My purpose in discussing the various personalities is to
help us to appreciate and to help one another. With different personalities we
are better able to function in various aspects of life and to work together as
a whole society.
We can learn from one another and benefit from each other’s strengths, as we help each other with our weaknesses. We each have one of four predominant personality types with a few traits from the other types thrown into the mix.
We may dislike some aspect of someone’s personality, but if we understand why they act as they do, it helps us to appreciate their good points rather than to focus on their negative aspects.
It takes all sorts of people to make the world go around. The problem with personalities is that they are human and carnal. However, God is able to totally revamp our personality once we surrender our life to Him. He minimizes our weaknesses and enhances our strengths.
The Melancholy personality is the second in my series:I have a Melancholy personality and relate to these comments. We have trouble with change. We enjoy a stable environment with continuity from one day to the next.
Static situations make us uneasy and put us on edge. We do not like to be rushed or pushed. We work hard to avoid change and often get grouchy, rigid, inflexible or even angry if forced into a situation with which we are uncomfortable.
We can learn from one another and benefit from each other’s strengths, as we help each other with our weaknesses. We each have one of four predominant personality types with a few traits from the other types thrown into the mix.
We may dislike some aspect of someone’s personality, but if we understand why they act as they do, it helps us to appreciate their good points rather than to focus on their negative aspects.
It takes all sorts of people to make the world go around. The problem with personalities is that they are human and carnal. However, God is able to totally revamp our personality once we surrender our life to Him. He minimizes our weaknesses and enhances our strengths.
The Melancholy personality is the second in my series:I have a Melancholy personality and relate to these comments. We have trouble with change. We enjoy a stable environment with continuity from one day to the next.
Static situations make us uneasy and put us on edge. We do not like to be rushed or pushed. We work hard to avoid change and often get grouchy, rigid, inflexible or even angry if forced into a situation with which we are uncomfortable.
Melancholies view change as loss. We have to take time to grieve
our losses, because it takes a while for us to readjust. We can really benefit
from sufficient exercise, diet and rest to help us to adjust.
We are deep thinkers, with a very active, analytical, creative and artistic mind. We analyze a scenario and all of its ramifications within seconds of time. Therefore, when we express our concerns, we often get accused of being unsupportive and pessimistic.
We are deep thinkers, with a very active, analytical, creative and artistic mind. We analyze a scenario and all of its ramifications within seconds of time. Therefore, when we express our concerns, we often get accused of being unsupportive and pessimistic.
We are so conscientious that we want to do everything well;
however, our perfectionism is a fault. We enjoy learning new things, if we are
given the time to digest the instructions, so we will do a good job.
Asking for clarification helps us with change, because we do not make false assumptions, but we get all the facts up front. Our propensity for negative self-talk often cripples us and spirals out of control. We need to learn to focus on the positive.
Asking for clarification helps us with change, because we do not make false assumptions, but we get all the facts up front. Our propensity for negative self-talk often cripples us and spirals out of control. We need to learn to focus on the positive.
Therefore, journaling really helps the melancholic to put
things into its proper perspective. This prevents us from over-reacting so much
too. Journaling also enables us to make wiser decisions that will not upset the
consistency in our life.
Melancholies function better in the present without regretting the past and fearing the unknown aspects of the future. We need a safe, orderly home environment and no financial worries.
Melancholies function better in the present without regretting the past and fearing the unknown aspects of the future. We need a safe, orderly home environment and no financial worries.
We often need time alone, as well as focused attention from
our significant other, in order to regenerate our soul’s energy. Then we can
function independently with self-motivation.
We are happy to oblige someone else’s need; in fact, we tend to give sacrificially. Melancholic people are often deeply hurt when criticized, confronted in public or made fun of or teased. We resent being taken for granted and we thrive on appreciation.
We are happy to oblige someone else’s need; in fact, we tend to give sacrificially. Melancholic people are often deeply hurt when criticized, confronted in public or made fun of or teased. We resent being taken for granted and we thrive on appreciation.
Dealing constructively with anger is one of our major
hurtles. Learning to laugh at our self prevents us from viewing our mistakes as
the end of the world. We need people who will pay attention to us when we talk,
to encourage us to express our deepest feelings and to help us to meet our
needs.
Building an intimate personal relationship with Christ helps us to depend solely on Him to meet our needs.
Building an intimate personal relationship with Christ helps us to depend solely on Him to meet our needs.
We are very loyal and empathetic, which also makes us
overly sensitive, procrastinators and rebels in some cases. It is hard for us
to accept imperfection in our self, in others and in life. This leads to
trouble forgiving our self and others as well.
We struggle with our sense of self-esteem and we need to learn to give our self praise for a job well done. We need to find our esteem in our relationship to Christ instead of in our accomplishments.
We struggle with our sense of self-esteem and we need to learn to give our self praise for a job well done. We need to find our esteem in our relationship to Christ instead of in our accomplishments.
Prayer:
Father God, Your Spirit helps the melancholic by
transforming our negative character traits with Your spiritual fruit: You
replace our resentment with love; pessimism with joy; fear with peace;
perfectionism with patience; irritability with gentleness; sacrificing with
goodness; self-centeredness with meekness; anger with self-control and
self-doubt with faith in Your faithfulness. Thank You for using our strengths
and leading us by Your Spirit for each moment of our day.
Thought for the Day:
The melancholic does well once we learn to take our
thoughts captive to God’s Spirit and His Word.
References:
·
http://www.pastoral-counseling-center.org/Free-Temperament-Reports/Choleric-Helpful-Hints.htm
·
http://temperaments.fighunter.com/?page=phlegmatic
·
http://www.fighunter.com/index.php?page=temperaments
· http://www.womenschristiantherapy.com/Phlegmatic_Personality_Type.pdf
