The best personality test can’t help you. Knowing your type only helps you if 1) it’s accurate and 2) you put your knowledge into action.

Have you ever experienced habitual conflict with a loved one that seemed unavoidable and unsolvable?

Have you ever gotten stuck in negativity from comparing yourself with others?

Have you ever felt stuck in unhealthy choices without the energy or direction to change?

Of course you have, because we all have.

The best personality test will only make a difference in our lives if we use it to understand not our own selves only, but also other people.

Understanding your personality, through the best personality test or through trial and error – and your homeschool personality – will help you unravel tensions and unproductive behaviors faster than anything.

Not only that, if you also know your spouse’s, children’s, or mother’s personality, then those seemingly unavoidable conflicts can be quickly diffused – knowing the personality patterns shows the way to choose understanding and appreciation over conflict and turmoil.

The best personality test doesn’t waste your time.

Geeking out on MBTI typing can be an awesome way to waste a day or a week, but so much of it is based on career advice or the work place that it’s difficult to see how it applies to moms at home, raising children.

But what we have is a personality hotbed. The best personality test can’t sort that out for us. We are still left, after the test, with those distinct and different types in our homes.

We need to work in line with, and not against our own personalities and our husband’s and our children’s. Sometimes that means going against “common wisdom” or received practices – and sometimes it doesn’t.

We need to account for each child’s personality, and help each one develop his own strengths, rather than try to make them conform to our own.

We need to be effective and wise counselors, guiding our children and our friends (not to mention ourselves) toward greater understanding, maturity, and kindness.

Knowing personality typing gives us the vocabulary to talk about each other’s strengths and weaknesses with sympathy and grace. With new categories in our minds, we can better interpret the dynamic playing out in our homes and address it effectively.

Instead of escalating or ignoring conflict, we can see the path of resolution.

Disclaimer: I am an enthusiast on the topic, not an expert and have no credentials in the matter. I only read, think, and talk about it all the time. So sometimes I also have to write about it. Humor me.

Articles that are better than personality tests:

My guest posts on personality typing:

The best personality test is picking yourself from a list of descriptions, not taking a long and subjective quiz:

Find help that fits your personality:

Podcasts on Mom Personality Types:

Resources:

Learn more in The Practical Personality Portfolio.

  • a 13-page handbook explaining in simple and straightforward terms, with clear and insightful charts. With this handbook, you’ll be able to work out personality types without silly online tests.
  • a profile page for each personality that is both highly detailed and concise. In an easy-to-read format, these profile pages will give you a cheat-sheet to understand how to work with and appreciate each type.
  • a single-page reference sheet to apply cognitive functions to your children’s education.
  • an ever-growing online resource page with links to all my articles and podcasts on personality, video explanations, FAQs, and an annotated bibliography.
  • access to a forum to discuss applications and implications of personality within the home.

With these resources in hand, you can not only type yourself and your children, but also know what to do based on that information. You’ll learn

  • what motivates each type
  • what stresses each type
  • what stress looks like in each type
  • how each type can destress
  • what discourages each type
  • how each type prefers to work and relate to others
  • what is difficult for each type
  • what gift each type brings to the world
  • and much more!

Now included in Simply Convivial Membership!

  • Get gospel-focused advice and encouragement.
  • Level up your plans and progress, one step at a time.
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  • Experience the homemaking mentoring you’ve always wanted.
  • Learn to love being a homemaker!
The direction & accountability homemakers need to make noticeable progress in their home management skills.

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