The Self Compass: Hope for Personality Disorders

There is a curious paradox rooted in personality patterns. Each of them possesses a particular virtue unique to that pattern. 

Yet it is only accessible by embracing your whole Self Compass. If you have been stuck on the Assertion compass point in the Rule-breaker pattern, for example, it is only by embracing the caring of the Love compass point that you reap the virtue of creativity inherent in the Rule-breaker pattern.

This is because true creativity requires caring for others. Without it, creativity deteriorates into manipulative ploys to deceive. But once Rule-breakers reach for the Love compass point, energy used for deception shifts to creative enhancement of others' lives as well as sincere self-expression.

As rigid patterns fall away, in their stead comes the harvest of your labor: Compass Virtues. Virtues that can now sprout forth as fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). Why? Because you are surrendering your patterns to the Lord. 

Here are the Compass Virtues charted on the Self Compass:

Compass Virtues

• The Dependent Pleaser and Histrionic Storyteller patterns yield to the Love compass point virtues of charity and good cheer. 
• The Paranoid Arguer and Antisocial Rule-breaker patterns give way to the Assertion compass point virtues of courage and creativity. 
• The Avoidant Worrier and Schizoid Loner patterns transform into the Weakness compass point virtues of empathy and objectivity. 
• And the Narcissistic Boaster and Compulsive Controller patterns find wholeness in the Strength compass point virtues of autonomy and discipline.

The rhythmic and self-correcting polarities of Love, Assertion, Weakness and Strength, combined with a deep reliance on Christ, support your transformation from the inside out.

Notice how a person’s trust in God anchors the center of the Self Compass. Most of the time, serenity replaces the fear produced by personality patterns when you “trust in the Lord with all your heart” (Prov 3:5).

Jesus encourages us in this hope for personality transformation when he says, "You will know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16).

For more, read:

THE SELF COMPASS: 

CHARTING YOUR PERSONALITY IN CHRIST