Hi Jason,
In regard to your question about being an I or an E, ask yourself the following questions: 1. What energizes me most – interacting with other people or being by myself? 2. Would I rather work on several projects at the same time or focus my attention on one task at a time? 3. Am I more comfortable acting first, then thinking about it or thinking things through before I act on them?
I’m sorry to hear that you were laid off. Although I know it’s a difficult transition, I’ve heard Dan Miller refer to being laid off as being given the grace of interruption. So maybe this was a gift to prompt you into taking action on a better career for yourself.
Yes, let’s connect through 48days.net. Feel free to join my group Unlock Your Passion. We’d love to have you.

I’ve heard of the Enneagram, but I’m not very familiar with it. Yes, those messages we received or didn’t receive certainly have a part in shaping us.

I will check it out. Are you familiar with the Enneagram? This is another test I like to refer to because it helps to explain deeper elements such as childhood wounds that we may have received or messages we did or did not hear growing up that also shaped who we are now. 

Yes, Alana we so often feel like our strengths are “nothing special” when they are often quite unique and notable. That’s great you’ve taken DISC. I really like that instrument. If you enjoy personality assessments I highly recommend the Myers Briggs. I find it to be a little more in depth as compared to DISC.

First, I would say that personality assessments are merely tools to try and reflect who we really are. You are the expert on you, so just because an assessment says one thing doesn’t mean it is an accurate reflection.
So how do you know who the “real” you is? You have to pay attention to yourself. What do you do when you get to organize your schedule for the day? Maybe a weekend or a vacation when you were in control of what you did and how you spent your time.
What kinds of things do you find yourself doing, thinking, feeling? That is the real you. Which parts of that experience seem to match the personality assessments?
We all adapt our behavior according to our environment, but we all have a core personality that we were born with. It can be a challenge to peel back some layers of upbringing, culture, expectations, etc. to get to the core personality.
But it is possible. In fact, that is a lot of what I do with my clients.
So if I were you I would schedule a weekend retreat with myself and just observe. Observe what you do, think, and feel without external influences. That might be a good place to start.
Keep searching.

I’ve taken both of these personality inventories before. Unfortunately, they haven’t been as helpful as I thought. For one thing I seem to be all over the map!

With DISC, I seem to come out as an “I.” This is odd b/c a DISC “I” is an extravert! In Myers-Briggs, I’m an “I”, which of course means introvert!

This happens for me with a lot of these categories. So much of my current “personality” is learned, habits and patterns I’ve adopted over the years for survival and success that aren’t the way I’d do things if it were really up to me. For instance, in MB, I rate a “J” for judging, but that’s partly (or maybe mostly) b/c I’ve learned to be that way. Free to choose, I might likely be a “P” instead.

It seems that in some ways I’ve actually lost, or erased, my “original,” authentic personality type in a mass of learned habits and behaviors based on what others expect. These inventories make it hard for me to discern who I really am.

What thoughts or guidance do you have in a situation like this?

Hi Adam,

I believe that if someone can find the things they are passionate about, they will figure out what they love.  

Being passionate about something is not the same as loving it.  I love watching TV, but I’m not passionate about it.  I love cooking, but I’m not passionate about it.  If what you love drives you to want to do more of it, then this may be your passion and what you should be trying to do.  

Just my thoughts.  I write a blog called Live And Love With Passion (Bit=http://bit.ly/khkREV)  if you or anyone would like to visit, I’d love it.  Sally

Thank you Sally. It is wonderful you’ve found a way to blend the two things you love to do with writing about healthcare. What advice would you have for someone who is struggling to figure out what it is they love to do?