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Background depicting an imagined scenario in the life of a Sage.
NXT PERSONALITY ARCHETYPE
SAGE
NFVB | AUTHENTICITY

Core Motivation

Everyone approaches life differently. Think of chefs in a kitchen: some follow recipes to perfection, while others tweak and experiment to create culinary masterpieces. Some take charge and coordinate every dish, while others craft their own creations alone.

At first glance, this may seem like just different cooking styles, but beneath the surface lie deeper psychological needs. At our core, everything we do is driven by four primal human desires: variety, certainty, belonging, and significance. These forces shape not only our career and social life, but nearly every decision we make.

Motivation is the fuel necessary
to keep the human engine running.

Zig Ziglar

In Personality Ninja, these primal desires are represented through four different Classes. Explorers long for variety while Builders crave for certainty. Leaders yearn for belonging while Evolvers strive for significance. While a person may feel each of these desires to a certain extent, only one will serve as their dominant desire.

At their essence, Sages belong to the Evolver Class, driven by a commitment to personal growth. They are eternal seekers, always striving to reach their highest potential. Specifically, Sages are Evolvers who focus on Authenticity. They aim to live in harmony with their true selves by shaping beliefs that reflect their values.

Sages 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. Sages 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.

While Sages are part of the Evolver Class, they are also supported by the Builder Subclass. When we say Builder, we're not referring to workers of bricks and mortar, but anyone who dedicates themselves to perfecting what is known. Specifically, Sages are Builders who thirst for Insights. They aspire to grasp the world at its core, simplifying the complexities of life into their most fundamental essence.

Authenticity By Building On Insight

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, Sages are Evolvers who build upon their deep insights 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 Sages and discover their unique journey of growth, let us explore the next section where we will analyze the dominant aspects of the Sage archetype.

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Dominant Aspects [Sage]