DISC assessment thoughts and understanding.

https://www.tonyrobbins.com/disc/.

So back when I had a career, Colliers had me take a course involving a DISC assessment. At the time I was not completely sold on it until two things happened. The individual running the call made two very accurate statements about me after I did my DISC assessment. He told me I needed to ask myself " Do I want to be right or do I want to relate" the other thing he said happened later in the call which was " You have the type of personality that will try and adapt to any situation for as long as you can until you will eventually just pack up leave town and change your name figuratively" I was one week away from doing just that.  So it's always been in the back of my mind as an interesting tool for self discovery. I have used it to fight the urge to run at times and also often asked myself if I want to be right or I want to relate.


 I recently stumbled on the DISC assessment and wanted to try it again. My main curiosity was around how my now fully in remission depression might change things or how my own personal growth over the last 15 years might impact things.

My findings were they had not altered my basic core self. If anything my core values had become stronger.

Here are my motivators:

Aesthetic - Low
You may be more interested in functional approaches that generate a
practical return rather than experiencing the uniqueness of a process.

Economic - Very Low
You appreciate and are likely satisfied with what you already have and
will not exert your emotional energy to gain more.

Individualistic - High
You likely won’t mind the spotlight, will bring independent ideas to bear,
and may excel in front of others.

Power - Very Low
You don’t need to be behind the wheel and won’t mind yielding your
position to avoid controversy.

Altruistic - Very High
You will seek to benefit others at your own personal expense and may
find it very difficult to fight for what you want.

Regulatory - Average
You understand structure but will not be bound by another’s idea if it
does not work for you.

Theoretical - Very High
You have an excessive need to uncover, discover, and recover the truth
and will spend the necessary time to learn it all.



_____________


When I try and explain my true self and not my mental illness self this assessment hits on the mark.  I think this could be a profound tool in depression recovery.  One thing that has really been hard about the depression being gone ( not numbed but there. But straight up gone in between treatments) has been figuring out who I am with out it. Figuring out how to be proud of who I am with out it and figuring out how to trust my brain.

Any way the next part that really stuck out for me was the universal assets.  So with theoretical and altruistic being my highest motivators my main assets are:

Theoretical Motivator: The desire to uncover, discover, and recover the "truth.” This need to gain knowledge for
knowledge sake is the result of an “itchy” brain. Rational thinking (frontal lobe), reasoning and problem solving are
important to this dimension. This is all about the “need” to know why.
Universal Assets:
• You will spend a lot of time getting to the bottom of something.
• You have an excessive need to uncover, discover, and recover the truth.
• Your intellectual capacity may seem limitless.
• You don't like it when someone says, "trust me."

The Altruistic Motivator: An expression of the need or energy to benefit others at the expense of self. At times,
there’s genuine sincerity in this dimension to help others, but not always. Oftentimes an intense level within this
dimension is more associated with low self-worth.
Universal Assets:
• You will appreciate kind and good-hearted people and may avoid the self-interested.
• Asking for something may feel wrong to you whereas giving will feel right.
• You might rather give it away as opposed to sell it.
• You are likely very sincere and may show an exaggerated concern for others.

_____________________

Both of these sit very high, higher even than the average of individuals with these as main motivators.

Reading these characteristics as assets was amazing. These are the things I value most about myself. I have however always felt there was no real place for me in the world as these values often can get me in trouble. If not  in direct trouble then when coupled with my  complete lack of economic and powe value  these characteristics can turn me into a doormat until I figuratively or literally flee and change my whole life. 

The idea occured to me though that embracing these characteristics as my own assets and my own contribution to the world is exactly what acceptance of me looks like.  My joy in service to others or my need to really understand the people in my life, my need to ask hard questions and find answers and aviod superficial realationships is the very thing that makes me special.

It's no wonder I am completely confused by human interaction often though. Given our world is becoming increasingly superficial not only do I not value the superficial nature of relationships I desperately want answers real ones.

I once had friends who I could talk about this endlessly but every one grew up or moved on. Or  my depression and shame around my motivators killed the relationship.

I am sharing this in hopes of finding others like me.  Who maybe also tried to change everything about themselves so the world would see them as valuable.


Do you sit way above the norm in theoretical and altruistic motivators?

Or maybe you will read this and take the DISC and learn something cool about yourself and share it!