Why Having a Complex Personality Will Make You a More Interesting Person (2024)

Both simple and complex things can be interesting in their own ways, for they have their own strengths and shortcomings. What do you think? Which one attracts you more? Personally, I prefer the latter.

In this writing, we will focus more on the idea of complexity, and explore why the most interesting things are always multifaceted — especially when these facets manifest themselves in a person.

Not so recently, I’ve come to realize that most (if not all) things I found interesting have at least one common characteristic: They have more than one layer.

I’ve always had a knack for complexity. The reason being that complex things give us the opportunity to explore their hidden sides and learn something new about them every day — something that is almost always surprising and serendipitous.

That being said, we do need to recognize that there is some truth in the common saying “Beauty in simplicity.”

I mean, we can all agree on the appeal of minimalist design, for instance. Simplicity can give us a clear focal point and a feeling of ease, presenting a beauty so obvious, we only have to stare in awe without thinking too much.

However, complexity has its own charms. Peeling the layers off of things and discovering what lies beneath can give us a feeling of inner satisfaction — like finding a treasure chest after digging through ten feet of dirt.

Everything done with extra effort always feels extra special, doesn’t it?

Let’s explore this with an easily recognizable example: People.

The most interesting people are multifaceted.

We have a tendency to judge others within seconds of our encounter, and this judgment has a striking degree of accuracy. According to Malcolm Gladwell, in his 2005 book Blink, this phenomenon is an example of “thin-slicing.” This is why first impressions are so important.