Dania Aziz
Some people are gifted with the ability to pack up their lives and move on a whim.
They are drawn to adventure and experience, readily accepting changes and adapting to new situations.
These types of people have highly adaptable personalities (HAP).
Are you one of them?
Here are 7 signs that you may have this personality type.
1) You don’t worry about change, in fact, you love it!
HAPs are upbeat, optimistic people who can concentrate on a positive path.
They thrive on challenges and change.
This type of individual doesn’t feel threatened when things change around them or when their life doesn’t go exactly as they planned.
The HAP will never be one to sit back and let life get the best of them.
They love seeing new places, meeting different people and experiencing new things.
If you have a highly adaptable personality, you usually thrive on experiencing new things and you’re always looking for new ways to make your life exciting.
You know the saying, “Change is good”?
Well, you don’t think that way.
You look for opportunities to bend and break the rules.
You embrace uncertainty because it can be good for your career or relationships.
In fact, mess around too much, and you could end up getting fired from your job or dumped by your significant other.
That’s just how it goes sometimes!
And if it’s not that bad, you’ll find a way to make it work out in the end.
You really cannot stop yourself from taking risks.
2) You’re open-minded, like to try new things and can change your mind quickly.
HAPs are people who realise that life is an adventure and can adapt as a result.
They are willing to let go of the past, embrace change and break out of their shells, if needed.
When they’re presented with a problem or challenge they will work at it until they find a solution or until their mind changes on the topic.
And when things don’t work out in a methodical, traditional way, HAPs move on.
They aren’t afraid to try new things and they’re always looking for ways to improve their lives.
Now and in the future.
Every experience is unique and is something to be savoured.
They know that life is a journey, not a destination, and so are unafraid of taking risks in order to experience different things.
In fact, HAPs will take chances in order to change their outlook according to what they see as potentially good or bad.
They might change their job goals or career paths after trying out an entirely new field or a different job entirely.
Sounds like you?
3) You learn quickly.
You have high standards that are easily achievable and you like to follow through with what you start.
You pay attention to details and are quick to learn new things.
The HAP learns constantly, growing both personally and professionally.
When you experience change, you’re able to quickly become accustomed to the new situation.
You can pick up on new skills and information more easily than other people.
You don’t have to study something for a long time before you feel like you’ve mastered it.
For example, if you move to a foreign country, picking up the language won’t be much of an issue for you.
As a matter of fact, you don’t usually wait for answers from experts as you’re able to come up with the solution yourself.
I’ll explain more in my next point.
4) You don’t rely on ‘experts’ for answers, you use the facts that research provides you with!
If you’re someone who works hard to get information from multiple sources, it’s a sign that you have a highly adaptable personality.
You are a problem solver.
You don’t find problems, you find solutions.
Highly adaptable people may not always be the first to suggest a solution, but they can usually come up with one on their own when given enough time.
If someone does ask for advice or opinion, you won’t have any problems telling them what you know.
HAPs are intelligent, eager to learn and constantly on the lookout for new facts and information about a specific topic.
They love doing research and absorb without fail.
That’s why they usually have a master’s degree, a PhD or another professional learning qualification.
They like driving their own learning while other people wait for answers from experts.
They’re also good at finding ways to get what they want using the facts they gather themselves.
5) You’re spontaneous!
Let’s face it, life is boring if you stick to a set routine.
You love new challenges, new adventures and travelling around the world.
You’re always looking for the next thing to do!
Even if you have a solid relationship with someone, you’re still looking for better opportunities.
If things aren’t going your way or your situation isn’t as exciting as it used to be, you’re probably looking for ways to spice things up.
HAPs are good at quickly grasping and reacting to new things.
They don’t just learn about the world, but can also quickly apply their knowledge to the real world.
But because they are so adaptable, HAPs can sometimes throw themselves into situations without thinking too much about it.
For example, if you don’t really like going to a party, but then a friend invited you along two hours before and you go with them anyways, this could be a sign that you’re spontaneous.
When HAPs are given a chance to do something spontaneous, they jump at the opportunity.
They have no problem following their intuition and gut feeling.
In fact, they enjoy using the comfort of their gut instinct when making important decisions.
6) You take risks often.
HAPs thrive in new situations, they are brave and willing to take risks.
They enjoy trying new things and have no issues taking risks to get what they want or get out of a bad situation.
It’s very easy for HAPs to miss out on a great opportunity if they don’t take enough notice of it.
Yes, that’s right.
However, because they are unafraid of change, HAPs can often make the right decision at the right time.
You know that it’s not always easy, but you do it anyway because you like the way it feels afterwards.
You’re willing to walk away from people, relationships and jobs that no longer serve your needs.
In fact, HAPs will take risks for their own benefit or for others.
They try not to hold grudges and are often good at going back and rekindling a relationship if it’s gone sour.
HAPs aren’t afraid of doing something that is out of the ordinary for them or venturing into unknown territory.
Because they know how capable they are at handling change and being flexible.
And since they like to take risks, most of the time they can usually deal with uncertainty… which I’ll explain further in the following point.
7) You can handle uncertainty well even if it scares others around you.
Another sign that you have a highly adaptable personality.
You never have to worry about something going wrong, because if it does, you know that you can handle it!
HAPs thrive in uncertain situations and change the course of their lives accordingly.
They can usually adequately handle situations where everything is uncertain and their circumstances seem unclear because they have experience handling change.
As I mentioned before, HAPs enjoy exploring different things in life because they know that every experience is unique and worth it, however it can also be scary for other people.
For some people, uncertainty is terrifying.
They don’t like to step out of their comfort zone and won’t take risks unless they are certain about the result.
HAPs on the other hand, can usually deal with any kind of uncertainty that’s thrown at them.
They know it’s sometimes necessary to take a risk even though the outcome might be uncertain.
Because they realise that even if it doesn’t work out in an uncertain situation, they can always try again or handle another situation instead in order to get what they want.
They might make the wrong decision, but they always have good reasons for doing so.
It’s also very common for HAPs to feel anxious about situations that don’t seem to go their way.
This can happen if the situation is new or if they’re not sure how it will turn out.
They may get nervous and even slightly embarrassed, but at the same time, they know that things will eventually work out.
In fact, most of the time, things do end up going how they should be in the end.
Bottom line
As you can see, highly adaptable people have a unique personality that makes them capable of dealing with change.
It’s what makes them such great problem solvers, leaders and individuals.
Having a highly adaptable personality can be a blessing and a curse at the same time.
HAPs are usually confident about themselves and their abilities.
But, this can sometimes lead to them being too sure about something before it’s actually certain.
Although HAPs are not afraid of change or uncertainty, most people around them aren’t as adaptable as they are.
This is why it might feel lonely at times when you’re surrounded by people who aren’t as flexible as you are.
