Understanding the Big Five..What your personality traits say about you (and a workbook)
Hey everyone,
I got some messages from people heree asking about the Big Five personality model...what it is, how it works etc.. So I thought Id break it down here in a simple way, and share some thoughts about why it’s such a powerful tool.
The big five is a personality model that breaks down human traits into five dimensions. It is one of the most reliable scales in personality research. The idea is, we all fall somewhere on a spectrum for each one... and there’s no “right” or “wrong” spot, just different ways these traits show up in our lives.
The first one is Openness to Experience. This is all about how curious, creative, or open-minded you are. If you’re high on openness, you probably love exploring new ideas, trying new things, or thinking outside the box. But honestly, too much openness can leave you feeling a bit ungrounded....like youre constantly chasing new ideas but never sticking with one. Maybe you’ve started a ton of projects but cant seem to finish them. Sound familiar? It does to me :)!
Next is Conscientiousness, which is about discipline, planning, organization, and sticking to long-term goals. People high in conscientiousness are usually reliable, focused, and really good at getting things done. But here’s the flip side.....if you’re too conscientious, you might become a perfectionist or burn yourself out trying to get it right all the time. It’s like feeling guilty for taking a break even when you’ve earned it.
Then we have Extraversion. This oneis about how energized you feel around other people. If you’re high on extraversion, you’re probably outgoing and love socializing. But, honestly, sometimes being too extroverted can mean you don’t spend enough time recharging or reflecting. It’s like saying yes to every party and then wondering why you feel drained or out of touch with yourself.
Agreeableness comes next, which is all about kindness, empathy, and being cooperative (such lovely traits btw). If you’re high on agreeableness, you’re probably great at building relationships and avoiding conflict and maintaining harmony. But too much of that can turn into people-pleasing and somewhat losing one's identity, where you’re always putting others’ needs before your own. Like agreeing to something you don’t really want to do just to keep the peace.
Last one is Neuroticism which measures emotional stability and how you handle stress. If youare high on neuroticism, you might be more prone to anxiety or overthinking. But here’s the thing which is it’s not all bad actaully . People with higher neuroticism are often deeply reflective and very in tune with their emotions. The challenge is learning how to channel that in a way that doesn’t overwhelm you, like not replaying awkward moments in your head for hours.
What I really love about the Big Five is that it’s not about labeling oneself or putting oneself in a box. It’s about understanding how these traits show up in one's life, where they help one, and where they might hold one back. It’s also a reminder that no trait is inherently good or bad...it’s all about how one balances them eh..
If this resonates with you, I actually have a workbook I have been sharing it with others here that dives deeper into the Big Five (DM me if interested). It helps you figure out where you stand on each dimension, how those traits impact your life, and how to work with them instead of against them. I’ve shared it before here, and I’d be happy to share it again...completely free. Just DM me if you’re interested!
I hope this is helpful and informative! I’d love to hear your thoughts or answer any questions you have about the big five.