Who are you?
What makes you unique? What makes you tick?
Last post I started to answer those questions by considering our main roles and our personalities. However, the answer to “who are you” is much more complex than a temperament type and a career description.
There are many other aspects that make each of us unique, everything from learning styles to eccentricities to past experiences. There is far too much material to cover in a few blog posts, but this post will attempt to list a few other facets that help answer the “who are you” question.
Before moving on, I want to restate the point of all this:
- To gain a deeper understanding of what makes us tick, and where some of preferences, idiosyncrasies and strengths come from
- To affirm that we are unique, and that our particular characteristics are just as normal and valuable as others
- To appreciate that other people learn, think, and react to life differently than we do, and it’s OK.
Download the Who Am I Part Two worksheet to record your answers. Remember, throughout this process, focus on the main answers, the ones that describe you most of the time, in normal daily life situations.
Step Three: Your Intelligences
We humans have multiple types of intelligence. Some of us excel at math, others at music or drawing. Current thinking identifies nine distinct types of intelligence (based on the Multiple Intelligences theory developed by Howard Gardner). Unfortunately, schools focus primarily on only two of the nine types, leaving many of us feeling like we are not intelligent.
Don’t believe it!
We are all intelligent in our own unique way, with our own unique blend of intelligence strengths. We have some amount of each type, but knowing which we are strongest in helps us understand who we are and how we approach and understand our world.
The Nine Intelligence Types
- Verbal/Linguistic – good with words, writing, or communication (journalist, public speaker, teacher, translator)
- Logical/Mathematical – good with numbers, analysis, or reasoning (bank teller, physicist, engineer, programmer) [also good at taking IQ tests]
- Visual/Spatial – good at visualizing, pictures, thinking in 3-D (architect, pilot, sculptor, interior designer)
- Bodily/Kinesthetic – good coordination and fine motor skills (dancer, artist, surgeon, athlete)
- Musical – good with sounds, music, rhythm, discerning pitch and timbre (musician, conductor, sound mixer)
- Naturalistic – good at understanding living things and nature (farmer, hunter, biologist, dog trainer)
- Interpersonal – good with people, empathy, social situations (nurse, teacher, politician)
- Intrapersonal – good at understanding themselves: self aware, authentic, in touch with inner thoughts and emotions (pastor, psychologist, writer)
- Existential – good at pondering the meaning, origins, and purpose of life. Concerned with spiritual and moral issues. (philosopher, poet, theologian, activist)
My example: I am strongest in Mathematical/ Logical and Verbal/Linguistic, which jives with my analytic, problem-solving thought process and my love of reading and writing. I am also high in Intrapersonal, which may explain why I am writing posts on understanding ourselves.
Which ones are your strengths?
If you’re not sure, here is a free online assessment quiz and here is a helpful post that gives a more detailed description of each intelligence type.
If you have been told that you are not intelligent, take a moment to discredit that idea now. We are all intelligent in our own ways! Forgive yourself for the types you aren’t strong in and from now on choose to be intentional about using your strongest intelligences effectively. Own your intelligences.
Step Four: Your Past
We all have a past, made up of both pleasant and unpleasant experiences. While our past does not define us, it certainly affects who we are and why we behave like we do. I believe that all our past experiences, both good and bad, can be redeemed by God and used for good. But only if we face our past honestly and are willing to own the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Although there are many aspects of our past, the worksheet looks at two: our greatest passions and our greatest wounds. Looking back at them can help us understand what makes our heart sing or break today. Our wounds and passions likely underlie our motivations for much that we become involved in, or can point us to areas where we should become involved.
The Who Am I Part Two worksheet will help you consider the passions and wounds that have shaped you, and perhaps give you some insight into how those past experiences can be used for good moving forward.
Who are you?
I hope these two posts have helped you to answer that question, and to understand and appreciate yourself better. The more you know who you are, the more you can choose to be the best version of yourself.
