b e h i n d t h e m o o n: the peaceful perfectionist

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

It's no news flash that I am an introvert. But I seem to have been going through this mid-life crisis of sorts for a year or two now. I've been very introspective and wanting to learn more about myself so I can live more authentically. I'm not hiding any more, I've been sharing much more of myself than before. But the fact remains that I'm an introvert, I need quiet and alone time. So now when I need to pull back and let myself refuel in quiet solitude, I do so without feeling guilty about it because I understand that it is a valid need of mine..

via

I never could resist a good personality quiz so if you know of any, please share! The following is an excerpt from Renee Swope's "A Confident Heart Devotional" which I started at the beginning of lent. It's actually taken from Florence Littauer's book "Personality Plus" and I think it is incredibly accurate. We all have aspects of each of these personality types but most people have one or two that they strongly identify with.

So take a gander at them for yourself. Which one(s) are you?

Phlegmatic: Desires PEACE
Needs times of quiet, reduced stress, feeling of worth, respect
Strengths        Relational Challenges
Calm                       Stubborn
Adds balance          Uninvolved
Witty                       Procrastinates
Low-key             Unenthusiastic
Considerate         Hard to motivate
Reliable               Denial
Makes peace          Careless

Choleric: Desires CONTROL
Needs appreciation for achievements, opportunity for leadership, participation in decisions
Strengths     Relational Challenges
Problem solver         Opinionated
Decisive             Workaholic tendency
Natural leader           Usurps authority
Good organizer Insensitive
Task oriented           Arrogant
High energy       Manipulative
Excels in crisis        Has a hard time admitting their faults
Confident

Sanguine: Desires FUN
Needs interaction, affection, approval, attention
Strengths            Relational Challenges
Loves people          Emotional
Friendly                Dislikes schedules
Exciting        Makes excuses
Humorous          Gets bored easily
Charming           Loses track of time
Creative             Takes on too much
Thrives on activity    Easily distracted
Great storyteller

Melancholy: Desires PERFECTION
Needs understanding, stability, support, space, silence

Strengths             Relational Challenges
Works well alone    Easily depressed
Planner                     Lacks spontaneity
Organized           Naively idealistic
Accurate            Thrifty to extremes
Intuitive              Doesn’t do well under pressure
Fair                        Perfectionist
Creative             Hard to please
Empathetic           Discontent
Good with numbers

I am without a doubt a Phlegmatic Melancholy, or as I prefer to think of it....a peaceful perfectionist :)
The "strengths" that best describe me are makes peace, low-key, adds balance, planner, intuitive, fair, empathetic, and creative. The list of relational challenges that best describes me are probably uninvolved, stubborn, thrifty to extremes, doesn't do well under pressure (I get just a wee bit crabby!), perfectionist, and easily depressed. Perhaps that doesn't paint the prettiest picture but in all reality these are my instinctive behaviors. Doesn't mean I can't modify them and that's what I'm working on. I want to be more involved and relational with people but honestly it does not come naturally.