Growing in Grace and Self-Awareness: My DISC Experience
I find myself lacking all the time. I am constantly reminded just how much I am not perfect. I end up saying or doing the wrong thing without thinking. Often, I immediately correct myself and apologize. But it is the times I do not catch myself, and then get called out for it, that really get me.
For most of my life, I thought this was just “who I am.” But recently I realized that I am not defined by my mistakes or shortcomings. With God’s help, I can change how I think and respond. One of the biggest lessons I have been learning is empathy: pausing to put myself in someone else’s shoes and consider how they might feel before I speak or act. That does not come naturally to me, but I believe it is part of the refining process God is doing in me.
What the DISC Assessment Showed Me
As part of the process for going on mission under the umbrella of Globe International, I recently took a personality test called the DISC Personality System. It measures how people behave and communicate. Of the four types: D (Dominant), I (Influencing), S (Steady), and C (Compliant/Correct), my results came back as a C first and an S second, often called the “Precisionist” style.
Here is what that means for me:
Strengths: I am systematic, detail-oriented, loyal, and dependable. I like structure, clear expectations, and following through until a job is done.
Challenges: I can be overly sensitive to criticism, withdraw when under pressure, and get stuck in “analysis paralysis,” always preparing but slow to act.
Communication style: I value facts and clarity. I like to process before speaking, and I dislike conflict. My greatest fear is criticism, especially from those I care about.
Workplace tendencies: I set high standards for myself and others. I want to do things “the right way,” but sometimes that perfectionism can slow me down.
Reading through my report felt like a mirror being held up. The words “overly sensitive,” “perfectionist,” and “withdraws under pressure” were not easy to see, but they were true. At the same time, I was reminded that God made me with strengths too: persistence, patience, loyalty, and a commitment to quality.
What the Graphs Reveal
One of the most eye-opening parts of the DISC report was the three graphs that break down different sides of who I am:
Graph 1: The Public Self (the mask). How I show up when I feel the need to meet outside expectations.
Graph 2: The Private Self (the core). How I respond when I am under stress.
Graph 3: The Perceived Self (the mirror). How I see myself day-to-day.
For many people, these three graphs look quite different, showing tension between how they act in public, who they are at their core, and how they view themselves. But in my case, all three graphs had nearly the same shape: high in compliance, steady in support, and lower in dominance and influence.
What that tells me is that I am largely the same person across the board. I am genuine in public, consistent in my core, and my self-perception matches the way I actually show up. The only shift I noticed is that under stress I lean even more into steadiness and structure, preferring stability and security when things feel uncertain. But overall, the graphs confirm that I am not living with a mask or pretending to be someone I am not.
That realization gave me both encouragement and direction. Encouragement that I am walking in authenticity, and direction to keep strengthening those areas where stress tempts me to retreat into perfectionism instead of leaning on God’s grace.
How I Am Applying This to Grow
The assessment did not define me, but it did give me language to understand myself better. It highlighted blind spots I need to work on, and it encouraged me to lean into the areas where God has already gifted me.
Here are a few things I am working on:
Practicing empathy: Slowing down to see situations through others’ eyes. (Philippians 2:3–4)
Flexibility: Letting go of perfectionism and being open to change. (Ecclesiastes 7:13–14)
Confidence: Not withdrawing under pressure but trusting God’s strength in my weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)
Boldness: Speaking the truth in love, even when it feels uncomfortable. (Ephesians 4:15)
Grace: Living out the truth that Grace Wins. I must be deliberate about giving grace to others when they fall short, but even more, I must allow myself the same grace when I stumble. That realization has been freeing. Instead of staying stuck in my flaws, I can choose to walk forward knowing God’s grace is sufficient.
The Bible reminds us that transformation is possible: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) For me, this DISC assessment was part of that renewing process, a tool God used to reveal areas of growth and to remind me that I am a work in progress.
Moving Forward
I am learning that self-awareness is a gift. It allows me to see where I have been blind, to celebrate where God has already been at work, and to surrender the rest to Him. My DISC style may lean toward perfectionism, caution, and sensitivity, but with God’s help, I can channel those tendencies into faithfulness, patience, and compassion.
Most importantly, I am learning to live in grace. Grace for others, and grace for myself. Because in the end, grace truly wins.
Growth does not happen overnight, but it does happen when we allow the Lord to shape us. And I am choosing to step forward, one intentional change at a time.
Walking forward in grace,
Calen
->See the design to wear as reminder here: https://www.thistlesandthorns.com/store/p/grace-wins-tee
