Responsible
Commit, Follow Through, Walk Your Talk
"Keep your word, always."
Total Character Score
3.7
Character Statements
I will do everything I can to keep my word, especially being on time.
3.7
I expect myself to follow through, and finish what I started.
3.7
I take ownership of things that really aren’t my responsibility.
3.7
Your Responsible is the part of you which gives you:
Reliability, consistency and ownership; the willingness to hold yourself accountable
A determination to follow through on commitments, to make personal sacrifices in order to keep your word
Showing up when you promised, on schedule
The endurance and tenacity to work steadily over time (tortoise > hare)
Playful
Stillness, Presence, Patience, Reflection
"There's fun to be had!"
Total Character Score
3.7
Character Statements
I can have fun almost anywhere.
3.7
I get bored easily, so I like to change it up and try new things.
3.7
I can get so absorbed in fun and play, I sometimes lose track of other priorities.
3.7
Your Playful is the part of you which gives you:
A lightness of spirit; the capacity to have fun anywhere, to find the absurd in anything
Spontaneity, responding in the moment in an unplanned, unconstrained way, living life like an improv comedy sketch
Creativity, imagination, innovation: capable of drawing upon a deep well of creativity, becoming a fountain of ideas.
Overuse Patterns
Your score of 3 suggests moderate risk of over-using Being.
You may be over-using your Responsible if you:
You have a powerful sense that you are responsible for other people; the fear that you might let others down drives you.
You may think of your life as an endless procession of duties and obligations. You may experience a feeling of heaviness, even joylessness, believing that life is serious, and the stakes are high.
You may perceive play and fun as irresponsible, even self-indulgent.
You may not feel that you have much choice in your life. You frame choices as “I have to...,” or “I should...,” or “I must....”
Your virtue of being steady and reliable can trip over into lacking spontaneity. This can feel like being in a rut, repeating habits without enjoyment.
Your score of 3 suggests moderate risk of over-using Being.
You may be over-using your Playful if:
You can be prone to lack of follow through: you have many ideas, but few are implemented.
You like starting more than finishing.
You sometimes react to problems by changing course rather than resolving the barrier.
You can be flighty, impatient, and demonstrate a short attention span.
Your humor and playfulness can be used defensively, using jokes and wisecracks as a form of armor to protect against feeling more difficult feelings, like sadness or fear.
Addressing Overuse
You can address overuse of Responsible by accessing the following strengths of Playful:
Ask yourself the question, “What’s fun about this?”
Add a playful element to a responsible task: for example, play loud music while you cook dinner or drive to work; try dancing rather than running as a workout.
You can address overuse of Playful by accessing the following strengths of Responsible:
When you let someone down, or fail to follow through on a commitment, or show up late, apologize. Recognize that your emphasis on being spontaneous and free can have unintended negative impacts on those you care about.
Give more time and attention to planning. Without plans, you are likely to make choices based on what’s most pleasurable, sometimes at the cost of what’s most important.
Balancing Rational Feeling
Why does Rational/Feeling balance matter?
To integrate reason and passion in service of making wiser decisions.
To have both a clear mind and an open heart.
How do you know if Rational and Feeling are balanced?
You find solutions that honor what’s logical (head) and that also honor deeper wants and needs (heart).