Google the Soul: 20 Tools for Self-Illumination and decode your inner world - Episode 1
Understand the pros and cons of 20 tools, from scientific assessments to methods that delve into the subconscious, in order to understand yourself and the world around you.
Googling the world outside is easy. You open your laptop or unlock your phone, hit a single click, you can dive freely into humanity’s ocean of knowledge. On the internet, almost everything is readily accessible.
But ‘Googling the inside’ is often a difficult search for many people. It’s difficult because not every question is answered honestly. Even when you hold in your hands tools that seem perfect, like a lifeline, you still flounder to reflect on yourself, unsure of what is the truth and what is merely a misconception.
It’s not a coincidence that I’ve ‘experienced’ these ‘self-understanding’ tools and ‘personal development’ programs. While working with the youth and clients, I noticed that each age group carries its own unique concerns about identity themselves, yet they all coincidentally seek out one, a few, or all of these instruments: from scientific assessments like MBTI, DISC, and StrengthsFinder, to reflective methods like Tarot, Points of You, or numerology, etc.
Self-understanding is like having a compass that helps you stop holding yourself to harsh expectations (which is different from aspiration or beautiful ambition, which is pure energy), allowing you to walk through life with deep inner strength.
Based on my understanding gained from reading, researching, applying these tools, and participating in specialized training programs, I’m sharing with you an approach to these instruments and methods. A way to Google your inner world, to decode what is hidden deep beneath the iceberg of your subconscious with balance, courage, and genuine goodwill toward your own life.
The tools and methods are categorized into 3 main groups as presenting below:
Group 1: Core Personality and Tendencies/ Temperament
Big Five (OCEAN), Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), MBTI & 16 Personalities, DISC, Enneagram
Group 2: Motivation and Orientation Assessment
John Holland (RIASEC), Strength Finder (Gallup), Grit Scale, Personal Value Assessment (PVA), Ikigai
Group 3: Exploring Potential and Perspective
Meditation & Contemplation, Family Tree Analysis (Genogram), Wheel of Life, Neuro-Linguistic Programming - NLP, Points Of View (PoV), Dreams Signs Symbol Interpretation (UCM), Silva Method, Numerology, Fingerprint Biometrics (Dermatoglyphics), Tarot
1. Big Five Personality Traits (OCEAN)
Definition
The Big Five (or Five-Factor Model - OCEAN) is the most widely accepted personality model in empirical psychology, originating from linguistic studies in the 1930s and strongly consolidated since the 1980s by numerous independent researchers (such as Goldberg, McCrae, Costa).
Methodology
The Big Five model determines personality based on 5 independent and stable dimensions: Openness (to experience), Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.
Application
Big Five helps you understand your core and most stable behavioral tendencies, aiding in the prediction of behavior in work, study, and social relationships.
Reliability
Highest reliability among personality models; widely used in academic research and recruitment.
Reference sources:
An introduction to the five-factor model and its applications (PubMed)
Big Five personality traits (EBSCO)
2. Eysenck Personality Inventory
Definition
The EPI is based on the theory that personality is primarily determined by genetic and biological factors.
The Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) consists of 57 Yes (+) or No (-) questions by its author, Hans Eysenck, a German-born British psychologist who subsequently developed his career in the United Kingdom. Temperament is a psychological attribute that governs the nuance of how psychological activities (thinking, language, emotion, behavior, etc.) unfold in a person whether they are fast or slow, strong or weak. The EPI is a type of scale that helps understand a person’s personality, which can be classified according to the manifestation and characteristics of their behavior.
Methodology
The test measures two main dimensions of personality: Extraversion/Introversion and Neuroticism/Stability.
Application
The EPI helps you understand your basic emotional reaction mechanism and fundamental nervous system arousal level, providing insight into your degree of extraversion (or introversion) and level of emotional stability, which relates to how a person perceives and behaves.
Reliability
The EPI Temperament Test was studied on a sample size of approximately 6,500 people in the UK and is widely applied in the psychology departments of colleges and universities in many countries around the world. It holds high scientific reliability for measuring these two dimensions of personality.
Do the test
Approximate duration: 5-7 minutes
Reference sources:
3. MBTI® and 16 Personalities Test
Definition
Personality is one of the factors that influence a person’s behavior, alongside other impacting factors such as environment, experiences, and personal goals, etc.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) was researched and developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers, based on the theory of Carl Gustav Jung – the Father of Analytical Psychology. The NERIS® model synthesizes the strengths of both the MBTI and the Big Five Personality Traits to develop this assessment.
Methodology
The model classifies personality into 16 types based on four pairs of psychological preferences (e.g., Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition).
Application
The 16 Personalities Test helps you gain a better understanding of different facets of your personality, including communication style, decision-making, and social interaction methods.
Reliability
The 16 Personalities Test is used by many people worldwide to understand themselves as a reference tool. (Note: Academic reliability is considered low compared to the Big Five).
Do the test
Approximate duration: 30-45 minutes
Reference sources:
4. DISC
Definition
DISC was developed based on the work of psychologist William Moulton Marston (in 1928), focusing on observable reactions and emotions within a given environment.
Methodology
The model classifies behavior based on a combination of 4 tendencies: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness.
Application
DISC helps you understand your behavioral and communication style in the workplace, how you interact with team members, and how you approach problem-solving.
Reliability
Good reliability and validity for assessing behavior and communication (especially in organizational settings), but not a deep personality assessment tool.
Reference sources:
5. Enneagram (The Nine Types Model)
Definition
Enneagram (The Nine Types Model) has roots in ancient philosophies and was modernized by Oscar Ichazo and Claudio Naranjo in the 20th century, focusing on spiritual and psychological development.
Methodology
The model classifies 9 core personality types, each defined by a deep-seated core motivation, fear, and basic desire that drives the individual’s behavior.
Application
Enneagram helps you understand the deep, unconscious motivations behind your behavior, helping you identify defense mechanisms and paths toward healthier development..
Reliability
Lacks strong empirical scientific evidence, but holds high value in personal development and deep psychological counseling.
Reference sources:
Recommendation
Use the assessment results as a reference to gain some understanding of yourself, recognizing your strengths and weaknesses in order to improve yourself.
Avoid rigidly labeling yourself according to the assessment results, as this can limit your potential for personal development.
Relax your thoughts and be honest with yourself when answering.
Choose a quiet space when taking the assessment.
Select assessments that have substantial scientific research backing them and a reliable sample size.
Opt for licensed versions of the assessments whenever possible.
Seek out specialists, consultants, or coaches with professional expertise and experience to understand the results from various insightful perspectives.
Read full episodes: Google the Soul: Tools for Self-Illumination and decode your inner world