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.

Guardians are reliable when it comes to organizing their communities. They will always come up with a plan and work diligently to ensure that everyone is on the same page. To create a successful team, Guardians not only ensure that everyone is happy with their roles, but also unite everyone towards a common goal. By being attentive and meticulous, they carefully guide others to ensure that everyone is clear with their roles and are progressing with the plan.

Although Guardians are known to be reliable organizers, they can sometimes be too rigid with their plans. Always wanting to play it safe, they may dismiss new ideas from their team, particularly after their plans have already been set in motion. What Guardians should recognize is that things do not always go as planned, and by being more flexible and open to new ideas, it can lead to more successful outcomes in the long run.

At their worst, Guardians might become micromanagers, particularly when things do not align with their expectations. They might dissuade others from trying out different methods, all to ensure that things are done their way. However, this only creates tension between them and others as nobody likes to be controlled. With time, Guardians will realize that it is okay to trust their team more. Just because someone does something differently, it does not mean that it is wrong; it is simply another way of achieving the same outcome.

Guardians never fail to fulfill their roles. Not wanting to let others down, they take their duties very seriously, carrying it out as perfectly as they can. They pay attention to every single detail, as they believe it is the little things that matter the most. Being so detailed in perfecting their duties, Guardians are the ones people can count on, not only to meet expectations but to exceed them.

However, Guardians can be overly particular at times, placing too much emphasis on the specifics. They become fixated on getting every tiny detail right, even the ones that do not make much of a difference. This obsession can cause them to work on the same task over and over again until it is perfect in their eyes. And although they might think what they are doing is extremely important, in reality, their efforts are being wasted on something pointless.

Some Guardians may take it a step further and hold those around them to the same unrealistic standards. They nitpick every little imperfection that they come across, appearing hypercritical. Even the smallest mistakes might upset these Guardians, and they may hound others until their standards are met. Unfortunately, such behavior only leads to dissatisfaction for everyone involved, causing frustration all around.

Only through peace and stability, can harmony be fostered among the people. Guardians believe that the best way to ensure stability is by making sure everyone's needs are met. They are always looking out for their communities, planning and preparing with others in mind. To Guardians, nothing beats seeing the smiles on the faces of those they have kept safely under their wing.

That being said, Guardians may get very uptight at times, following traditions without question. They do everything by the book, not wanting to invite any chaos. They might also urge others to do the same, even if they do not understand the significance behind the traditions they are insisting on. If Guardians continue to do so, they risk sowing disharmony within their communities.

On top of that, the future is often dangerous for Guardians who dwell in their comfort zones. Although they might feel like they are standing on steady ground, they are actually balancing on a tightrope. That's because they are not used to adapting, so when unexpected changes do hit them, they will lose balance and fall. At its worst, Guardians may even become paralyzed, overwhelmed by the sudden loss of control.

Thus far, we have explored both the Guardian'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 [Guardian]