Building on Familiarity
Core Motivation
As humans, we need food, water, and air to stay alive. But as we all know, it is not enough to merely survive. To truly live, we need to fulfill the innate desires that give our lives meaning. Generally, these desires can be broadly categorized into four different types of primal human desires: variety, certainty, belonging, and significance.
Motivation is the fuel necessary
to keep the human engine running.
Zig Ziglar
In Personality Ninja, these desires are embodied into four distinct Classes. Explorers crave for variety while Builders long for certainty. Leaders yearn for belonging while Evolvers strive for significance. Although we may experience all these desires at different moments of our lives, only one will stand out as our dominant desire, influencing our every thought and action throughout our lives.
At its core, Individualists are of the Evolver Class, striving to become the best version of themselves. Evolvers are those who prioritize their own personal development, always pushing themselves to grow as a person. More specifically, Individualists are Evolvers who seek for Authenticity. They want to cultivate meaningful beliefs, ones that align with their values and resonate with them deeply.
Individualists as Evolvers
Evolvers believe that to be content in life, one needs to stay true to themselves. As unique individuals, Evolvers follow their inner voice, searching intently for their true identity amidst their lifelong journey of growth. If a cause aligns with their beliefs, they would not hesitate to dedicate their entire life to that cause. To put it simply, Evolvers are willing to strive for their individual purpose, no matter the cost.
Make the most of yourself,
for that is all there is of you.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Success has many definitions, but to Evolvers, it is significance. Individualists as Evolvers commit themselves to a life of purpose, one which gives them meaning and direction. They know that life is a matter of choices, and it is the decisions they make that determine who they are. Therefore, Evolvers are always evaluating, refining, and realigning their beliefs and purpose to their cause.
Evolvers despise those who impose their beliefs onto others. To them, such an action is not only offensive, but a clear violation of one's personal boundaries. They believe that society should be respectful of people’s choices, even if they disagree. Therefore, Evolvers will never force their opinions onto others, as they recognize the right of every individual to reflect, consider, and decide on their own.
Ultimately, evolution is what separates a life with purpose from a life without. That is why Evolvers are known to be firmly committed to the road of self-improvement. They stay true to their path, knowing that persistence will eventually lead them to a deeper level of being. To Evolvers, there is nothing more important than personal growth. After all, the only way to change the world is to change themselves first.
Beyond that, Individualists are of the Evolver Class that is supported by the Builder Subclass. When we say Builders, we don't mean those who do construction work, but those who prioritize the perfection of what's known. More specifically, Individualists are Builders who seek Familiarity. They want to familiarize themselves with what they've done before, building upon their experiences rather than starting anew.
Authenticity By Building On Familiarity
Even the sturdiest skyscraper will topple without a solid foundation. Similarly, a good life will crumble in the absence of stability. Because of that, Builders strive to create a life of order where everything is set in place. Once they commit to something, they will see it through to the end, plunging deep into the life they have chosen for themselves. As dedicated individuals, Builders tend to be the masters of their fields, refining their knowledge down to profound depths.
With a plethora of choices available, Builders carefully narrow them down, selecting only the ones that offer the highest level of certainty. They are focused on their commitments, never letting distractions get in the way of their endeavors. Even in the midst of adversity, Builders will persist on their chosen paths, as those who do are often the ones who succeed. Although their efforts may seem insignificant at first, given enough time, they will eventually amount to great heights.
Failing to plan, is planning to fail.
Builders dislike chaos, and all the uncertainty that comes with it. Thus, they are repelled by those who rush into situations just to improvise, finding it reckless and impulsive. Without order, the world could spiral into disarray. This looming possibility of disorder causes Builders to worry unnecessarily, leaving them with a constant need to stay on guard. For this reason, they seek to maintain structure in their lives, ensuring that everything around them is always within their control.
In the end, commitment is what separates those who succeed from those who don't. Builders see life as a towering mountain, with its peak marking the ultimate goal. No matter how challenging the climb may be, Builders persevere, knowing that the rewards of reaching the top will make all their struggles worthwhile. As such, Builders never give up, aware that the everything they build will end up building them too.
All in all, Individualists are Evolvers who build upon their personal experiences to discover who they truly are. Based on their core motivation, each specific archetype possesses a distinct set of traits, giving birth to their own unique strengths and weaknesses.
Nevertheless, the themes covered thus far are merely the tip of the iceberg. To understand more about Individualists and discover their unique journey of growth, let us explore the next section where we will analyze the dominant aspects of the Individualist archetype.
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Dominant Aspects [Individualist]