentration. However, most of the time, our recurring behaviors seem to be driven by our subconscious, functioning effortlessly and instinctively.

Instinct is a marvelous thing. It can
neither be explained nor ignored.

Agatha Christie

Dominant traits are often mistaken as strengths in most other personality systems. But here in Personality Ninja, we hold a different view. To us, traits are just traits, shaped by the wiring of our cognitive functions. Whether a trait is good or bad largely depends on the way it is used. As such, these traits can either be the source of one's greatest strengths, or the cause of their biggest downfall.

Naturally, we will hone our dominant traits, refining them into our super strengths. However, if we are not careful, there is a chance that we may push our dominant traits into overdrive, manifesting them in very unhealthy ways. In the end, our dominant traits are our natural tendencies and nothing more. The key to harnessing them effectively lies in knowing when, where, and how to use them.

Alchemists are unrivaled when it comes to their ingenuity. Their minds are constantly abuzz with ideas, allowing them to churn out a multitude of original perspectives without breaking a sweat. Being revolutionary thinkers, they never stop coming up with new theories to better grasp the mysteries around them. As a result, Alchemists are often seen as a dynamic creative force, poised to shake up the world.

However, just because something works in the abstract, does not necessarily mean it will work in reality. As ingenious as Alchemists may be, their theories usually fall short when put into practice. This happens because their imagination often neglects the reality of nature, allowing creativity to override the rules that govern the physical world. Thus, their theories may work, but only in the limits of their minds.

A lack of focus leads to a lack of progress. Alchemists see a multitude of possibilities everywhere, and their insatiable curiosity drives them to explore them all. This makes it hard for them to focus on one idea for a prolonged period. As a result, they tend to abandon old ideas as soon as new ones come along. In the end, if Alchemists never commit, all their brilliant ideas will remain just that—ideas, as none of them will ever come close to seeing the light of day.

From extraterrestrial life to theoretical physics, Alchemists are intrigued by anything and everything. They are notorious for diving headfirst into new theories, even those that seem impossible. After all, nothing is too far-fetched as long as its underlying mechanics can be proven. Had Newton not trusted his logical intuition, the laws of gravity would never have been found. As such, Alchemists will always keep an open mind for any passing idea, knowing it might ignite the next big discovery.

Seeing tremendous potential in every concept they encounter, Alchemists are usually reluctant to narrow their focus down to one. Instead, they prefer to keep things open indefinitely to avoid missing out on the many possibilities that may exist. But unbeknownst to them, this approach actually does the exact opposite, shutting Alchemists out of a realm of possibilities that can only be unlocked by focusing their attention on one idea at a time.

If left unchecked, some Alchemists might even fall prey to theories that are absurd. Their openness to possibilities, although good, can easily take a turn for the worse when they buy into ideas that severely lack factual evidence. Such ideas are built upon groundless assumptions and should not be given any credence. Alchemists who fail to realize this are doomed into believing even the most ridiculous of things, which can ultimately harm the credibility of their opinions.

Invisible threads run through everything, weaving a multi-dimensional tapestry that we recognize as the world. However, most people fail to see this intricate network as they are not paying attention. Fortunately, Alchemists are not most people. Wherever they go, they notice how things are intertwined, whether it be between ideas or people. It is their unique ability to do so that enables them to fuse distant concepts into possibilities that are beyond the imaginations of many.

Nonetheless, the ability to link things at lightning speeds is not always a blessing. Connections are constantly zipping through the minds of Alchemists with no end, resulting in a cacophony of thoughts that are messy and often incoherent. Therefore, many Alchemists might find it hard to hold a thought long enough to reach a meaningful conclusion before they are distracted by the next loosely related idea. This makes them rather difficult to follow as they tend to be all over the place.

When taken too far, Alchemists may form connections that are out of touch with reality. They might perceive underlying patterns that do not actually exist, distorting their perception of the world. Some Alchemists might be so convinced with what they are seeing that they disregard all the facts that prove them otherwise. If left unremedied, their words will gradually be taken with a grain of salt, seen by others as nothing more than unfounded and nonsensical ramblings.

The world is a giant library, packed with many things to explore. With a big appetite for learning, Alchemists are constantly burning through a multitude of concepts, enriching their minds with a wealth of knowledge. Their topics of interest spread far and wide, ranging from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Insatiably curious, there is nothing that one can offer to stop Alchemists from the pursuit of knowledge.

That being said, their interests are usually short-lived. Alchemists tend to start off with a burst of enthusiasm, excited to explore every nook and cranny of a concept. But this enthusiasm quickly dwindles to a trickle. Before you know it, they have grown bored and moved on to the next idea that catches their eye. Because of that, Alchemists often have the breadth but not the depth of knowledge as they rarely acquire a complete understanding of the things they know.

As eager as they are to learn, the same cannot be said when it comes to taking action. Alchemists can be hesitant to roll up their sleeves and get to work, finding the amount of planning and effort involved to be unappealing. It is a rather tedious process for them and they don’t see any need to do so. Unfortunately, if Alchemists do not put the effort to change this mindset, they will grow old only to realize that they have done nothing worthwhile with their lives.

To wrap it up, dominant traits are neither our strengths nor are they our weaknesses. They are simply traits we tend to exhibit naturally in our daily lives without much realization.

The biggest reminder here is this: a trait is a trait. It is a unique characteristic of an archetype, each carrying its own pros and cons. With that understanding, let us now venture into the next set of traits that we do more consciously—our supportive traits.

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Supportive Traits [Alchemist]