reformer (visionary, diligent, introverted, supporting) most likely type to...

• ...spend a lot of time reflecting on things
• ...re-check the email after sending it
• ...feel like they are transported into the story they are reading

reformers are guided by kindness and the beauty of generosity. deeply moved by altruism, reformers long to play their part in making the world a gentler place. though few and far between, reformers possess a unique combination of steadfast idealism, decisiveness, perfectionism, and insight into human nature that allows them to not only dream big, but to reach out and make those dreams happen.

with extraordinary empathy, reformers are able to feel what others feel and think how others think. they instinctively shift their own moods to mimic those of the people around them, allowing them to make deep connections with others. if there is one thing about others that reformers just don’t understand though, it is selfishness – from their perspective, people shouldn’t be afraid to commit to something worth believing in, and they should recognize that what helps one, helps us all.

reformers’ introversion can prevent them from using these insights directly, but they are masters of the written word. with a sense of poetry, reformers write with smooth, warm, and evocative language. their rich imagination allows reformers to connect with their audience in ways few others can, guiding and inspiring with metaphors, symbols, and finesse. eager to help and taking pleasure in others’ success, reformers are glad to contribute these abilities to a worthy cause, as long as their help is recognized.

despite their strong convictions though, reformers are rooted in their ideas far more than day-to-day implementations. it’s a worldview woven with mysticism and dreams, not a ledger tracking the extent to which their budgets allow for charitable contributions. this can create some frustrations, as reformers may come to find that they simply don’t have the resources to be as generous as they’d like.

open debates about these tendencies and beliefs are far from welcome. reformers are exceptionally sensitive, vulnerable to criticism, and very uncomfortable in stressful and emotionally charged situations. therein lies reformers’ greatest challenge: their empathy is a gift and a curse, on the one hand enabling them to see into others’ very souls, helping them in ways no one else can, and on the other lurching about emotionally, on top of the world one day, and losing all hope and joy the next.

this zeal can create a great deal of stress as they overwork themselves and spread what they do have to offer too thin. on top of it, reformers need time alone to recharge, as their energy can be drained quickly by social activity, especially if it’s contentious. if reformers don’t pace themselves, they’ll be forced to withdraw entirely, hermit-like, until they recover. but when they reemerge, it will be with fresh inspiration and vigor, ready to pull along a group of like-minded individuals or to go it alone.