I invited best-selling author Gretchen Rubin on my podcast to talk about the personality framework she created called The Four Tendencies and how we can use it to improve our lives.
What is the “Big Five” and How Can It Help You?
Our personality plays a huge role in our lives. It shapes how we view the world and frame events. Believe it or not, certain traits can even predict how happy we are, how we vote, and how successful we are in our chosen careers.
Understanding my own personality has helped me see my own strengths and weaknesses more clearly. I've been able to use this information to develop a more customized approach to personal development.
In this post, I’ll share the most compelling, insightful, and well-researched personality framework that psychologists use to measure traits…
The Power of Introverts
Years ago, before I even knew the word introvert, I knew that I really enjoyed spending time alone. In fact, I needed a certain amount of time to myself in order to stay sane. I was fine with this. Truth is, I was at my most creative and clear-headed when I was alone, which I saw as a major advantage.
Once I learned what an introvert was, it was obvious to me that I was one of them. At the time, I wasn’t sure how anyone could be otherwise (or why anyone would want to be).
Then I learned what an extrovert was. It was clear that extraversion also came with its own set of advantages. Understanding this trait helped explain behavior I found baffling, such as the need some people had to constantly talk, even when there was nothing to say…
Notes to Myself
Below is an ongoing list of advice I’ve compiled for myself in a note in my phone. I started writing it as a way to remember the things that have worked well for me in the past because I was tired of forgetting them, then having to rediscover them months or years later. The cycle would go something like this:
I’d find something that worked well for me -- a habit, a mindset, a food, anything.
I’d integrate it into my life for a while.
I’d eventually forget about it weeks or months later and would have to solve the same problem from scratch multiple times.
I’d eventually rediscover this thing that had helped me in the past and integrate it into my life once again.
This list covers various areas of my life and is somewhat random. It’s mostly unedited, except for clarity and (most) grammatical errors…