Supportive traits are like great personal assistants that help us navigate through life’s challenges more smoothly. From handling day-to-day responsibilities to tackling complex issues, we often and consciously rely on these trusted aides—our supportive traits—knowing that they are capable and reliable at what they do. Ultimately, living in the absence of our supportive traits is akin to losing both our arms; we would struggle tremendously to function without them.

Your habits shape your identity,
and your identity shapes your habits.

James Clear

As our supportive traits come naturally to us, we tend to employ them effortlessly, as if we are writing and drawing with our dominant hand. Therefore, we often take our supportive traits for granted, not realizing how valuable they are to someone of a different archetype. If left unchecked, we might even run the risk of overusing them, preventing other parts of ourselves from flourishing.

Like our dominant traits, our supportive traits are simply facets of our personalities. Whether they are strengths or weaknesses is entirely dependent on the way we utilize them. If we cultivate and develop our supportive traits well, they can become valuable additions to our toolbox of super strengths. However, if we use them in an unhealthy manner, the same traits will ultimately lead to our undoing.

Like seasoning in a dish, Ignitors are often the ones who spice things up in a discussion, giving flavor to even the blandest of topics. There is never a dull moment when they are around as they never fail to bring interesting perspectives to the table. When there is a problem at hand, they enjoy churning out a variety of solutions by probing others for their opinions. Because of that, Ignitors encourage healthy and productive discussions where ideas can thrive.

Unfortunately, they aren't always the best when it comes to keeping a discussion on track—they tend to be the exact opposite. More often than not, as Ignitors are exchanging ideas on a topic, they might unknowingly drift off into subjects that are completely irrelevant. By getting carried away, they can turn productive discussions into chit-chat sessions, distracted by other topics that are more intriguing to them.

Driven by interactions, Ignitors tend to get increasingly energized as discussions progress. However, the continuous back and forth of ideas fuels not just their excitement, but also their imagination. If not kept in check, some Ignitors might go overboard at the height of a discussion, letting their creativity run absolutely wild. When that happens, they might let loose a barrage of ideas that are absolutely nonsensical, derailing the discussion completely.

For Ignitors, there is no mountain too high and no valley too deep to conquer. Geared with an innovative way of thinking and a knack for leadership, they can easily mobilize others to do the impossible. Being revolutionary thinkers, they have no desire to follow conventional methods. Hence, when Ignitors are at the helm, they are sure to drive progress, leading the world to the next frontier.

However, efficiency is not the only ingredient needed for success. Compassion must be a part of the mix. Ignitors who are not aware of this might end up pushing others to the breaking point, believing that a tough approach will produce better results. They don't realize that many aren't able to keep up with such a grueling pace. Under this mounting pressure, their groups will eventually crack, sending everything they have worked on to a thundering crash.

At their worst, Ignitors may become fixated on one single thing: results. They demand nothing but the best from others and can be hostile toward those who fail to do so. Like a sharp knife, Ignitors might throw out criticisms that cut deep. Yet, they expect people to deal with it stoically, showing zero patience for any emotions. In the end, Ignitors might achieve their desired results, but at what cost?

There are no problems too formidable for Ignitors. When faced with troubles, they always have tricks up their sleeves; quick fixes to tackle life's many challenges. Naturally innovative thinkers, they possess an arsenal of clever solutions which allow them to take on various kinds of issues. As such, regardless of how tough a situation may be, one can always rely on Ignitors to offer them creative and helpful ways out.

Despite their best efforts to come up with quick solutions, intricate issues will require more than simple remedies. That said, Ignitors often give proposals that do not address the core of the issue. Although they can think fast, their failure to think deep prevents them from grasping the crucial complexities of a matter. This hastiness will ultimately lead to ineffective solutions, extinguishing any progress previously made.

Additionally, Ignitors will give a multitude of reasons to justify their shallow solutions. Although these reasons may seem logical at first glance, they are actually a mess of contradictions. Ignitors might offer too many conflicting reasons all the time, neglecting the need to be consistent. When quantity is confused with quality, their arguments are at risk of collapsing the moment it is subjected to thorough scrutiny.

Thus far, we have explored both the Ignitor's dominant and supportive traits. In our jargon, these traits are known as one's heroic traits. Think about it, don't we all look like heroes when we put these traits to use? Not just wannabe heroes, but real ones—those who are truly powerful yet unimpressed with their own abilities.

Superhuman strength and the ability to fly are awesome superpowers that we all wished we had. But Superman doesn't pride himself in any of those abilities. To him, using those powers to save the world is just another day on the job. Similarly, even though we are great at our dominant and supportive traits, we do not find them the least bit amazing. From our perspective, there is nothing special about these mundane things that we do every day.

That said, as heroic as our traits may seem, no hero in the world is perfect. Even the most powerful heroes, such as Naruto, Thor, or Wonder Woman, have their own flaws and weaknesses. However, that does not invalidate them as heroes; it only makes them all the more admirable. The same goes for our own heroic traits. They may not be perfect, but our strive to improve them is what sets us apart.

I am not a hero. I just did what any
decent person would have done.

Miep Gies

When our heroic traits bask in the light, they will inevitably cast shadows—traits that we tend to neglect. Our shadows are foreign to us, as they are the complete opposite of our natural traits. Because we fear what we don't understand, most of us will subconsciously push away or suppress these parts of ourselves. Unfortunately, if we allow the fear of failure to overpower our minds, these suppressed shadows will eventually swallow us whole.

Nevertheless, shadows are not our weaknesses. They are simply parts of ourselves that we are unfamiliar with, and therefore, would rather avoid. But if we harness our shadows, they will eventually become our hidden strengths. It may be daunting at first to explore these dark and unknown parts of ourselves. However, with a curious mind and a compassionate heart, there's nothing to be afraid of. With that said, let us venture deep into the shadows within us.

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Shadows Within [Ignitor]