Self-Discovery on the Go: How I Use a Personality App to “Microdose” Personal Growth

As a busy mom with a full-time job and a brain that never shuts up, there are countless moments in my day where I just…..need a little help. Not with dishes or laundry, but with the inner monologues that often distract and discourage me throughout my day. I’m talking about the self-doubt, the overthinking, and the emotional ups and downs that come with being someone who’d prefer to sip coffee while writing creative essays in a quiet cottage, but is instead trying to survive in an productivity-obsessed dystopia. 

Thankfully, I found that help in the form of a personality app called TrueYou. According to Truity Founder and CEO Molly Owens, TrueYou was designed to make self-discovery part of your everyday life. The app combines personality science with personalized guidance and insights to help users focus on their strengths and turn awareness into transformation. 

TrueYou is now a staple in my personal growth toolbox. It’s a great way to “microdose” self development because you only need to use it a few minutes each day to benefit (no psychedelics required). To show just how powerful a few daily check-ins can be, I decided to document one full day with the app.

7:00 am: Morning Mood Check-in

My alarm sounds. I groan, rub my eyes, and hold my breath, waiting to hear any noise coming from my toddler’s room. It’s quiet. I let out a sigh of relief knowing I might get 15 minutes or so to myself, just enough time to do what I call my emotional weather scan. 

Research suggests that regularly checking in with our feelings helps us become more self aware, regulate our emotions more effectively, and even experience more positive emotions over time. 

I’m feeling a bit anxious thinking about all the things I need to get done before our upcoming vacation. I decide to log my mood in the TrueYou app. I open the app and see a short series of daily personality questions: 

• “I remain calm even in stressful situations.” Umm, it depends on the day? I select Neutral. 
• “I often prioritize my needs over those of others.” Lol. Inaccurate.
• “I consistently meet deadlines.” I mean… Mostly Accurate.

After completing my daily questions, I log my mood: anxious. I close the app, take a couple of deep breaths and stretch before getting out of bed. As my feet hit the carpeted floor, I hear my daughter cry out in the next room. Time to start the day. 

9:00 am: Pre-meeting Reflection with Sage

Following breakfast, my morning walk, and daycare drop-off, I head into my home office, bracing for a 10:00 am client call. Anxiety spikes when I realize I’m not as prepared as I like to be. 

Time to check in with Sage, TrueYou’s AI-powered personality coach. Since the app has a holistic understanding of my personality thanks to saving my Enneagram and TypeFinder results (I’m a Type 9 and INFJ, respectively – hence all that inner dialogue!), I don’t need to give it additional context. I can simply share what’s going on for me at the moment. 

I express my self-doubt, and Sage reminds me of my strengths: “What stands out to me is your natural ability to sense the needs and moods in the room – this is a quiet superpower that can turn anxiety into a source of empathy and connection.” 

Then, Sage offers gentle advice – rather than focusing on being “perfect,” look at experiences where I feel less polished as opportunities to foster deeper understanding and authenticity. If anxiety rises, it suggests grounding myself with a deep breath and a mental reminder of what’s most important to me: to create a space where people feel heard. 

For some, this advice might sound cheesy, but for my personality? It totally resonates, and I genuinely feel more confident going into the meeting. 

2:30pm: The Mental Reset 

The afternoon slump arrives with some friends: decision fatigue and the urge to doom scroll until I see something that makes me feel like diving into an unproductive social media rant. 

I need a quick brain break. I open TrueYou and look at today’s activity: Finding your flow. I read about something called a flow state, a science-backed concept describing intense focus and full immersion in a task. The app prompts me to reflect: “What activates your flow? How do you feel when you enter it?”

There’s an option to write a journal entry. I think for a minute and then start typing: When I minimize distractions (put my phone away, close unnecessary tabs) and focus on uninterrupted writing for a while, I feel productive, energized, and in flow. 

“Ahh, maybe that’s what I should be doing now,” I think. I put my phone face down on the opposite side of the room, and focus on the task on my list that feels most energizing. 

8:00pm: Celebrating Progress Over Perfection 

Work wraps up, then comes dinner, family time, bath, bedtime routine, and finally, one of the best parts of my day – introvert recharge hour. But rather than relax, my mind strays back to my initial source of anxiety: there’s still so much to do before our upcoming trip.

I wonder if this productivity anxiety is related to my personality, so I open the TrueYou app and navigate to the “Styles” section where it has information about my Productivity style. “Your productivity style is characterized by a strong sense of responsibility.” Yeah, no kidding! 

It reminds me of my strengths in planning and execution, but emphasizes that these strengths are enhanced when I take time to recharge, manage stress effectively, and don’t get overly distracted by emotions. It also reminds me that when stress gets the better of me, I can focus on being more present and adaptable. 

Out of curiosity, I spend a few more minutes reading about other personality traits: 

• My communication style? “A harmonious blend of empathy and intellectual curiosity.” 
• My creativity style? “A fascinating blend of structure and originality.” 
• My parenting style? “A deep sense of empathy paired with a well-organized and thoughtful mindset.”  

This moment of soaking in my strengths and challenges reminds me that I’m actually doing okay in life. Maybe even better than okay? 

True to my Enneagram 9 spirit, I decide my worries can wait, reach for my coziest pajamas, and snuggle up in bed with my Kindle. It wasn’t a flawless day, but each micro moment of self-discovery helped me remain clear-headed and confident. 

Takeaway: Tiny Steps Lead to Big Growth 

TrueYou isn’t meant to replace a therapist or coach. As a certified coach, I’m a big advocate for therapy and coaching with actual humans. But we don’t often have time to chat with a professional during small moments throughout the day when micro challenges arise (and we should be working on bigger picture issues and goals with the pros, anyway). 

It’s in the small moments that TrueYou is the most helpful – when self-doubt creeps in before a meeting, when you need a quick brain break, or when nighttime rumination gets the best of you. I only spent around 30 minutes using TrueYou throughout my day, but the guidance may have saved me hours in lost time due to overthinking, distraction, and stress. Each check-in was like a mini mental reset with insights that gave me more awareness, clarity and confidence. 

Growth doesn’t happen overnight. It happens with the tiny, steady actions we take everyday. TrueYou helps make those actions part of your daily routine – small but powerful steps towards greater self-discovery and positive change. 

You can download the TrueYou app on Apple or Google Play. Click here to learn more about the app.