Recently, I was guided through a reflection framework that really stuck with me.
It asked me to consider not just what I do, but how I’m wired… and why that wiring might matter more than I realized.
The framework is called SHAPE. It’s often used in faith-based settings, and the insights apply far beyond that.
As someone with a D/C personality blend, I’m accustomed to moving quickly, thinking strategically, and making decisions with precision. This exercise forced me to slow down in the best way. It gave me a chance to step back and reflect on what I’ve accomplished, the moments that have moved me, and what I’m meant to do next.
You don’t have to be spiritual to resonate with the idea of purpose.
Each one of us lives a finite number of years in this world (regardless of your beliefs about what comes after). Knowing that our time here is limited, wouldn’t you want to discover your purpose or create one for yourself?
Our unique wiring can help us find this purpose.
In this blog, we’ll explore how your behavioural wiring, viewed through the lens of DISC, can help you understand your motivations and identify clues in your past to reveal what truly brings you to life.
How does personality reveal your purpose?
When people hear the term “DISC,” they often think of workplace dynamics or communication styles. But at its core, the DISC model is about human behaviour. It highlights your instincts under pressure, your patterns of energy, the environments where you thrive, and the problems you enjoy solving.
DISC doesn’t just show how you behave, it also reveals what drives you.
Paying attention to that will shine the light on where you’ve made the most impact, what roles you gravitate towards, and where your sense of purpose is most likely to emerge.
What does each DISC style look like?
Purpose isn’t some grand, one-size-fits-all picture of what a happy and successful life looks like. It’s not exclusively found in what you do, but also in how you do it, and why it energizes you.
Purpose can look like this for each DISC style:
- Direct (D) personas: You’re wired to make things happen. Purpose comes alive when you’re solving problems and leading progress. You feel most fulfilled when there’s a challenge to conquer and a goal to hit.
- Inspiring (I) personas: You’re wired to uplift and energize. Purpose often shows up through connection and shared experiences. You feel most alive when you’re telling stories, sparking ideas, and creating joyful momentum.
- Supportive (S) personas: You’re wired for consistency and care. Purpose often shines through behind-the-scenes roles where you bring stability and heart to the people around you. You feel fulfilled in environments built on trust, loyalty, and collaboration.
- Cautious (I) personas: You’re wired for precision and clarity. Purpose often reveals itself in your attention to detail, your ability to build systems, and the pursuit of truth. You find fulfillment where excellence matters.
Seeing my own wiring in action
I spent 20 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, including ten years in the field of human intelligence. My job was to look for patterns, details that might not mean much on their own, but together could reveal the bigger picture.
Often, those patterns point us toward what we’re wired to contribute.
The SHAPE reflection exercise reminded me of my purpose. It highlighted the repeated themes that have surfaced in my work: recognizing patterns in human behaviour, building trust in high-stakes environments, and creating systems that make communication clearer.
Those threads have carried through my work: I’ve led DISC trainings and retreats to pass along my knowledge to others, I’ve spoken on international stages, and I’ve helped leaders resolve conflict and strengthen their teams.
None of it has been random. The same wiring that shaped those experiences continues to shape how I work and contribute today.
I believe there’s design in how gifts, passions, challenges, and skills intersect. To borrow from scripture, “You are a work of art, created for good works.”
How to turn your unique wiring into a clearer sense of purpose through DISC
When it comes to purpose, most people think of it as one “Eureka!” moment where you find the answer to: “Why am I here?”
Purpose is rarely discovered in a single moment. You’ll find it when you follow a trail of clues: moments where you felt most alive, challenges you couldn’t resist leaning into, and situations where your strengths made the difference.
The clues to your purpose aren’t “out there”. They’re already built into you. DISC just gives you the lens to see them more clearly. Here’s how:
For the Direct (D): Turn drive into direction
Although D styles are wired for driven action, action for its own sake can burn out quickly. The goal is to channel that drive into challenges where results create lasting impact. It’s not about moving fast, but moving in the right direction.
- Look for: Moments when your decisiveness inspired confidence in others or pushed a project forward that others were hesitating on.
- Ask: “Where has my drive helped others succeed, not just me?”
- Try: Taking on a challenge where results matter, and track not just what you achieve but who benefits from it.
For the Inspiring (I): Turn energy into influence
Although I styles are wired for enthusiasm, energy alone can fade if it isn’t directed. Purpose comes when that energy inspires others, sparks ideas that outlast you, and creates momentum that people want to join.
- Look for: Times when your enthusiasm lit up a room or helped others believe in a possibility.
- Ask: “When has my energy set something in motion that grew beyond me?”
- Try: Pitching an idea to your team, then step back and watch how others build on it. Pay attention to the momentum your spark creates.
For the Supportive (S): Turn steadiness into strength
Although S styles are wired for loyalty and care, steadiness without intention can feel like routine. Purpose comes when that steadiness is given not just as a habit, but with intention – making others feel safe and building trust when it matters most.
- Look for: Moments when your consistency gave someone confidence, or your presence helped ease a difficult situation.
- Ask: “When has my reliability spelled the difference for someone else?”
- Try: Take on a responsibility where others are counting on you to follow through, like coordinating a project detail or supporting a colleague under pressure. Notice how your consistency gives people confidence.
For the Cautious (C): Turn precision into purpose
Although C styles are wired for accuracy and high standards, perfection on its own can feel empty. Real purpose comes when precision builds trust, clarity, and systems that others can rely on. It’s not about being right, but making things right for the people around you.
- Look for: Times when your standards improved a process, or protected others from making costly mistakes.
- Ask: “Where has my attention to detail made things safer, stronger, or more reliable?”
- Try: Improve a process or tool you use every day (such as tightening up a workflow, double-checking data, or creating a checklist that prevents errors). Notice how your precision makes life easier for those around you.
What you can do next
Your wiring isn’t a limit. It’s a launch pad.
Yet many of us ignore or override our wiring. We push ourselves into roles that don’t fit out of fear, pressure, or comparison. And the cost of that is real: exhaustion, frustration, and missed opportunities to contribute in the way we’re built to.
Here’s the challenge: take a closer look at your own wiring through the lens of DISC. Where are the clues already showing up in your life? And what would change if you leaned into them instead of fighting them?
If you’d like a simple way to start, you can take a DISC assessment to see how you’re wired.
And if you’re ready to go deeper, you may want to join one of our upcoming retreats.
Each retreat is shaped around a specific theme, whether it’s preparing for a meaningful retirement, strengthening communication in your marriage, or deepening your impact as a leader or coach.
What ties them together is the core belief that understanding human behaviour (your own and others’) can change the way you show up in every area of life in a way that fulfills your purpose.
A final word
Looking back, I can see how every part of my wiring (my drive for clarity, my need for sound communication, my deep respect for truth) has shaped the way I lead, relate, and serve.
Even the challenging experiences, the ones I wouldn’t have chosen, ultimately refined the way I build trust and help others see what they couldn’t see before.
If there’s one wisdom I’ve gained from working with leaders, educators, coaches, pastors, couples, students, and entrepreneurs around the world, it’s this:
Our wiring is part of a greater calling to find (or create) a purpose that will make our time on earth worthwhile. When you learn to follow it, everything becomes clearer.
Found this interesting? You might like these too…
Navigating Obstacles: Overcoming Goal-Setting Challenges with Personality Awareness
DISC, MBTI, Big Five, and More: Finding the Best Personality Framework for Your Goals
How Golf Reveals the DISC Personality Styles (And Why It’s a Game-Changer in Business)
