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.

Luminaries are like fireflies, bringing light to darkness with flashes of insights. As they ponder on life's biggest mysteries, they are often presented with awe-inspiring realizations. These revelations often provide Luminaries with great wisdom as they strive to make this world a better place. With a deep understanding of the world, Luminaries are inspiring individuals that act as a beacon of light for others.

Unfortunately, their insights are like the air that surrounds us: felt but not seen. Although Luminaries are able to come up with life-changing insights, they often struggle to provide the necessary facts to fill up the gaps within their perspectives. Without concrete evidence, their ideas remain nothing more than mesmerizing figments of their imagination. At the end of the day, an insight must be supported by unshakeable pillars of facts to truly inspire change.

At times, Luminaries may seem rather disconnected from reality. As they are always trying to understand mysteries of the cosmos, they tend to spend too much time in their heads, not realizing what is happening right in front of them. Some Luminaries may even lose their grip on the tangible world, struggling to distinguish between dreams and reality. If Luminaries continue to dwell in the abstract, they may find themselves trapped in an endless chasm of delusion.

For many Luminaries, there is no greater vision than to cultivate a progressive world where humanity thrives as one. They move through life with this mission in mind, using it as a compass to guide their way forward. Above all, they believe that life would be completely devoid of meaning in the absence of a unifying vision. Driven by this purpose, Luminaries do their best to act as an unwavering force for the people, guiding them towards a better future.

However, reality does not always align with the ideal. The arbitrary changes of life can often disrupt the visions that Luminaries have for humanity. Faced with perpetual uncertainty, they may grow increasingly frustrated, desperately clinging onto what they have envisioned. Sadly, doing so will only make matters worse. In a world where change is the only constant, Luminaries must adapt to shifting circumstances, lest they become stuck in a fool's errand.

Worse yet, some Luminaries may be led astray by their subjective visions, causing them to have a distorted idea of the world. They might view their visions as the ultimate pursuit in life even if they are clearly unrealistic. In some cases, Luminaries may even refuse to hear out any opinion that challenges the practicality of their visions. This kind of selective thinking is dangerous, as it might lead them to embrace extremely misguided goals, skewing their perception of reality.

While knowledge is the process of finding facts, wisdom lies in simplifying them. In that sense, Luminaries are often regarded as wise individuals. When they come across a subject, they will sift through the mess of information, honing in on key concepts to extract a golden nugget of insight. By shedding light on the core of an idea, Luminaries remove the clutter to reveal the jewel within, showing everyone the beauty and depth of any given subject.

However, not everything in the world can be simplified into a single insight. When Luminaries boil complex ideas down to their core, nuances and details might be lost in the process, completely changing the meaning of an idea. This happens when they attempt to dumb down already simplified concepts. In the end, Luminaries have to realize that there are limits when it comes to simplification.

On top of that, since Luminaries often begin their inquiry with a conclusion in mind, they risk developing a biased outlook, collecting only information that aligns with their narrative. At times, they might even warp observations and misrepresent facts just so that everything fits neatly into their understanding of the world. By clinging stubbornly to their perspectives to avoid being wrong, Luminaries may only end up imprisoning themselves in the cage of their own illusions.

For Luminaries, a collective purpose is the heart and soul of any thriving community. As long as everyone is united behind a common vision, anything is possible. Thus, whether it is through their words or actions, Luminaries strive to band people together with shared ideals, pushing various communities towards a single yet powerful aspiration. With that in mind, one can rest assured knowing that Luminaries will always be there to guide others towards the right path.

That said, their firm convictions are known to lead to rigidness and inflexibility. Once Luminaries are invested in a vision, they often find it hard to change their minds. Even when the surrounding situation and context have shifted significantly, they may still insist on carrying out their plans. If Luminaries continue to walk in the same direction even though the bearings have changed, they may wind up lost, far from where they expected to be.

At their worst, Luminaries may become control freaks in the pursuit of their vision. If people aren’t able to keep up with the pace, Luminaries might tighten their grip around them to make sure they stay in line. With a crystal-clear image of what they want to create, they may hover over their team, making sure that everything is being done exactly as envisioned. If Luminaries continue to control others excessively, they risk hurting and alienating those they care for.

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.

Read next section →
Supportive Traits [Luminary]