Supportive traits are like great personal assistants that help us navigate through life’s challenges more smoothly. From handling day-to-day responsibilities to tackling complex issues, we often and consciously rely on these trusted aides—our supportive traits—knowing that they are capable and reliable at what they do. Ultimately, living in the absence of our supportive traits is akin to losing both our arms; we would struggle tremendously to function without them.

Your habits shape your identity,
and your identity shapes your habits.

James Clear

As our supportive traits come naturally to us, we tend to employ them effortlessly, as if we are writing and drawing with our dominant hand. Therefore, we often take our supportive traits for granted, not realizing how valuable they are to someone of a different archetype. If left unchecked, we might even run the risk of overusing them, preventing other parts of ourselves from flourishing.

Like our dominant traits, our supportive traits are simply facets of our personalities. Whether they are strengths or weaknesses is entirely dependent on the way we utilize them. If we cultivate and develop our supportive traits well, they can become valuable additions to our toolbox of super strengths. However, if we use them in an unhealthy manner, the same traits will ultimately lead to our undoing.

Productivity must be developed and cultivated; it does not just happen. Chiefs are adept at designing their work environment for this purpose. In ensuring that their visions may be realized without delay, Chiefs always put game plans and strategies in place. They purposefully set up their process in such a way that even the most sluggish person can somehow contribute to the community. With that said, one can always count on Chiefs to get the job done effectively.

Strategies that rely on key concepts may guide Chiefs in many situations. But when a storm brings them out to uncharted waters, some Chiefs might find themselves lost like a fish out of water. Forced to ditch their plans, they may not warm up to improvised ideas that could prove useful. These Chiefs might insist on their failed strategies, still trying to fit square pegs into round holes. Helplessly unable to sail the winds of change, they will only be left stranded at sea.

To safeguard their plans, some Chiefs might end up micromanaging everyone around them. They demand adherence to strict standards, believing that any minor mistake will lead to a major catastrophe. For them, the point of strategizing is to attain perfection, and that will not be possible if every minute detail is not under their control. However, because of their fixation with impeccable standards, others might deem Chiefs too difficult to work with.

Every so often, Chiefs experience a spark of insight. This single realization, no matter how profound or basic, can flood their whole life with purpose. As such, Chiefs are compelled to always improve their understanding of life. Specifically, they emphasize on developing a rational and practical understanding of it because they want to live more effectively. As these realizations keep occurring, Chiefs will eventually make sense of humanity's place in the world.

However, realizations plucked from thin air are questionable at best. No matter how much some Chiefs may deliberate over an idea, they might neglect to ground it on any factual basis. Without the backing of facts and data, others might not be convinced that the Chief's insight has any practical merit. Even if some Chiefs claim to know the answers to life's biggest mysteries, their revelations would not hold any weight in the absence of evidence.

While these realizations will often prompt Chiefs to ask profound questions regarding humanity's place in the universe, they tend to overthink it. Consumed by heavy thoughts, Chiefs may frequently feel anxious about life. They might strive to solve the enigma of existence, only to become mired in a downward spiral with no clear answers. If left unchecked, these spiraling thoughts might run the risk of sinking Chiefs into serious depression.

While others may feel lost, Chiefs see a clear destination. Their ability to think strategically enables them to anticipate and overcome future challenges, making them highly competent in any endeavor they might undertake. In case their strategies do not work out as expected, Chiefs are quick to revise them, ensuring effectiveness as they progress. Thus, these strategic visions give Chiefs an upperhand, allowing them to stay ten steps ahead of everyone else at all times.

Regrettably, plans rarely go exactly as envisioned. No matter how thorough their strategies may be, some Chiefs might find it difficult
to keep pace with an ever-changing world. With so many variables, every perfect strategy will likely falter in its execution. Unsatisfied, these Chiefs would return to the drawing board to design a better vision. However, the situation might repeat itself due to the volatile nature of reality, trapping Chiefs in a tragic pursuit for perfection.

Worse still, some Chiefs might become delusional in their quest to attain perfection. They would not hesitate to twist facts simply to fit
their narrative. Having a warped view of reality, their visions may also become progressively extreme, as strategic designs turn into fanatic delusions. As a result, others may think them absurd. Unsurprisingly, these Chiefs would fall by their own hands, proving others right when they double down on their extreme perspectives.

Thus far, we have explored both the Chief's dominant and supportive traits. In our jargon, these traits are known as one's heroic traits. Think about it, don't we all look like heroes when we put these traits to use? Not just wannabe heroes, but real ones—those who are truly powerful yet unimpressed with their own abilities.

Superhuman strength and the ability to fly are awesome superpowers that we all wished we had. But Superman doesn't pride himself in any of those abilities. To him, using those powers to save the world is just another day on the job. Similarly, even though we are great at our dominant and supportive traits, we do not find them the least bit amazing. From our perspective, there is nothing special about these mundane things that we do every day.

That said, as heroic as our traits may seem, no hero in the world is perfect. Even the most powerful heroes, such as Naruto, Thor, or Wonder Woman, have their own flaws and weaknesses. However, that does not invalidate them as heroes; it only makes them all the more admirable. The same goes for our own heroic traits. They may not be perfect, but our strive to improve them is what sets us apart.

I am not a hero. I just did what any
decent person would have done.

Miep Gies

When our heroic traits bask in the light, they will inevitably cast shadows—traits that we tend to neglect. Our shadows are foreign to us, as they are the complete opposite of our natural traits. Because we fear what we don't understand, most of us will subconsciously push away or suppress these parts of ourselves. Unfortunately, if we allow the fear of failure to overpower our minds, these suppressed shadows will eventually swallow us whole.

Nevertheless, shadows are not our weaknesses. They are simply parts of ourselves that we are unfamiliar with, and therefore, would rather avoid. But if we harness our shadows, they will eventually become our hidden strengths. It may be daunting at first to explore these dark and unknown parts of ourselves. However, with a curious mind and a compassionate heart, there's nothing to be afraid of. With that said, let us venture deep into the shadows within us.

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Shadows Within [Chief]