The Voyager

This type is centered, confident, and independent, but they’re also no strangers to fantasy and romance. The warm embrace of passion, the stability of commitment—they want it all. While they’re quick to develop a crush on someone, they’re not as quick to jump into a relationship.

When they eventually find a compatible partner, they’re self-confident in relationships, unlikely to need overwhelming gestures of reassurance. While they’re drawn to romance early on, their focus turns to practical needs of independence and stability as a relationship matures.

Desires

• An independent sense of self and life outside of the relationship.
• A passionate yet stable romance, giving each partner a safe space to create their own sense of self.
• Open, honest channels of communication.

Ideal Relationship

• A partner who keeps things exciting without completely disregarding practical concerns and reason.
• A partner who not only understands and allows them personal space but who may desire some level of this themselves.
• A relationship with someone who is honest and direct from the start, and especially during times of conflict.

They can date many different types of people. Their romantic and aloof yet stable personalities can draw in many other types; however, finding someone to settle down with can be more challenging for these people.

There is an inner conflict that The Voyagers must reconcile to find fulfillment: their independent and romantic sides can lure them from person to person, yet their more anchored and self-assured side desires a partner with whom they can mature and grow. These people are not necessarily afraid of commitment, but they are more likely than average to be choosy when finding a partner. This quality is amplified if they score high on Maximizing.

Being with The Voyager

Being courted by The Voyager can be an extraordinary feeling since they can shower potential partners with love and affection without being smothering or overwhelming. Their centered, anchored, and independent nature, combined with their love of romance, means they know when to pull back and when to pull out all the stops when they're dating someone.

Bright spots of a relationship with The Voyager*

• They have romantic natures and the ability to make their partner feel like the center of their world when they wish.
• They know when to pull back and when to pull out all the stops, especially when dating, but they’re also capable of giving long-term partners a feeling of safety and stability.
• May not initiate, but are likely to willingly and eagerly embrace a partner’s efforts to keep the spark alive beyond the honeymoon stage.

Challenges of being with The Voyager

• Their independence and self-assurance in conflict can feel like aloofness or detachment at times.
• They can be highly romantic, but then suddenly aloof, a see-saw effect that can confuse a potential partner.
• Their ability to turn away the minute they sense a hint of disinterest can put a potential pin in promising relationships, often leaving the burden to reconcile on the other person.

Compatible types

Often, the perfect match for The Voyager is someone who has the same independent and centered leanings, even if they don’t have the same love of romance and passion. They’re usually well-matched with more pragmatic types. However, they could sometimes find themselves bored and restless if practicality takes over all areas of their lives, leaving little to no room for the occasional thrill of romance that they seek.

They’re looking for butterflies in their stomach, but they’re also driven by a more anchored desire for stability in love. The Voyager's centered and anchored nature can also help create a safe space for the most entropic types of lovers. So those who veer on slight emotional dependency, if they’re not too codependent, are naturally drawn to The Voyager and vice versa.

• IPCA
• ICRA
• IREA
• IPEA
• TCPA

Because of their romantic nature and confident, anchored personalities, they can sometimes blow hot and cold. They’re often at a tug-of-war with themselves—their independent side believes that going all-in interferes with their freedom, and their romantic side pushes them to throw caution to the wind and focus on the passion.

If either side dominates the other, they may find themselves sticking it out in a relationship that was doomed from the start or going from one relationship to the next without forming the meaningful connections and stability their anchored sides desire.

Unhealthy adaptations

• Letting their romantic side dominate continuously without giving more anchored love a chance to develop.
• Allowing their independent side to dominate continuously so they begin to spend an unhealthy amount of time disassociating from and avoiding quality time in a relationship.
• The tendency to misread any issue as major conflict is one of the most significant roadblocks to love, causing them to withdraw prematurely from a relationship.
• Becoming an unhealthy crutch when consoling their partner, particularly during times of stress.

Struggles

• Can get bored or lose interest after the initial courtship phase. Particularly as they begin to see real areas of incompatibility.
• Commitment can feel confusing if they’re not with the right partner.
• They’re looking for butterflies in their stomach, but they’re also driven by a more anchored desire for stability in love.
• Have an internal conflict between romantic ideals of a relationship and practical concerns for the long-term viability of a relationship.

The Voyager can very quickly become couple goals, especially when they’re with the right partner. In their healthiest state, they will let go at the beginning of a courtship, allowing themselves to feel the passion and thrill of their romantic side.

Their centered, anchored nature can combat the occasional flighty feelings once the excitement of a new relationship fades. This is the time to lean into the desire for stability and commitment, both intrinsic to their nature. A healthy balance of this trait makeup will allow them to experience a trusting, open relationship with the right sprinkling of support, honesty, and romance.

Healthy Adaptations

• Prioritizing what really matters in relationships and not needing them to satisfy all of their needs.
• Having a fulfilling work and social life, such that a relationship feels like a fulfilling and ongoing choice and not a burden.
• The ability to turn away once they sense disinterest, protecting themselves from being hurt by unrequited love.
• Being mindful about turning dating into an actual relationship once they feel there are enough boxes checked.

The Voyager can very quickly become couple goals, especially when they’re with the right partner. In their healthiest state, they will let go at the beginning of a courtship, allowing themselves to feel the passion and thrill of their romantic side.

Their centered, anchored nature can combat the occasional flighty feelings once the excitement of a new relationship fades. This is the time to lean into the desire for stability and commitment, both intrinsic to their nature. A healthy balance of this trait makeup will allow them to experience a trusting, open relationship with the right sprinkling of support, honesty, and romance.

Healthy Adaptations

• Prioritizing what really matters in relationships and not needing them to satisfy all of their needs.
• Having a fulfilling work and social life, such that a relationship feels like a fulfilling and ongoing choice and not a burden.
• The ability to turn away once they sense disinterest, protecting themselves from being hurt by unrequited love.
• Being mindful about turning dating into an actual relationship once they feel there are enough boxes checked.

With a willingness to let love chart its own course, and their need for independence outside of a relationship, The Voyager is neither controlling nor needy. One of their biggest strengths is that they’re able to give their partner the freedom and support to self-develop.

• Capable of and willing to let love run its course.
• Able to encourage and nurture their partner’s goals and personal development.
• Not prone to codependence or controlling their partner.
• Thoughtful about their future, and so less likely to jump into long-term relationships with the wrong person.
• Able to balance their love life with other aspects of their life.
• Able to console their partner, particularly during times of stress, without becoming an unhealthy crutch.
• Love diving into exciting, passionate romances, but unlikely to let the ups-and-downs of a relationship permeate every aspect of their lives.