In an increasingly close-knit world full of abundant options, influences, and information, it can be a challenge to see yourself objectively and not be swayed by what others are doing.

Nearly every day we hear conflicting advice from experts, family and friends, advertisers, and news sources about what you should eat, how you should spend your time, where you should go in your career, and countless other directives, but how often do you really get a chance to connect with what you really want or need?

The truth is that we are all uniquely different, and that’s what makes us interesting!

We all have strengths and individual characteristics, and our ability to know ourselves on a deeper level and apply those strengths in our everyday lives can greatly enhance our health, happiness, and success, no matter what we choose to do.

Moreover, as human beings we are constantly changing and evolving, and while we all have certain constants that define who we are, we also have the freedom to shift and make new choices as we learn and grow.

At Integrative Nutrition we live and breathe individuality, and support the journey of self-discovery throughout the Health Coach Training Program. Just like there is no one-size-fits-all diet that works for everyone, there is no single coaching style or personality type that is better than others, and our curriculum incorporates this personal exploration so that students become empowered to create the future they want.

The Myers-Briggs personality test is a great tool for self-exploration and guidance that helps those interested in getting to know themselves (and others) better by understanding how their thoughts and perceptions come together to create a unique personality and set of preferences.

The test contains 70 questions and groups people into one of 8 dominant personality types, and while we can’t share the entire test here, we’ll leave you with these 5 questions to ponder:

1. Do you prefer to make sure things are arranged, or let things happen?
2. Are you more comfortable when you are objective or personal?
3. Are you usually more fair-minded or kind-hearted?
4. Do you tend to choose rather carefully or somewhat impulsively?
5. Does it bother you more having things incomplete or completed?

In answering these questions you will discover the traits that are most dominant in your personality. Are you extroverted or introverted?  Are you a sensor who prefers to explore the world around you, or anintuitive who likes to focus on theories and abstract ideas? Do you favor making decisions based on feelingsor anchored in rationalthinking?  Are you methodical, results-drivenjudger or do you prefer to be a go-with the flow perceiver? These characteristics correspond to the 8 personality types from the Myers-Briggs test.

Consider your answers, and think about whether there’s anything you can do to balance your approach or circumstances to either improve certain elements that might be a weakness for you, or play up your strengths.

Either way, remember to honor your individual self and treat others with the same appreciation!

Have you ever taken the Myers-Briggs test? What did you think?  Let us know about your experience with it in the comments below!