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Unlocking The Power Of The Big Five Personality Traits For Maximum Fulfillment
00:00:00 Hello, Listeners.
00:05:37 Openness to Experience
00:08:37 Conscientiousness
00:12:17 Extroversion
00:15:23 Agreeableness
00:18:28 Neuroticism
00:20:28 Takeaways
How to Find Yourself: Self-Discovery, Self-Awareness, and Life Design for Maximum Fulfillment By: Nick Trenton
Hear it Here - https://bit.ly/findyourselftrenton
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VHK2QWR
"In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of personality psychology, exploring the five key traits that shape our identities and experiences. Learn how understanding these traits can help you find your true calling, enhance your relationships, and unlock your full potential. Don't miss out on this eye-opening discussion about Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism - essential components of a fulfilling life!"
"In Chapter 2 of "How to Find Yourself," we delve into the Big Five Personality Traits, which provide a comprehensive framework for understanding different aspects of human personality. By examining Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism, you can gain valuable insights into your strengths, weaknesses, and the unique qualities that make you who you are.
Join Nick Trenton as he uncovers the secrets to finding your true self by embracing these personality traits. You'll learn how each trait contributes to your overall identity, and discover strategies for harnessing their power to create a more fulfilling life.
Whether you're an introvert trying to make the most of your social opportunities or a highly conscientious individual looking to balance your ambition with relaxation, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you on your journey towards self-discovery and maximum fulfillment."
If you're struggling with feelings of disconnection or simply looking to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, this episode is for you! By delving into the five key personality traits - Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism - we'll unlock the secrets to finding your true calling and designing a life that aligns with your values and passions.
In this episode, you'll learn:
1. The significance of understanding your personality traits in relation to your identity and purpose in life.
2. How to recognize and embrace the unique qualities that make you who you are.
3. Practical tips for leveraging your strengths and overcoming weaknesses to create a fulfilling life.
4. The importance of self-awareness and mindfulness in achieving personal growth and happiness.
5. Real-life examples and stories from Nick Trenton's book that will inspire you on your journey towards self-discovery.
Don't miss this transformative episode as we explore the path to finding yourself through understanding your personality traits. Remember, your journey starts with a single step, and today's show is a great place to begin!
Transcript
2 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,440 Hello, listeners!
Speaker:Welcome back to another episode of The Path to Calm.
Speaker:Today is March 17, and we have an amazing episode for you all from Nick Trenton's best-selling book, "How to Find Yourself: Self-Discovery, Self-Awareness, and Life Design for Maximum Fulfillment."
Speaker:We'll explore the various aspects of identity and how understanding your personality traits can help you find your true purpose in life.
Speaker:If you're struggling with feelings of disconnection or simply looking to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, this episode is for you!
Speaker:By delving into the five key personality traits - Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism - we'll unlock the secrets to finding your true calling and designing a life that aligns with your values and passions.
Speaker:In this episode, you'll learn:
Speaker:10 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:11,680 1.
Speaker:The significance of understanding your personality traits in relation to your identity and purpose in life.
Speaker:2.
Speaker:How to recognize and embrace the unique qualities that make you who you are.
Speaker:3.
Speaker:Practical tips for leveraging your strengths and overcoming weaknesses to create a fulfilling life.
Speaker:4.
Speaker:The importance of self-awareness and mindfulness in achieving personal growth and happiness.
Speaker:5.
Speaker:Real-life examples and stories from Nick Trenton's book that will inspire you on your journey towards self-discovery.
Speaker:Don't miss this transformative episode as we explore the path to finding yourself through understanding your personality traits.
Speaker:Remember, your journey starts with a single step, and today's show is a great place to begin!
Speaker:"How to Find Yourself: Self-Discovery, Self-Awareness, and Life Design for Maximum Fulfillment" by Nick Trenton is available now on Amazon, the audiobook can be found on Amazon, iTunes, and Audible.
Speaker:Be sure to check out his website at bitly/NickTrenton for more insights, resources, and inspiration.
Speaker:Chances are, at some point in your life, you’ve taken a personality, career aptitude, or relationship test to learn more about yourself.
Speaker:The quest to find out what makes human beings tick is as universal as the desire to understand why.
Speaker:What makes some people behave, think, and feel certain ways and not others?
Speaker:Why do humans engage in habitual patterns, even when those could be to their detriment?
Speaker:The answer may lie in the Big Five personality traits, a theory that dissects the human psyche into five broad characteristics.
Speaker:These five simple factors could determine the very complex question you’ve been chasing: what makes you you?
Speaker:It’s a theory that dates back to 1949, in research published by D.W. Fiske.
Speaker:Since then, it’s been gaining popularity and has been written about by the likes of Norman (1967), Smith (1967), Goldberg (1981), and McCrae and Costa (1987).
Speaker:Even though the Myer-Briggs test is one you’re more likely to have heard of, the Big Five model is the most widely accepted personality theory in the scientific community today.
Speaker:Instead of evaluating you as a whole, this is one of the first personality theories to break you down into five traits: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Speaker:While many personality theories place you on either side of a binary—they say you’re either an extrovert or an introvert—the Big Five model presents a spectrum between these five qualities and their opposites.
Speaker:These opposites are closed to experience, spontaneous, introversion, disagreeableness, and stability, respectively.
Speaker:You may have heard of these before.
Speaker:Terms like introvert and extrovert are thrown around a lot these days, but what do they really mean?
Speaker:They’re two ends of the spectrum.
Speaker:Each trait has two extremes, and although we may not want to admit it, every one of us embodies all of these five traits to some degree.
Speaker:According to this theory, it’s how much of each and where we land in the range between the extremes that determine our unique personality.
Speaker:Let’s break it down.
Speaker:In thinking about our own quest for self-knowledge, we can become more familiar with personality theories like this one as a way to better understand humans in general, and ourselves relative to them.
Speaker:It’s a little like imagining a person as a unique recipe composed of varying quantities of certain ingredients.
Speaker:The presence of the ingredients is the same for all human beings, but how much of each characteristic you possess as an individual can say a lot about you.
Speaker:As you read about these “personality ingredients,” try to see how much of each is in your own makeup, and what insights you can gain from thinking about yourself this way.
Speaker:Openness to Experience
Speaker:48 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:47,720 The first of the Big Five personality traits determines how willing you are to take risks or try something new.
Speaker:Would you ever jump out of a plane?
Speaker:How about pack up and move halfway around the world to immerse yourself in a new culture?
Speaker:If your answer to both of those questions was a resounding yes, then you probably score high in your openness to experience.
Speaker:That is, you seek out the unknown.
Speaker:At one extreme, people who are high in openness are curious and imaginative.
Speaker:They go in search of new adventures and experiences.
Speaker:They can get bored easily and turn to their creativity to uncover new interests and even daring activities.
Speaker:These people are flexible and seek out variety in their daily life.
Speaker:For them, routine is not an option.
Speaker:At the other end of the spectrum, people who are low on the openness scale prefer continuity and stability to change.
Speaker:They are practical, sensible, and more conventional than their peers.
Speaker:Change is not their friend.
Speaker:In the real world, most people fall somewhere in between these opposites, but where you find yourself on the spectrum could reveal a lot about who you are and what you excel at.
Speaker:Do you dream of being a CEO or at the head of your field, for instance?
Speaker:Openness has been linked to leadership.
Speaker:If you’re able to entertain new ideas, think outside the box, and adapt quickly to new situations, you’re more likely to become and succeed as a leader (Lebowit, 2016).
Speaker:It was Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’s decision to audit a calligraphy class in 1973 that would lead to the groundbreaking typography in Mac computers years later.
Speaker:At the time, no one associated computers with beautiful fonts, but Jobs saw something that no one else could.
Speaker:He embraced the calligraphy class, sought to change the way people thought about computers, and opened himself up to a new vision of the future.
Speaker:People who are open also tend to embrace universalism, seeing values as equally applicable to all people (Douglas, Bore & Munro, 2016).
Speaker:They choose peace and tolerance over conflict and discrimination.
Speaker:They see all people as similarly deserving of justice and equality.
Speaker:And they may pursue careers that lead them to fight for their ideals.
Speaker:A quick look back over your life may reveal just how open to experience you are and how much of this trait you possess.
Speaker:Think of the time you were with your friends and one of them suggested doing something completely crazy and out of the box.
Speaker:What was your reaction?
Speaker:Was it hesitation or excitement?
Speaker:If it was the latter, you are leaning toward openness rather than the opposite.
Speaker:Conscientiousness
Speaker:79 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:52,800 Idealism, creativity, and thirst for new experiences can take you far in life, but how hard you’re willing to work for your goals is another determinant of your success.
Speaker:That’s where the second Big Five comes in: conscientiousness.
Speaker:This is the personality trait that makes you careful and cautious.
Speaker:You’re vigilant in your actions and often think twice, or three times, before making a decision, especially if it wasn’t in your original plans.
Speaker:People who have high levels of conscientiousness tend to be extremely focused on their goals.
Speaker:They plan things out, focusing on the detailed tasks at hand, and they stick to their schedules.
Speaker:They have better control over their impulses, emotions, and behaviors, such that they are able to focus more of their energy on their professional success.
Speaker:While they may not live as adventurously as their peers, they do tend to live longer, thanks in part to their healthier habits.
Speaker:At the other end of the spectrum, people who are not so conscientious tend to be more impulsive and disorganized.
Speaker:They become demotivated by too much structure, can procrastinate on important work, and have a weaker ability to control their behavior.
Speaker:This can lead to more self-destructive habits, such as smoking and substance abuse, and an overall inability to get things done.
Speaker:Impulse control is no easy feat for them.
Speaker:So how conscientious are you?
Speaker:Do you like schedules at work but still find yourself avoiding exercise when you get home?
Speaker:You may embrace some aspects of conscientiousness, like schedules and to-do lists, and not others, like exercising or performing other healthy habits.
Speaker:Most people land somewhere in the middle of the conscientiousness spectrum, but if you can find ways to embrace planning and order a little bit more, you could be setting yourself up for success.
Speaker:Conscientiousness has been linked to better success after training (Woods, Patterson, Koczwara & Sofat, 2016), more effective job performance (Barrick & Mount, 1991), higher job satisfaction, and careers with greater prestige and higher incomes (Judge, Higgins, Thoresen & Barrick, 1999).
Speaker:A study by Soldz and Vaillant (1999) also found that high levels of conscientiousness have helped people better adjust to the challenges of life that will inevitably sneak up on you.
Speaker:Say, just as you’re leaving the office for the day, a colleague comes with another task that he needs urgently.
Speaker:How would you react?
Speaker:If you decide to stay a few more minutes, complete the task, and take your delay in stride, you likely rank higher on the conscientious scale.
Speaker:But if you are already overwhelmed with work as it is and don’t see how you can get it done, you may fall toward the other extreme.
Speaker:Conscientiousness is the preventative medicine we could all use to stop problems before they start.
Speaker:However, too much conscientiousness can also be a bad thing.
Speaker:Such people can easily become overly rigid and dull to be around.
Speaker:They can also be prone to burnout due to the value they place on working hard.
Speaker:Still, conscientiousness is a highly desirable trait overall, one we should all attempt to inculcate in ourselves.
Speaker:Extroversion
Speaker:108 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:31,400 When problems do arise, enthusiasm and optimism are two characteristics that can help carry you through, and that’s where extroversion comes in—the third of the Big Five traits.
Speaker:This is the trait that defines how outgoing or social you are.
Speaker:Extroverts are easy to spot.
Speaker:They’re the life of the party, they’ve got lots of energy, and they know how to talk.
Speaker:Extroverts draw their energy from being around other people, and thrive on being the center of attention.
Speaker:For that reason, they maintain a wide circle of friends and take every opportunity to meet new people.
Speaker:At the other extreme are people who often find extroverts exhausting to be around: introverts.
Speaker:Why spend time trying to make conversation with large groups of people when you can be at home with your own thoughts?
Speaker:Introverts aren’t shy; they simply prefer solitude to socializing or calm to chaos.
Speaker:Do you wish office parties would never end, or do you feel drained after about an hour?
Speaker:Do you enjoy meeting new people, or would you prefer to be cuddled up at home with a good book?
Speaker:Are you a morning person, or do you truly wake up when the sun goes down?
Speaker:If you’re often the last one to leave a social gathering, you enjoy being around people, and you thrive on the late-night hours, you likely rank high on the extroversion scale.
Speaker:If, on the other hand, you dread the thought of going to parties, would rather stay home alone, and prefer to wake up bright and early to start your day, you’re probably more of an introvert.
Speaker:Depending on the day, you may be inclined to go either way.
Speaker:However, by and large, people typically place somewhere along the spectrum between the two.
Speaker:And while it might have once been thought that those who wake up early and keep to themselves were prone to be more successful, extroversion is actually a strong predictor of who will be a leader (Barrick & Mount, 1991).
Speaker:Think about it: if you’re comfortable being around people, they’re more likely to be comfortable around you.
Speaker:If you like starting conversations, you could find yourself with a wider social network in which to mobilize.
Speaker:And if you’re more assertive, people might be more prone to believe in you.
Speaker:Moreover, because extroverts thrive on social approval, they are more likely to work hard in order to improve their standing among peers.
Speaker:These are all the makings of a successful leader.
Speaker:That’s not to say that introverts can’t lead.
Speaker:It may just require taking a few more steps outside of their comfort zone.
Speaker:However, it’s often the case that introverts are simply not interested in being leaders.
Speaker:Introverts do not prioritize status or social approval, and more than happy when others take the rein.
Speaker:For them, it’s a waste of energy that could be much better utilized in their own personal endeavors.
Speaker:Agreeableness
Speaker:137 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:31,880 When you’re stepping out of your comfort zone, it never hurts to have a helping hand or someone to encourage you along the way.
Speaker:These kinds of people rank high on the agreeableness scale—the fourth of the Big Five personality traits.
Speaker:This is the trait that identifies how kind and sympathetic you are and how warm and cooperative you are with others.
Speaker:Do you tend to take a big interest in other people and their problems?
Speaker:When you see others going through difficulties, does it affect you, too?
Speaker:If you’re empathetic and caring toward others and driven by the desire to help, you may be quite an agreeable person.
Speaker:You feel their pain and are driven to do something about it.
Speaker:At the other end of the spectrum, people who are less agreeable may find they take less of an interest in other people’s lives.
Speaker:Instead of trying to work together to solve a problem, they may be more content to go it alone.
Speaker:Because of their nature, they may often be perceived as offensive or unpleasant to be around.
Speaker:We all have different thresholds for how much we’re willing to do for others and how much we’re willing to work together.
Speaker:That limit is where you rank on the agreeableness spectrum.
Speaker:Why people are so agreeable is still up for debate.
Speaker:For some, it’s the genuine concern for the well-being of others.
Speaker:For others, it’s the result of social pressure and accepted norms.
Speaker:Fear of consequences can be a motivating factor.
Speaker:Some agreeable people may be acting that way because they are petrified of social confrontation.
Speaker:Whatever the case, research has shown that agreeable people are rarely cruel, ruthless, or selfish (Roccas, Sagiv, Schwartz & Knafo, 2002).
Speaker:However, this also means that agreeable people generally do worse when it comes to their careers.
Speaker:This is easy to see.
Speaker:For example, an agreeable person is much less likely to take up the issue of low pay, whereas a disagreeable person will probably tell their boss they deserve more.
Speaker:If you’re looking for ways to be a little bit happier, figuring out where you lie on the agreeable index may be a good way to start.
Speaker:It’s easy to stereotype disagreeable people as simply selfish and unempathetic, but things aren’t that simple.
Speaker:While it is true that disagreeable people are more likely to be that way, the thing that makes them so is their reduced sensitivity to conflict, not an innate lack of feelings.
Speaker:These are the people who are unafraid to hold unpopular views, who will give you a piece of their mind if they feel you deserve it, and aren’t always swayed by appeals to emotions.
Speaker:You might believe that it’s simply “nicer” to be agreeable, but that isn’t necessarily the case.
Speaker:Agreeable people are generally perceived more favorably by others, but this comes at the cost of being unable to assert their own needs.
Speaker:This doesn’t just impact their professional lives in the form of lower pay, lower titles, and lower status.
Speaker:It pervades other aspects of life such as relationships too.
Speaker:Disagreeable people might prioritize their own interests above others, but this does not automatically make them less nice.
Speaker:Neuroticism
Speaker:169 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,160 We all have those days when nothing is how it seems.
Speaker:You think your coworkers are out to get you.
Speaker:You’re so anxious you can’t sleep.
Speaker:You feel like you’re caught in a Woody Allen film.
Speaker:But if you find yourself having lots of those days, to the point where you feel more down than you do up, you may have high levels of the last of the Big Five traits: neuroticism.
Speaker:This is the personality trait that essentially measures how emotionally stable you are.
Speaker:It identifies your ability to remain steady and balanced versus anxious, insecure, or depressed.
Speaker:Neurotics tend to approach life with a high dose of anxiety.
Speaker:They worry more than most, and their moods can shift quickly and with little prompting.
Speaker:This kind of behavior can make them prone to being stressed or even depressed.
Speaker:Those on the less neurotic side of the spectrum tend to be more emotionally stable.
Speaker:When stress comes their way, they have an easier time dealing with it.
Speaker:Bouts of sadness are few and far between, and they see fewer reasons to stress about whatever may come their way.
Speaker:For some, this can be a virtual superpower.
Speaker:Even major stressors like losing a job, getting a divorce, etc., aren’t likely to phase stable people too much.
Speaker:However, being too low in neuroticism may also lead to underestimating harms in different situations and being overly optimistic even when it isn’t warranted.
Speaker:Do you find yourself using humor to cope with a challenge, or do problems tend to stress you out?
Speaker:Are you pretty levelheaded all day long, or do you switch from hot to cold in a heartbeat?
Speaker:If you take things in stride and usually only have one mood per day, you’re probably less neurotic than others.
Speaker:But if you have many moods in the space of a short amount of time and are anxious more often than not, you’re probably on the more neurotic side.
Speaker:We all fall somewhere along this spectrum, but how you answer these questions is a good indication of which way you lean.
Speaker:If you’re higher on the neurotic scale, you’re more likely to suffer from poor job performance, and it may take more to get you motivated (Judge & Ilies, 2002).
Speaker:Setting goals for yourself and sticking to them can be a challenge.
Speaker:However, being neurotic doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom.
Speaker:After all, worrying about our health is what keeps us taking vitamins and visiting the doctor’s office for checkups.
Speaker:Neurotics are less likely to ignore the dangers or pitfalls with every decision, ensuring that they have more realistic outlooks on things.
Speaker:In that case, neurotics may actually be one step ahead.
Speaker:Takeaways:
Speaker:198 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:35,960 • The Big Five personality traits are one of the first attempts to classify people based on specific traits rather than as a whole.
Speaker:You can remember the traits easily with the acronym OCEAN: openness to experience (trying new things), conscientiousness (being cautious and careful), extroversion (drawing energy from others and social situations), agreeableness (warm and sympathetic), and neuroticism (anxious and high-strung).
Speaker:• Each attribute in the OCEAN acronym has some advantages and disadvantages.
Speaker:For example, being neurotic makes you highly prone to stress and anxiety, but it also leads you to realistically evaluate situations and problems better.
Speaker:Being agreeable generally ensures that you are well-liked, but it means you might be less successful professionally.
Speaker:• Extroverts generally experience more positive experiences and are renowned for being the life of the party.
Speaker:However, they can also be exhausting to be around, especially for introverts.
Speaker:Being conscientious makes it very easy to pursue and fulfil your goals, have a structured routine, and acquire higher social status.
Speaker:But if you’re too high on this trait, it might also make you boring and dull because you aren’t spontaneous enough.
Speaker:Lastly, openness to experience means that you’re constantly experiencing new and exciting things in your life.
Speaker:However, it also makes it easy for you to struggle with routine since you need higher levels of stimulation to remain interested in what you’re doing.
Speaker:As we wrap up this episode, I want to encourage you to take the next step in your self-discovery journey.
Speaker:If you haven't already, pick up a copy of Nick Trenton's book, "How to Find Yourself."
Speaker:This incredible resource will guide you through the process of understanding your own personality traits and how they can shape your life.
Speaker:You can find the book on Amazon, and I highly recommend getting the audiobook as well.
Speaker:The audiobook is available on Amazon, iTunes, and Audible, so you can listen to it anywhere, anytime.
Speaker:As you explore the world of self-discovery, remember to stay present in the moment and find peace in your journey.
Speaker:Until next time, remember to stay curious, embrace your uniqueness, and continue on the path to calm.
Speaker:Take care, and may you find peace in every moment.
