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.

Individualists are highly reflective people, constantly pondering on their purpose in this world. They wish to know who they are and what they stand for. Thus, they often go into deep contemplations, drifting through memories and emotions that may lead them to a deeper understanding of themselves. Slowly but surely, this process will fortify their identity, allowing Individualists to embody who they truly are.

However, there are times where Individualists are so engrossed in their own thoughts that they become oblivious to everything. Often thinking about themselves, they might not know what is happening beyond their own lives, unaware of what others are thinking. Unless they pull their heads out of their incessant thoughts, Individualists will only grow ignorant as the world silently passes them by.

If Individualists dwell in their minds for too long, they might fall prey to overthinking. Haunted by their past mistakes, they may viciously beat themselves up over what they did wrongly. This negative self-talk only crushes their self-esteem, causing Individualists to second-guess every decision they make. In the end, these unhealthy ruminations will only lead Individualists to a constant state of despair, annihilating any remaining faith they have in themselves.

For Individualists, an interest is more than a hobby, it is a passion. Once they have stumbled upon something they love, they will commit to it till the very end. So much so that they will squeeze every drop of energy out of themselves to perfect their interests. They pay close attention to every little thing, making sure that they have got all aspects refined down to the last detail. By dedicating themselves to their craft, Individualists are sure to reach nothing less than perfection.

But sometimes, Individualists might take perfection to a whole other level. They might spend a good chunk of their time slaving over details that barely make a difference in the big picture. Unbeknownst to them, all that time and energy wasted on insignificant tweaks could be better spent elsewhere. Instead of mindlessly fixing the same details over and over again, they could have channeled their efforts towards meaningful pursuits that would actually enrich their lives.

Things can go out of hand when Individualists hold themselves to unrealistic standards. Unwilling to settle on anything less than perfect, they will fret over every mistake, dooming themselves to an endless spiral of worry and stress. While people praise them for their efforts, Individualists may only see the flaws in their work. If the pressure continues to build, they will eventually crack and collapse, crushed by the immense weight of their own expectations.

It is a chaotic world out there, full of uncertainty and disorder. Despite that, Individualists often manage to stay on top of it all, keeping their lives ticking at a steady pace. They are responsible individuals who stick to habits and routines for a sense of stability. They manage their schedules to make space for what's important to them, often planning well ahead of time. With consistency as the foundation of their lives, Individualists can go about their days with peace of mind.

On the other hand, this stringent lifestyle is as much of a cage as it is a safety net. Living a life of repetition, Individualists who refuse to break out of the cycle will never be exposed to anything new. As such, they are chained to their comfort zones, sheltered from the challenges that would push them to become better. In the end, if Individualists do not take the initiative to expand their bubble, they will remain stuck at where they are forever, stagnant in their growth.

To make matters worse, some Individualists will not change their ways for anything at all. Even a little dent to their precious routine could get them fired up. But when Individualists do the same old things for too long, their minds will turn rigid. Hence, when they are hit by sudden changes, they will lose their balance and fall. Overwhelmed and devastated, these Individualists become paralyzed with shock, unable to pick themselves back up anymore.

Thus far, we have explored both the Individualist'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.

Read next section →
Shadows Within [Individualist]