To continually improve your life, you need to better understand yourself; your strengths and weaknesses. There are dozens of personality assessments commonly used today in business and for personal use such as StrengthsFinder, Myers-Briggs and Values in Action.

I recently learned of a new system called The Color Code. This assessment looks at your strengths and limitations and how you react to different situations. What is unique is that the instructions are explicit that you answer from the viewpoint of how you behaved as a child. The final result places you into a color category with a dominant motive.

I completed the assessment and learned that I’m very much a blue. I supposed that would make me Midnight Blue. Blues are motivated by intimacy. The summary results and video shown upon completion of the assessment state that I need to genuinely connect with others, that I’m loyal to friends, employees and employers and that everything I do is quality based. Most important, I need to create meaningful relationships and to serve and give of myself freely to nurture others’ lives. I’d say that’s a fair assessment knowing myself and given my profession.

The real value of assessments, however, comes from having your shadow side held up for examination. Working with a coach or through self-exploratory exercises, you can examine how these darker traits show up in your life and how you might better integrate them into a more positive whole. For example, my very blue personality can make me worry-prone and moody when I’m at my worst. I’m aware of these traits so I’m mindful of how I’m reacting to others if I’m under an unusual amount of stress. I use “thought trapping,” pausing to look at the root cause of a feeling, to check my responses when I’m in an off mood.

You can take the basic Color Code analysis for free.  Once completed, let me know what you learned about yourself. Were there any surprises? How might you address the traits that show up when you’re not at your best?

Photo credit: scottwills / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND