12 Traits of the Explorer Archetype (how many do you have?)
Crave freedom and adventure? Resonate with a lot of my content or ideas? You might be an explorer too.
I’m fascinated by psychological concepts of self awareness, especially when they relate to my actual life, creative work and brand identity. So this post shares what the explorer archetype means and the most common traits or habits that pop up for us.
Archetypes give us clarity and structure. They can even help you understand your motivations, mission and purpose in life. So if you’re a creator or artist looking to grow a brand online, this is especially helpful.
This post focuses on the explorer.
So let’s do this freaking thing.
Table of Contents
What Is the Explorer Archetype?
The explorer archetype is the wanderlust personality trait who embodies freedom, individuality, adventure and discovery. It’s one of the main archetypes from Carl Jung’s 12 brand archetypes.
There’s also a good chance you’ll align with more than one archetype. For example, this project (no compass) is mostly an explorer archetype, but also has elements of the creator archetype and a little bit of sage (because I write a lot of educational content).
If you’re using archetypes for your brand or creative project, then you should try to focus on one though.
The Cult Creative recommends choosing just 1 to lead the way. But if you do have 2, focus 80-90% on the core one. This will guide your content, mission, identity and audience understanding.
Let’s keep moving with the explorer identity though.
Explorer Archetype Examples + Brands
Creators:
Pat Kay (explorer-sage)
Jamie TK (explorer-creator)
Sorelle Amore (explorer-creator)
Sean Kitching (explorer-creator)
Abroad In Japan (explorer-jester-sage)
Hangry By Nature (explorer-jester-sage)
Brands:
GoPro
Burton
Northface
National Geographic
12 Traits + Habits of The Explorer Archetype
1. Likes the Unknown
For the explorer, the unknown isn’t scary. It’s comfortable and fun.
A major theme for this site and my music project isn’t just embracing the unknown, but running towards it, without clarity of how things will unfold or a heading.
The unknown is trusting that a good path will usually reveal itself. And if not, you’ll figure it out because most problems have more than one solution.
This is the true meaning of ‘no compass’.
Explorers know that growth, excitement and novelty live outside the known. And the unknown makes us come alive.
2. Seeks New Experiences
The explorer is an adventurer. We know this. But part of that personality is a love for new experiences.
New ideas, fresh projects and embarking on something novel are exciting.
This is probably why so many travelers or nomads are explorers at heart. But seeking new experiences can be in any context. It’s the rush we get when experiencing anything new.
Whether you’re taking a pottery class for the first time, trying a new genre of music or hopping on a plane to some foreign destination you’ve never visited, you’re craving that new experience.
3. Restless——Gets Bored Easily
For the explorer archetype, when things get stagnant for too long, boredom ensues.
Our love for new experiences and adventure often leads to restlessness during the in between moments.
That’s not to say we don’t enjoy comfort or slow times to do nothing. But for too long? No way.
Eventually, we’ll feel the urge to quit the job, sell the stuff and move to a new country (metaphorically or literally).
4. Independent
Explorers hate feeling confined, boxed in or controlled by some outside authority or thing. This is what independence really means——full life autonomy.
If you prefer doing things on your own (and doing them your way), then you probably value independence.
This isn’t to say explorers don’t appreciate support or community either. But they definitely won’t wait around for someone else or something else. We’ll start the journey with or without you, because we’re ready right now (and sort of prefer the solo journey anyways).
5. Excited and Ambitious
New challenges don’t scare explorer archetypes. Nay, they thrive with them.
Explorer archetypes tend to be (and get) very ambitious and excited about things. This energy can be infectious, especially if they discover something new or personally fulfilling.
Embrace your Golden Retriever/Labrador energy.
6. Risk-taking
Explorers are okay with taking risks. That is the unknown after all.
Risk, failure, making mistakes or looking stupid aren’t strong enough deterrents. We’re willing to risk it all for the adventure.
From business to travel, we welcome risk.
7. Forges Their Own Path
You could give me the perfect plan with a safe mapped-out route. And I’ll probably feel the urge to go in the complete opposite direction.
Explorers LOVE to forge their own path. They’re pioneering in that way.
The excitement of the road less traveled and hope of discovering something new are strong motivators. So forge on, friend, forge on.
8. A Fear of Conformity
This is where the explorer archetype really starts to blur lines with the rebel archetype. The two have a lot in common, and avoiding conformity (or at least challenging the status quo) is a connection.
There’s this part of me that love to run the other way. When everyone else is saying and doing one thing, I like to look beyond or off to the side.
This is an explorer trait. Embrace it and don’t worry, joining the crowd was never in the cards for us.
9. Can Seem a Bit Aimless
As an explorer, getting lost is just part of the deal. This can come across as looking a bit aimless though.
But what fun is an adventure if you’re not losing yourself at least a little?
Explorers understand that forging their own path and going down roads less traveling often leads to wandering——aimlessness.
But eventually, dots connect and things makes sense. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say.
Until then, enjoy the ride, as aimless as it feels.
10. Craves Freedom
Freedom is the core value for the explorer archetype. It’s what we crave.
For me, freedom is the ability to do what I want, when I want and where I want. It’s part of why I love the solo travel nomadic lifestyle. It’s ultimate freedom.
Learn how to become a nomad with me in this free course I created.
11. A Love for the Journey
Discovery is the name of the game for explorers. And that’s a journey that never ends, not really.
Because if a destination is ever met, it won’t be long before we feel restless or the sudden urge to drop everything and buy a one-ticket to a new life halfway across the world.
For explorers, the journey isn’t just welcomed. It’s loved.
12. Can Be Short-sighted…
When we see something new, shiny and fun, we’ll dive deep into it, often with little thought.
I think this is a positive trait, but it also means we miss the bigger picture, signs or signals and evidence telling “psst, you should go the other way.”
So yea, explorers can be short-sighted.
But honestly, I don’t see this as a negative thing. We’re dipping into a more creative or magician archetype here, but I think explorers also see possibility and imagination where others don’t. We don’t like being boxed in or told “you can’t do that…that’s not possible.”
We’re willing to go down a path just to see, even if it means we’ll likely fail.
Short-sighted? Maybe.
Explorer-minded? Definitely.
Alright, that’s all I’ve got for you here.
Later ✌️
Want More? Nice. Here’s More.
