3 Signs You're a Type A Personality Disguised as a Type B

The whole idea behind categorizing personality types is kind of annoying. But it can also be pretty helpful.

In some ways, it’s bothersome when something, or someone, tries to categorize us because we know we’re more complex than some scientific algorithm (describing millions of other people around the world as identical to you, no less).

However, such methods of categorization help because, particularly with an effective personality test, they can tell us things about ourselves we didn’t yet know. This can be invaluable information that helps us learn, grow, and navigate our daily life more effectively.

The only thing is, our life is more complicated than personality alone. In any given moment, we might be properly, or improperly, motivated to take a particular action. We also might be going through a tough time, having a crisis of self, or countless other things that can distort those base personality traits.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve identified yourself as a Type B personality for most of your life. Type B personalities are more, well, chill and have some similarities with introverts. They tend to care less about winning and more about enjoying themselves so they tend to be happier and less stressed. They’re often artists.

However, if you’re reading this, you’ve probably also started to show other traits, or at least you’ve noticed them more over time. Because of this, you’re starting to question if you’re really a Type A personality, as you’ve become more outgoing, ambitious, proactive, or rigid in your work processes (and, as a result, also more stressed) in recent years, whether it’s because you’ve become more confident and started to express your true self more clearly or have just changed as a person.

If you’re trying to figure this out, here are a few signs to help you know if you’re really a Type A personality disguised as a Type B.

Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.

– Bruce Lee

1. You play nice because you believe it’s the right thing to do, but losing frustrates you

If you make it a point to play nice when competing, including everything from wrestling for a promotion at work to playing a casual game of basketball with friends, but secretly get frustrated any time you lose, you’re probably a Type A personality.

Much of what makes us masquerade as someone we’re not is often due to societal pressure. We were taught and influenced that certain traits were desirable and others not so much, so no matter who we truly are we try to exemplify those desirable traits and shun the others.

The most common form of this is in the idea that we should be doctors and lawyers and forget any notion of becoming an artist or, really, anything other than one of half a dozen well-respected professions.

If you were told by your parents (or parent) or other strong influences that it’s important to work together with others and play nice, to the point where competing was almost discouraged, you may be suppressing your Type A tendencies and holding back one of your natural gifts– a powerful ambition.

2. You’re generally patient and well-tempered, but long for more

Type B personalities are generally considered well-tempered and relaxed and, because these qualities are quite noticeable in our regular behavior, you might have concluded long ago that you were a Type B personality.

However, not all Type A personalities have short fuses. Remember, real human beings are more complex than any personality trait system can ever fully gauge. If you’re well-tempered but ravenously ambitious, perhaps even styming that ambition at certain points in your life for the sake of politeness and personal conduct, you’re more than likely a Type A personality. Or, at the very least, a Type A with some Type B characteristics.

3. You tell yourself you're happy with your situation, but you’re secretly not satisfied

Did you grow up with someone close to you, a parent or role model, telling you to be content with what you have and to not be greedy?

There are grounds for that belief. You should be grateful for what you have and being happy with where you’re at is critical if you want to live a happy life, otherwise, you’re always looking to the next rainbow to solve all your problems.

However, some of us are more ambitious than others and that’s not to be confused with greed. Plus, many good people live in fear of rejection, failure, and even success itself, and they project this belief off onto others.

You can be happy and lead an amazing life no matter what personality you have, but if you’re naturally ambitious and you want to set out into the world to do big things, really big things, then you’re short-changing yourself and the rest of the world from experiencing your gifts by not letting yourself fulfill that ambition.