If humans were computers, our dominant traits would be the operating system that is embedded and hard-coded in our minds. These deeply ingrained behaviors run on autopilot, driving our every action without conscious thought. Like breathing or blinking, we can actively choose to control our actions with enough concentration. However, most of the time, our recurring behaviors seem to be driven by our subconscious, functioning effortlessly and instinctively.

Instinct is a marvelous thing. It can
neither be explained nor ignored.

Agatha Christie

Dominant traits are often mistaken as strengths in most other personality systems. But here in Personality Ninja, we hold a different view. To us, traits are just traits, shaped by the wiring of our cognitive functions. Whether a trait is good or bad largely depends on the way it is used. As such, these traits can either be the source of one's greatest strengths, or the cause of their biggest downfall.

Naturally, we will hone our dominant traits, refining them into our super strengths. However, if we are not careful, there is a chance that we may push our dominant traits into overdrive, manifesting them in very unhealthy ways. In the end, our dominant traits are our natural tendencies and nothing more. The key to harnessing them effectively lies in knowing when, where, and how to use them.

If there is one thing Ignitors excel at, it is coming up with ideas that work. With just a snap of their fingers, they can generate a variety of them, all backed by numerous reasons. Even when they appear idle, their minds are constantly brewing up ways to either improve existing systems or reinvent them entirely. That is why Ignitors are often seen as unstoppable forces of change, because to them, there are always a million ways to make things better.

But here is the catch: most of their thoughts tend to work only in theory. What plays out in their minds might actually turn out differently in reality. The problem is that their imaginations often exclude a bunch of crucial factors and challenges that could make or break an idea. So, while Ignitors may have a ton of creative ways to transform the status quo, all of their suggestions might fall flat when put to the test.

Both a blessing and a curse, the buzzing creativity of Ignitors is a double-edged sword that often betrays them. Although it is the reason their heads are jam-packed with ideas, it is also why they find it hard to focus on a single one. Like water running through fingers, streams of ideas will often slip their minds as soon as they appear. If Ignitors refuse to commit, they will find themselves going down a barren path where none of their ideas will ever amount to anything significant.

Given their open-minded yet logical outlook, Ignitors find no problem accepting any idea as long as it makes logical sense. To them, even perspectives that are downright controversial are up for discussion. For obvious reasons, they tend to be quite progressive and are often early adopters of ideas that have not been widely accepted yet. Thus, when Ignitors choose to make a move, they might just be the first to topple a domino of change, reforming the way society sees things.

This comes at a cost though, as Ignitors who see all sides of every idea or argument might constantly struggle to reach a conclusion. In their shoes, there's merit in every perspective out there, making it hard to pick a stance or a choice. It can be quite the dilemma for Ignitors because making a decision would mean shutting off the doors to every other possibility. As such, they are often reluctant to decide until the very last minute, costing them more opportunities in the long run.

At the extreme end, Ignitors who are receptive to everything might find themselves worst off. It's pointless to make a case for concepts that aren't even backed up by an inkling of factual evidence, especially if it's done for the sake of it. Without any brakes, Ignitors might believe in the most ridiculous of things. They need to keep in mind that just because an idea holds the slightest possibility of being true, doesn't mean it should be given any weight.

To the casual eye, the world is merely what is shown on the surface. Ignitors see beyond that, recognizing the invisible connections that lay hidden to most. They see them in every facet of life, whether it be between things, people, facts, or concepts. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that Ignitors can effortlessly link distant concepts together at breakneck speeds, giving birth to an infinite amount of possibilities in the blink of an eye.

That being said, this comes with a downside. The process of linking concepts at every moment often translates into how they communicate. It's not uncommon for them to talk about one thing while their minds are already onto another. As a result, Ignitors tend to skim across multiple topics in a single sentence. When this happens, others are left confused, struggling to keep up with what they are saying.

At times, the connections made by Ignitors might even lead them to patterns that are way out of reality. If they have zero regard for what is factually possible, they will easily become convinced of misinformed ideas. In such cases, they might cherry-pick facts and concepts that only support their assumptions. Without any sense shaken into them, they will force their version of reality onto the world, resulting in a heavily distorted worldview.

Ignitors find nothing is more enjoyable than working alongside others, as everyone has a unique perspective that offers a diversity of thoughts and opinions. Moreover, collaborations allow them to share their ideas with different people and receive a variety of new concepts in return. Apart from fuelling their creativity, collaborations are also a way for Ignitors to check the practicality of their ideas, as the combined brainpower of a group will always overshadow that of one.

Despite that, Ignitors often find it hard to settle for just a handful of collaborations. They want more group projects even when their plates are overflowing. By being involved in so many things at once, Ignitors subject themselves to an impossible juggling act, blindfolded on a tightrope. As such, they can barely keep up with everything, let alone excel in one. When they eventually lose their balance, they will fall along with everything they have worked on, failing spectacularly.

To make matters worse, Ignitors may grow reliant on others to get things done. Although collaborations are a great source of motivation, Ignitors who draw too much from it might lose their own inner drive. When they are alone with no one around to hold them accountable, they might slack off and procrastinate until someone gives them a shove. Ignitors who are like this are no different than cars with an empty tank; they can't go anywhere unless they are towed.

To wrap it up, dominant traits are neither our strengths nor are they our weaknesses. They are simply traits we tend to exhibit naturally in our daily lives without much realization.

The biggest reminder here is this: a trait is a trait. It is a unique characteristic of an archetype, each carrying its own pros and cons. With that understanding, let us now venture into the next set of traits that we do more consciously—our supportive traits.

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Supportive Traits [Ignitor]