The subject most of us are preoccupied with more then anything else on this planet is ourselves. How are you doing? How are you feeling? What are you thinking about? What do you want out of life? What do you need? It might seem a bit egotistic but there is one subject that we all love more than anything else on this planet and that is the subject of me, I, myself (and I mean you). This illuminating fact also correlates to the number of personality tests and quizzes that we have access to and the ability to explore even more of ourselves. Why is astrology becoming even more popular now than it was in the Middle Ages? It's because it makes us feel unique and evokes special meanings and feelings we can return to again and again to remind us of our specialness. Socrates said, "know thyself and that that people make themselves appear ridiculous when they are trying to know obscure things before they know themselves. Plato, another Greek philosopher, "alluded to the fact that understanding 'thyself,' would have a greater yielded factor of understanding the nature of a human being. Keeping these points in mind I introduce a few of my favorite avenues to sort out who we are and discover what makes us special and for your own dive into "knowing thyself" I've included links for your convenience.
The Secret Language of Birthdays
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Quoting from Amazon the Secret Language of Birthdays is the ultimate guide, "Combining astrology, numerology, and pure psychic intuition, The Secret Language of Birthdays is a wholly unique compilation that reveals one's strengths, weaknesses, and major issues while providing practical advice and spiritual guidance." The book is now entirely online and there is a lot of information to undertake a deep dive if this sounds up your alley.
Meyers-Briggs Test
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"What's your Meyers-Briggs type?" is actually a question I've been asked several times during my Freshman year at college. The test has 16 possible outcomes so there is lots diversity in the answers and the results. There are quite a few ways to use the resulting information from your Meyers Briggs analysis to help you in your daily life. If you know you're an extrovert then maybe it would be more helpful if you spoke out or led that group project or if you're in tune with your feelings, it might explain why you cry so much at Grey's Anatomy. The test can be very specific and is often used in the workplace. I started as a INFJ in high school but took it this year and have morphed into a INFP. I guess there is room for self-growth and change in college after all.
Astrology
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The most basic of personality tests, this is literally just typing in your birthday and getting a answer. Astrology is the study of the movements and positions of the stars and the subsequent interpretation of how the celestial bodies influence the person and the situations in the world. Pretty generic if you ask me.
StrengthsFinder
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Developed by Gallop, StrengthsFinder is utilized to determine inherent strengths and leadership of the individual. It is commonly used in many workplaces and is a test to determine a person's gifts instead of their weaknesses. It is said that a person who focuses on their strengths instead of their weaknesses is more likely to be happier, more productive and have improved performance. My acting teacher introduced it our theatre class my sophomore year of high school and it has surfaced in many activities and clubs I've belonged to and helped to guide me in several leadership capacities. It's the only test on this list with a price-tag but well worth the time and money.
What type of Bender Are You? (World of Avatar: The Last Airbender)
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Inspired by a long time favorite TV series, Avatar the Last Airbender Quiz delves deep into the world in which the Avatar lives and assigns you what type of bending skill you possess. The art of dividing up the elements has existed for centuries and among many cultures and is fascinating to find out which element you belong. Sadly, no you can't be the Avatar. We only need one.
Hogwarts House
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The only Hogwarts House quiz to trust is the "official one" sponsored one written by JK Rowling on her site Pottermore. It's a classic question and answer quiz and is a staple in "Sorting" quizzes. I've switched between Slytherin & Gryffindor more times than you can say Quidditch so maybe in the end I'm really a Squib.
The Alignment Test
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Although started as a way of dividing up characters in the popular D&D game in the 80's, the Alignment Test is now used in college classes to individualize fictional characters and group them together with others. It is helpful when delving into the world of writing or researching a fictional place since almost all well developed characters can be sorted into one of the 9 character tropes. As long as you're not Chaotic Evil, you can still be my friend.
Game of Thrones House Test
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I know you want to be House Targaryen because you just looooove Khaleesi but maybe you're more House Frey? The test is fun and a must-do if you're a fan of the Game of Thrones series. (Of course I'm a Stark. It means I'll die next season.)
