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.

Values are the lens which we use to evaluate the world. They are what sets each of us apart, making everyone a unique person of their own. In order to find themselves, Pathfinders readily explore a plethora of concepts, searching for those that truly resonate with them. They know that if they stay true to the whispers of their heart, the right values will surely emerge. This allows Pathfinders to identify their values with ease while they traverse through the journey of life.

While it is important to search for one's values, some Pathfinders may lose themselves in the process, becoming self-absorbed. Putting their own interests over others, they might selfishly pursue values they like, even if those values do not benefit the world. Such Pathfinders bring nothing to the table, and their relentless search for significance may ironically make them irrelevant to their communities, rendering them “good-for-nothings” in their own right.

At their worst, Pathfinders might end up as extremists. If their passion is left unchecked, it might grow like wildfire, engulfing everything else in their lives. When that happens, they will do anything for the sake of their values, ignoring the consequences of their actions. Some might even go the extra mile, throwing their entire future away just to do the things they love. Pathfinders may think that this fanatical behavior is fine, but it will eventually lead them to their downfall.

In a world where conformity is the norm, Pathfinders are the ones who are unafraid to be the nail that sticks out. They know who they are and what they are worth. To them, life can only be meaningful if one has the courage to embrace their own unique selves. Hence, they will not hesitate to stand their ground and uphold what they believe is right, even if it means going against the crowd. Because at the end of the day, Pathfinders would rather be alone than just another clone.

Having said that, some Pathfinders might focus so much on their individuality, it becomes the only thing they do. When that happens, they begin to think that everything revolves around them, and them alone. Without an ounce of awareness, they are bound to do things that are inconsiderate, even if they didn't mean to. Pathfinders who go down this path are unintentionally inviting displeasure from others; a feeling that will eventually foster resentment.

When Pathfinders take it too far, they might use their individuality as an excuse to do whatever they want. Because of that, they are sure to make mistakes like saying things that are offensive, or doing things that are inappropriate. But when others call them out, some of them might take the easy way out, hiding behind the excuse of "being themselves" instead of apologizing. Pathfinders who do this become the people they dislike the most—irresponsible jerks.

The infinite possibilities of the world invite Pathfinders to discover their way of living life with flair. They pick up various cultures from far and wide, identifying certain practices that strike the right chords in their heart. Although vastly diverse, these ideas coexist within Pathfinders as a colorful palette of personal beliefs. As they practice these beliefs, Pathfinders find that an entirely unique lifestyle awaits them.

Nevertheless, Pathfinders may face difficulties translating their beliefs into concrete action. Donning a pair of rose-tinted glasses, they might possess an inflated sense of optimism towards the realities of life. As such, some of their beliefs are just too impractical, making it unlikely for them to live up to their own expectations. If anything, dwelling in their own fantasy would only lead to stagnation for Pathfinders.

On top of that, some Pathfinders may get too attached to their personal way of life. Even the slightest negative comment about their beliefs can upset them terribly. When feelings overwhelm them, some Pathfinders may become unreasonably stubborn, even towards sound logic. Such behavior is extremely out of place, as it is the complete opposite of their usual open-mindedness. If Pathfinders are too protective of their beliefs, they will only close themselves off to growth.

Thus far, we have explored both the Pathfinder'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 [Pathfinder]