A friend of mine recently passed away. Not suddenly, but gradually. Avoidably. He dismissed his symptoms, never saw a doctor, and waited until it was no longer possible to ignore the issue. By then, it was too late.
It made me think: Why do smart, capable people avoid seeking medical advice? And how much of that behavior is related to personality?
Let’s explore how the four styles tend to avoid care and what they can do instead.
🦅 Eagles: Push Through the Pain
Eagles are stubborn and resolute. They view asking for help as a sign of weakness and often pride themselves on pushing through anything. Visiting the doctor feels like admitting defeat.
🦜 Parrots: Stay Upbeat, Stay in Denial
Parrots keep things light. They’d rather not dwell on anything unpleasant, and health issues don’t fit their “everything’s fine” vibe. They’ll say they’ll make an appointment, eventually.
🕊 Doves: Don’t Want to Be a Burden
Doves won’t complain. They don’t want to worry anyone or disrupt the flow. Even if something feels off, they’re more likely to stay quiet than cause concern.
🦉 Owls: Still Analyzing
Owls don’t skip care; they research it thoroughly. They want answers, certainty, guarantees. They dig deep, but the deeper they go, the harder it becomes to act.
Make your style work for you
Use your style to help, not hurt, you.
- Eagles: Getting checked keeps you in control.
- Parrots: Catching it early results in a positive outcome.
- Doves: The people you care about want you to stay healthy.
- Owls: The data points to getting real answers now.
The same traits that fuel your drive can block your care. Don’t let that happen.
Your health matters. Use your strengths, but don’t let them become blind spots.
About Merrick Rosenberg
Merrick Rosenberg is the creator of the Eagle, Parrot, Dove, and Owl personality framework and author of Personality Intelligence: Master the Art of Being You. As an award-winning speaker and founder of Take Flight Learning, Merrick has helped hundreds of thousands of people unlock the power of personality styles to transform their communication, leadership, and relationships. He’s on a mission to make self-awareness accessible, fun, and unforgettable.
