Discovering Your True Self: The Top 3 Personality Tests That Help You Understand Who You Are
In a world that constantly demands us to define who we are, it's no wonder many people find themselves asking, “Who am I, really?” Between social roles, career paths, and life experiences, our sense of self can feel elusive. That's where personality tests come in—not as answers to all of life’s questions, but as tools to guide introspection, affirm intuition, and deepen self-awareness.
While no test can fully encapsulate the depth of your humanity, certain personality assessments offer frameworks that help illuminate patterns in how we think, feel, and relate to others. Whether you’re navigating trauma recovery, choosing a career, improving relationships, or simply on a path of self-discovery, these tools can be like mirrors—reflecting truths we may not see clearly on our own.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the top three personality tests that can help you figure out who you are—and how to practically apply the insights they offer to lead a more authentic and empowered life.
1. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
What It Is
The MBTI is one of the most popular and widely used personality frameworks in the world. Developed from the theories of Carl Jung, the test categorizes people into 16 different personality types, based on four dichotomies:
Introversion (I) or Extraversion (E)
Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)
Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)
Your combination of preferences—like INFJ or ESTP—offers a lens through which you can understand your natural inclinations, energy source, decision-making style, and lifestyle preferences.
Why It Matters
The MBTI gives language to the way you process the world. For example, discovering that you're an INFJ (The Advocate) might help explain your strong need for alone time, your empathetic nature, and your drive to make meaningful change. Conversely, being an ESTP (The Entrepreneur) might clarify your action-oriented mindset and love for adventure.
How to Use It for Self-Discovery
Career Alignment: MBTI types are often associated with certain careers. For example, ENFJs may thrive in teaching or counseling roles, while ISTPs might prefer hands-on problem-solving fields like engineering or mechanics.
Communication: Knowing your type and that of your partner, friends, or coworkers can vastly improve how you relate to them. You might realize that someone isn’t “cold,” just a Thinker vs. a Feeler.
Personal Growth: Each type has typical stress triggers and growth paths. Exploring your MBTI can highlight unconscious patterns and point you toward healthier coping strategies.
Tip: Don’t get too attached to your type. Use it as a starting point for reflection, not a fixed identity.
2. The Enneagram
What It Is
The Enneagram is a profound personality system rooted in ancient wisdom and modern psychology. It describes nine core personality types, each representing a distinct worldview, core fear, core desire, and growth path.
Unlike the MBTI, which focuses on cognitive preferences, the Enneagram digs into the emotional motivations behind your behavior. The nine types are:
The Reformer (Principled, purposeful)
The Helper (Generous, people-pleasing)
The Achiever (Success-oriented, adaptable)
The Individualist (Sensitive, introspective)
The Investigator (Perceptive, analytical)
The Loyalist (Committed, security-oriented)
The Enthusiast (Spontaneous, fun-loving)
The Challenger (Assertive, protective)
The Peacemaker (Easygoing, agreeable)
Each type also has "wings" (influence from adjacent types), growth and stress paths, and deep insights into shadow patterns and transformation.
Why It Matters
The Enneagram doesn’t just tell you what you do—it reveals why you do it. For example, if you're a Type 2 (The Helper), you may appear generous and selfless, but underneath might be a fear of being unwanted. Recognizing that motivation can transform how you give love—without losing yourself.
How to Use It for Self-Discovery
Shadow Work: The Enneagram helps you uncover hidden motivations and defense mechanisms. This is particularly powerful for trauma survivors who want to understand their coping styles.
Spiritual and Emotional Growth: Each type has a “healthy,” “average,” and “unhealthy” range. You can assess where you are and actively work toward emotional integration.
Relationships: Understanding your type and those of others fosters compassion. Instead of judging someone as "controlling" or "avoidant," you learn to see their fear or need for safety.
Tip: The Enneagram isn’t about boxing you in—it’s about helping you become more of who you already are, without the fear.
3. The Big Five Personality Traits (OCEAN)
What It Is
Unlike MBTI or the Enneagram, which are typology-based, the Big Five model is a scientific, trait-based assessment. Backed by decades of research, it measures your personality on five dimensions:
Openness to Experience – Creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness
Conscientiousness – Organization, reliability, discipline
Extraversion – Sociability, assertiveness, energy
Agreeableness – Compassion, cooperation, trust
Neuroticism – Emotional reactivity, mood instability, anxiety
Each trait exists on a spectrum, allowing for nuance rather than fixed categories.
Why It Matters
The Big Five is often used in psychological research and by employers because of its predictive validity—it can forecast things like job performance, relationship satisfaction, and mental health tendencies.
It’s especially helpful for understanding emotional regulation and areas of vulnerability. For instance, scoring high on Neuroticism may signal a need to develop resilience and stress management techniques.
How to Use It for Self-Discovery
Emotional Intelligence: By understanding your tendencies (e.g., sensitivity, openness to change), you can develop healthier responses.
Behavioral Patterns: Want to know why you procrastinate or overcommit? Your conscientiousness score may offer clues.
Personal Development: Because the Big Five traits are scalable and changeable over time, you can actively work on shifting traits—like boosting conscientiousness or lowering neuroticism.
Tip: Unlike other tests, you won’t get a “type,” but a profile. This can be liberating if you prefer data over labels.
How to Choose the Right Test for You
Each personality test offers something different. Here's how to know which one might serve you best right now:
TestBest ForInsight LevelScientific BasisApplicationMBTIUnderstanding how you perceive and interact with the worldModerateModerateCareer, relationships, lifestyleEnneagramExploring core fears and motivationsDeepModeratePersonal growth, trauma work, spiritual healingBig FiveAssessing behavioral tendencies with dataHighStrongMental health, productivity, self-regulation
If you’re early in your self-discovery journey, MBTI might feel like an accessible entry point. If you're doing deep emotional or trauma work, the Enneagram can be transformative. If you want a scientifically grounded understanding of your behaviors and emotional tendencies, the Big Five delivers clarity.
Integrating What You Learn: Turning Insight Into Action
Taking a test is only the beginning. Real self-discovery happens when you apply what you learn. Here are three steps to get the most out of your results:
1. Journal Your Reflections
Write down what resonates, what surprises you, and what challenges you. Ask:
How does this insight show up in my daily life?
What patterns do I want to change or embrace?
2. Discuss With Trusted People
Share your results with close friends, a therapist, or a coach. Ask how they see you, and where your perceptions match (or differ) from theirs. This helps you balance internal and external self-awareness.
3. Create a Self-Growth Plan
Choose one small goal based on your insights. For example:
If you’re low on conscientiousness, try setting a 15-minute daily planning ritual.
If you’re a Type 9 Enneagram struggling with conflict, practice speaking up once a day.
If you’re an Introvert in MBTI, build in solo recharging time weekly.
Final Thoughts: You Are Not a Label—You Are a Journey
Personality tests are not meant to limit you. They are maps, not destinations. Who you are today is not all you are capable of becoming. Use these tools to honor your strengths, tend to your wounds, and empower your transformation.
The journey of knowing yourself is ongoing—and every step you take toward self-awareness is a radical act of self-love.
Resources to Explore
Take the MBTI (Free version): 16Personalities.com
Find your Enneagram Type: Truity Enneagram Test
Take a Big Five Test: Open Psychometrics
