Yesterday I wrote about the benefits of diagnoses, labels and categories in terms of understanding the self and creating healthy but sometimes permeable boundaries that act as a platform for growth and healing.
Today I'd like to start talking about my favorite ways we humans love to categorize ourselves. I'm dividing this into three parts because I love this stuff and have a lot of opinions.
The three parts will be: assessments, systems and quizzes.
Assessments are more fluid and often require you to answer a list of subjective questions about yourself. Sometimes you can determine your results from contemplation and life experience.
Systems are more static and you plug in information about yourself to generate your report.
Quizzes are just that: quick and easy tools that offer results in a simple format.
I like to think of assessments as "boxes by choice." We use these tools to group ourselves into boxes that help us (as opposed to being shoved into stereotypical boxes by others).
Also keep in mind that how much or little we identify with the various results of our assessment is a spectrum- we may recognize ourselves or we may not.
Finally the results of these tools are not fixed. In fact, it's ideal if we see these sorts of tools as just part of our tool box. At any given point in time we get to choose to act true to type or against type. The more facility we have to choose our actions, responses and thoughts, the greater self-knowledge and spiritual maturity we cultivate. And ultimately I think that's the point of all of these assessments, systems, and quizzes- to know ourselves better so that we can choose the best action or response along the way.
So, let's get into it! Here are my top three favorite assessments:
The Enneagram.
I've been working with this gorgeous tool for over 15 years. It's thought that it first originated either in Bablyon or ancient Greece and has been attributed to Jewish, Christian and Islamic mystics.
This system is beautiful (yes, sacred geometry) and complex and offers nine types (though we all have secondary types called wings).
I love the Enneagram because it is not static like most systems (take that box!).
For each type you'll find a spectrum of behaviors/feeling states that span the most integrated and healthy all the way to the most degenerative and unhealthy state.
Once you know your type the point is not to embrace your type and fully revel in it, instead you are invited to assess yourself and grow towards healthier expression and integration which incidentally makes you appear to be like another type!
Wild huh? Enneagram work is fluid and profound and works super well with Jungian approaches to psychology.
I thought I was a seven (the Bon Vivant) in the Enneagram system for a long time because I'm the life of the party! I had an eating disorder! I like the finer things! I thought I had a tendency towards dissipation.
Turns out I'm not a seven- I'm a four (the Artist).
I'm a creative AliEN. No one has suffered like I have suffered! I must be the most original and the most erudite and the most fabulous!
I love to know the Enneagram for all of my 1:1 coaching clients because it gives so much insight into who they are and their journey towards wholeness.
Here’s an easy and free Enneagram tool.
(We are having a fun conversation about Enneagram over on fb if you want to pop over and join in.)
The Six Human Needs Test
This test came from legendary couples therapist Cloe Madanes and her collaboration with Tony Robbins. The theory is that we have our top four human needs and if three out of four of those needs are satisfied via a relationship, behavior, or activity, then we will be super bonded to that person, habit, action.
The six human needs are: love/connection, spontaneity/uncertainty, growth/change, contribution, certainty/stability, and significance.
Early in my career I started to notice what to me was a shocking trend- each and every one of my clients whether a small business owner or CEO had either growth or contribution in their top two needs. Sometimes both and always in their top three.
Of course it started to make sense because people drawn to coaching for themselves or their organization are going to have Growth as a top need. And it was heartening to see the commitment to Contribution- my clients absolutely prioritized giving to others.
Dosha
I find the Ayurvedic approach to health so fascinating and rich. I suppose this could fall into a "system" but I am classifying systems as things that spit out a result (astrology and Human Design are systems) based on basic inputs and the results don't change.
Finding your dosha is more of an art therefore I consider it an assessment.
If you're unfamiliar, doshas are variations of body constitution. There are three doshas: kapha, pitta and vata and they each have a different combination of the elements.
Pitta dosha is a combination of fire and water and deals with digestion. Vata is air and space and is concerned with movement. Kapha is earth and water and has more to do with moisturization and structure of the body.
We all have all of those elements and times when we are more one dosha than another but generally, we will have a primary dosha and a secondary. Additionally, we can have an imbalance towards any of the three (or in combination).
Doshas can give great insight into your physical and mental health, how you structure your day, and even your behaviors.
Here’s a dosha assessment- and while it will come with product suggestions there are also effective lifestyle tips too.
These are my three favorite assessments! Please hit reply and tell me what boxes you find yourself in🙂
Tomorrow I'll share my top three systems for self-knowledge.
with love,
Lauren