What Is Your Character Symbol?

studying till the sun goes downMany personality tests suggest that people fall into four dominant personality types. I was wondering if character types could be generalised in a similar way. My calculator suggested a useful approach.

As with personality types, there may be some overlaps but you should be able to discern one dominant type that largely describes you. Here’s my unauthorised, tongue-in-cheek version of your character symbol: you are either an add-er, a subtract-er, a multiplier, or a divider.

Creative Commons License photo credit: jekert gwapo

1. Add-ers

These are people who bring something positive to every situation. We welcome their presence because the place is better by their being there.

a. Contributors. Add-ers are those who always bring a bottle of wine or a cake to any occasion, or help with the washing up, or offer to watch the kids while the adults converse.

b. Listeners. Instead of hogging the limelight, Add-ers allow others to speak while they listen attentively. They make you feel like you matter, and you love having them around.

c. Positive thinkers. When others launch into spiteful gossip or otherwise descend on a downward spiral, they throw a positive spin on the situation and keep the atmosphere sunny.

2. Subtract-ers

Your heart sinks when you find out that these people are going to be at a function. They sap energy from you by being needy and demanding.

a. Whiners. Nothing seems to go well for subtract-ers, who can always find a reason to be dis-satisfied. They love to share their unhappiness with anyone within earshot.

b. Victims. Life is cruel to this lot, who suffer from discrimination at work, neglect by their partners, and are generally always treated badly. According to themselves, of course.

c. Damsels (and lords) in distress. These modern day royalty cannot do anything for themselves because they are too weak or too pampered. The world is their servant, including you.

3. Multipliers

With these wonderful people around, you feel like anything is possible. You are challenged to live life to the full, to maximise your potential. They make you better than you could be on your own.

a. Role models. By showing you what a fully self-actualised human being is, they inspire you to be the best you can be. You model yourself after their generosity, love, or wisdom.

b. Encouragers. They make you believe in yourself and give you the push you need to go for what you want in life. When you feel like giving up, they give you a smile that says “keep going.”

c. Mentors. These generous souls are willing to share their wisdom with you to save you time and heartache by not having to make the same mistakes they did.

4. Dividers

Worse than subtract-ers who merely annoy for the moment, dividers make you a lesser person by diminishing your attitude and self-worth with their small-mindedness.

a. Dream stealers. These spiritual thieves cast a casual glance over your heartfelt desires, then throw doubt in your face as they quietly crush your precious dreams.

b. Rumour mongers. They waste your time by dealing in unfounded gossip that usually serves no one’s interest, and try to entice you to engage in the same small-mindedness.

c. Hate spreaders. Like a cancer that starts small but eventually consumes your whole body, they seem like harmless grumblers at first but infect you with the seeds of poisonous thoughts.

Which is your symbol?

Although I’m being light-hearted with this, I suspect there is a grain of truth in here somewhere. I have probably been all of these mathematical symbols myself at various points in my life, and add or multiply more in some of my roles than in others.

What about you? In this very simplistic character analysis, where do you fall most of the time? You don’t have to answer here, of course. Just give some thought to your mathematical function in life and the impact on those around you.

  • Share/Bookmark


If you like this post, why not sign up for more?


Posted by Daphne | October 13, 2008 | in Think Deeply


One Response to “What Is Your Character Symbol?”

  1. Personal Development Posts | Personal Hack
    November 17th, 2008 @ 11:18 am

    [...] presents What Is Your Character Symbol? posted at Joyful Days, saying, “Here’s sn unauthorised, tongue-in-cheek version of your [...]

Leave a Reply