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.

The meaning of life is central to an Oracle's musings. Every now and then, their souls might be illuminated by flashes of epiphany, shedding light on life's ultimate question. After all, it is their nature to understand existence by examining their place in the world. Gaining profound insights and inspiring realizations, Oracles are guided to cultivate a better way of being—one filled with a noble purpose.

However, by dwelling in their thoughts, Oracles may end up with distorted insights. This happens because they tend to overlook facts and data, leading to realizations that are often untethered from reality. Without concrete proof to support their perspectives, their ideas will have no legs to stand on, making them figments of their imagination. If left unchecked, Oracles may ultimately have nothing to show, despite spending their whole lives reflecting on the meaning of life.

Truth be told, there is no ultimate answer to existence. No amount of insight, however perceptive they may be, can help Oracles uncover the significance of their lives. If they overthink their place in the infinite span of the universe, they might ironically find themselves trapped in the tiny boundaries of their minds, giving rise to needless anxiety. This often marks the beginning of a downward spiral, one that will drag Oracles down to the deepest pits of their soul.

Oracles are all about the big picture. Before venturing into anything, they would first like to know the aim of it. Better yet, they create their own unique purpose. To them, there is little point in doing anything if not for a meaningful goal, such as developing one's virtues. As such, to lead a life worth living, Oracles craft their life visions with much consideration, ensuring that they are living purposefully.

But despite their best efforts, the world often has a way of throwing a wrench in their plans. Oracles may struggle to carry out what they have in mind, because things are usually much more complicated in reality. When faced with unexpected obstacles, many Oracles retreat to their drawing board to craft out a better plan. However, even with the best planning, circumstances will always change, leading Oracles to an endless cycle of designing and redesigning.

Taken to the extreme, Oracles may fall prey to the delusion of their vision. Believing that their approach is the only way of life, they might gain a warped perception towards reality, cherry-picking and inflating facts that suit their narrative of existence. They may also become overly fixated, clinging tightly onto their bogus and baseless claims. In this state of mind, Oracles will slowly slip through the fingers of reality, losing themselves in the lies of their own fantasy.

Only a few possess the wisdom to simplify life's complexities. Be it questions of moral ethics or political philosophy, Oracles can elegantly distill these problems down to their fundamental core. Within the chaos of an issue, they instinctively see the common thread that runs through its many different parts, identifying the essentials and untangling the mess. In other words, Oracles know how to peel off the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.

Unfortunately, it would be too idealistic to believe that all complex ideas can be simplified into a digestible concept. Instead of boiling issues down to their core, Oracles might be dumbing them down carelessly, missing the factual subtleties that make a problem unique. Truth is, no matter how simple Oracles may want life to be, they are only blinding themselves from the chaotic truth.

In forcing the world to fit squarely into simple concepts, Oracles may end up distorting the truth. For the sake of simplicity, they might misrepresent matters sloppily, rather than appreciating the nuances of an issue. Unbeknownst to them, they are merely taking the easy way out, rather than tackling the problem part by part. By having a biased and extreme worldview, Oracles might only be adding on to the mess that they so desire to untangle.

Insights leap into the minds of Oracles when they least expect it. Moreover, these realizations might breeze through their heads if not captured in time. Hence, Oracles understand the importance of being mindful, and will usually pause to ruminate on the epiphanies that are passing through. Doing so turns ordinary perspectives into meaningful lessons, aiding Oracles in refining their purpose and priorities in life.

But if done too often, Oracles would only be stuck in their dreams, disconnected from the rapid pace of the world outside. Oblivious to the urgency of certain situations, they don't realize how they might be hindering the progress of others by keeping to themselves. Even if they manage to keep up, the chaos of reality might drain them quickly. Simply put, no amount of insightful musings can prepare Oracles for the practical challenges of the real world.

Unfortunately, an extended stay in their own minds can often draw Oracles deeper into the abyss. If that happens, negative thoughts will quickly engulf them like a plague of locusts, overwhelming them with a feeling of pessimism. If the negativity continues to build up, they might even perceive minor issues as apocalyptic disasters that are impossible to escape from. This mindset corrupts their hope for the future, pushing Oracles into a deep depression.

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 [Oracle]