Most of us spend years trying to "make it work" with personality traits we picked up just to survive. We hide our real strengths, or we try to process the world in a way that looks right on paper but feels completely wrong in practice. (Trust us, Caanan spent years doing exactly this before realizing he had it all backward).

This week, we are talking about the auxiliary personality trait. It’s the balancing force of your personality stack, and it might just be the missing piece you’ve been looking for.

Onward and Inward,

Kent & Caanan

Chapters

(00:00) Mind Share: Try this at home – Carbone Spicy Vodka Pasta Sauce at Costco! (Unsponsored)

(02:20) Understanding your auxiliary (i.e. secondary) trait

(07:13) What it feels like to live outside of your authentic type

(12:44) The palpable relief of stepping into your true personality

(14:46) Why your top two personality traits are such a satisfying combo

(19:35) Mailbag: Do opposites really attract, or do you need to be the same to make it work?

Common Questions Answered in this Episode

❓What is the auxiliary personality trait? Your auxiliary trait is your secondary personality strength. It typically develops in adolescence or your early 20s and serves as a crucial balance to your dominant trait. If your dominant trait is introverted, your auxiliary trait will be extroverted (and vice versa).

❓Why is the auxiliary trait so important for balance? If you only operated out of your dominant trait, you would become completely internal or completely external. Your auxiliary trait acts as a bridge, allowing you to bring your internal superpowers out into the world, or helping you internalize and process your external experiences.

❓How does it feel when you are operating in your authentic auxiliary type? It feels like a "flow state." While it might take some practice to unlearn old habits, operating in your true auxiliary type feels natural, relieving, and energizing.

❓What happens if I try to force a personality trait that isn't mine? You will likely feel stilted, frustrated, and misunderstood. Many people spend years trying to "make it work" in a personality box that doesn't fit, only to feel a massive sense of relief when they finally discover their true type.

❓Do opposites really attract in relationships? While opposites can create a lot of initial excitement, relationships where partners share at least some personality traits tend to have an easier time. However, any pairing can work if both partners understand their own personality types and don't take their partner's natural traits as a personal affront.

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We all have a natural strength so built into our wiring that we rarely even notice we are using it. It is the default mode that allows us to swim downstream with the current at our backs, experiencing a sense of pure flow. But because it comes so naturally, we often take it for granted—or assume everyone else sees the world exactly the same way we do.

This week, we are kicking off a new four-part series by diving deep into your dominant personality trait. We are exploring what it feels like to be "in the pocket" of your greatest strength, how to recognize when you are operating out of alignment, and why your dominant trait is the ultimate key to building a life you don't need a vacation from.

Onward and Inward,

Kent & Caanan

CHAPTERS

(00:00) Mind Share: We love short books

(02:04) Personality Series Part 5: Going deeper into your personality "stack"

(03:05) Understanding your dominant trait: The effortless flow state

(06:45) The four positions: Dominant, Auxiliary, Tertiary, and Inferior

(09:42) What it feels like to swim downstream with your natural strength

(12:58) The "Immature Superhero" trope: Why your strength can work against you

(17:17) How introversion and extroversion supercharge your dominant trait

(19:23) Mailbag: Is it better to focus on my weaknesses or lean into my strengths?

COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE

❓What is a dominant personality trait? Your dominant trait is your core strength and default mode. It is the first personality function to develop in childhood and becomes so natural by adulthood that you often don't even realize you are using it.

❓How do I know if I am operating in my dominant trait? When you are using your dominant trait, it feels like "swimming downstream." It is characterized by a sense of flow, ease, and a lack of mental blocks. If everything feels like a struggle, you may be operating out of one of your lesser-developed traits.

❓What is a personality "stack"? Your personality stack refers to the hierarchy of your four core cognitive functions: Dominant (your greatest strength), Auxiliary (your supporting strength), Tertiary (a lesser-used trait), and Inferior (your weakest area).

❓Can my dominant trait actually work against me? Yes. If you are unaware of your dominant trait, you can become "clumsy" with it—like an immature superhero who doesn't know how to control their powers. You might assume everyone sees the world exactly as you do, which can lead to frustration and miscommunication.

❓Should I focus on fixing my weaknesses or leaning into my strengths? You should always lean into your strengths. Rather than trying to force your weaknesses to become strong, focus on making your natural strengths even stronger, and use them to compensate for the areas where you are less naturally gifted.

SUPPORT NO VACATION REQUIRED

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review. It is one of the best ways to help more people discover the podcast.

✅ Subscribe: Never miss an episode by hitting the follow button

✅ Visit Our Website: www.novacationrequired.com

✅ Read The Book: www.novacationrequired.com/book

✅ Follow Us On Instagram: @novacationrequired

✅ Talk To Us: www.novacationrequired.com/contact

One of the best things about doing this work is watching people "come home" to themselves. There is a specific moment when the right personality concept clicks, and someone feels like they understand themselves – and are understood – in a powerful new way… Sometimes for the first time in their life.

This week, we are exploring the final piece of the personality puzzle: Intuition vs. Sensing. Whether you are a big-picture dreamer or a grounded, five-senses realist, there is so much magic waiting for you here.

Onward and Inward,

Kent & Caanan

Chapters

(00:00) Mind Share: Summer expectations and orienting your life around what you love

(04:13) Personality Series Part 4: Understanding Intuition vs. Sensing

(06:05) The core cognitive engines: Patterns and possibilities vs. raw data

(08:00) Why this pairing works so well (even when you're opposites)

(12:42) The evolution of personality: Stepping into your authentic self

(16:46) How to recognize your type: The "coming home" feeling

(19:24) Finding your “magic"

(22:59) Mailbag: Am I acting out of type when I adapt to a situation?

Common Questions Answered in this Episode

• What is the main difference between Intuition and Sensing personalities? Intuitive types (N) focus on patterns, future possibilities, and abstract ideas. Sensing types (S) focus on the present moment, concrete facts, and information gathered through their five senses.
• Why does the Intuition vs. Sensing pairing work well in relationships? Unlike other pairings that can cause emotional friction, the N and S dynamic often complements each other beautifully. An intuitive partner can bring big-picture vision, while a sensing partner can bring the practical, grounded steps to make it a reality.
• Can my personality type change over time? While your core personality doesn't completely flip, you can become more of who you authentically are as you age and shed the adaptations you picked up just to survive or fit in. It’s less about changing and more about "coming home" to yourself.
• How do I know if I am an Intuitive or a Sensing type? Through a personality assessment. And when you read about your true type, it rarely comes as a surprise. It usually feels like a validation of something you already knew deep down. You will feel "right in the pocket" when you are operating from your natural preference.
• Am I being fake if I have to act "out of type" for a social or work situation? No. Knowing your personality type actually empowers you to navigate situations that require you to stretch. If you are an introvert at a loud party, knowing your type allows you to strategically take breaks so you can participate authentically without burning out.

Support No Vacation Required

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review. It is one of the best ways to help more people discover the podcast.

✅ Subscribe: Never miss an episode by hitting the follow button.

✅ Visit Our Website: www.novacationrequired.com

✅ Read The Book: www.novacationrequired.com/book

✅ Follow Us On Instagram: @novacationrequired

✅ Talk To Us: www.novacationrequired.com/contact