Interesting Personality Article

I was feeling really down today...

and God led me to an interesting Word document talking about personality types hidden somewhere in the depths of my laptop.

I am mostly the:

The Melancholy
Martin Melancholy is the richest of all the temperaments-an analytical, self-sacrificing, gifted, perfectionist type with a very sensitive emotional nature. No one gets more enjoyment from the fine arts than the Melancholy. By nature he is prone to be an introvert, but since his feelings predominate, he is given to a variety of moods. Sometimes they will lift him to heights of ecstasy that cause him to act more extroverted. How ever, at other times he will be gloomy and depressed, and during these periods he becomes with-drawn and can be quite antagonistic. This tendency toward black moods has earned him the reputation of being the “dark temperament.”
Martin is a very faithful friend, but unlike the Sanguine, he does not make friends easily. He seldom pushes himself forward to meet people, but rather lets them come to him. He is perhaps the most dependable of all the temperaments, for his perfectionist tendencies do not permit him to be a shirker or let others down when they are counting on him. His natural reticence to put himself forward is not an indication that he doesn’t enjoy people. Like the rest of us, he not only likes others but has a strong desire to be loved by them. Disappointing experiences, however, make him reluctant to take people at face value; he is prone to be suspicious when others seek him out or shower him with attention.
His exceptional analytical ability causes him to diagnose accurately the obstacles and dangers of any project he has a part in planning. This is in sharp contrast to the Choleric, who rarely anticipates problems or difficulties, but is confident he can cope with whatever crises may arise. Such a characteristic often finds the Melancholy reticent to initiate some new project, or he may conflict with those who wish to do so. Whenever a person looks at obstacles instead of resources or goals, he will easily become discouraged before he starts. If one confronts a Melancholy about his pessimistic state, he will usually retort, “I am not being negative! I’m just being realistic.” In other words, his usual thinking process makes him realistically pessimistic. Occasionally, in one of his exemplary moods of emotional ecstasy or inspiration, he may produce some great work of art, but such accomplishments are often followed by periods of intense depression. Some of the world’s greatest geniuses have been notorious for their long bouts of melancholia. And some have even committed suicide. Martin Melancholy usually finds his greatest meaning in life through personal sacrifice. He seems to enjoy making himself suffer, and will often choose a difficult life vocation involving sacrifice. But once it is chosen, he is prone to be exceptionally thorough and persistent in his pursuit of it, and he will accomplish great good if his natural tendency to gripe throughout the sacrificial process doesn’t get him so depressed that he gives up on it altogether. No temperament has so much natural potential when energized by the Holy Spirit.
The creativity and innate strengths of the Melancholy are as pronounced as his weaknesses. For example, the admirable qualities of perfectionism and conscientiousness are of ten interwoven with the spirit of negativism, pessimism, and criticism. Anyone who has worked with a gifted Melancholy very long can anticipate that his first reaction to anything will be negative. Melancholies in our college and church organizations instinctively respond “Impossible!” “It won’t work!” “It can’t be done!” “We’ve tried that once and failed!” “The people will never go for it!” That final generalization is particularly aggravating, for the reference usually applies only to the Melancholy who is raising the objection! The most damaging influence upon a person’s mind, in my opinion, is criticism; thus the Melancholy has to fight that spirit constantly. He suffers from negative thoughts, but then he compounds the problem by verbalizing them, which not only reinforces the spirit of negation but devastates his wife, children, and friends. He is endlessly examining his spiritual life and coming up short-in his own mind-despite the fact that he is most likely to be more devoted than others. As one Melancholy fretted, “I’ve confessed all the sins I can remember, but I know there must be others that I just can’t recall.” This kept him from enjoying any confidence with God.
Melancholy Strengths and Weaknesses
The gifted Melancholy temperament, whether male or female, is the broadest and richest of all temperaments but reflects the most weaknesses. No temperament offers more potential but falls far below expectations due to negative mood swings and lack of self confidence.


Strengths Weaknesses
Gilled Moody
Analytical Deeply emotional
Perfectionist Easily offended
Self-disciplined Pessimistic
Industrious Negative
Self-sacrificing Critical and picky
Aesthetic Theoretical and impractical
Creative Suspicious and revengeful
Sensitive Self-centered
Loyal and faithful Indecisive

These “low-assertive/high-responsive” people must be motivated externally-by God, others, or projects. It is difficult for them to remain idle, for when they are not motivated by others they turn introspective and begin to psychoanalyze themselves, thereby destroying their self-confidence. Many of the most outstanding servants of God have been Melancholies who were filled with the Spirit. All the prophets were Melancholy, as were Moses and several of the faithful apostles and disciples of our Lord. The Melancholy can fulfill his potential only through the Spirit-filled life (Ephesians 5.17-21), which causes him to become a thankful praiser instead of a gloomy griper!
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Well I think I don't go to the extreme for the negative things he talks about the Melancholy.

But I sometimes just don't understand my mood swings. I remind myself of the prophets. I remember Pastor was talking about the ministry of the Prophet in the Bible, and I really could relate to its weaknesses, and show some of the strengths in the area.

Visionary. Prophetic.

but at the same time:

Just plain weird. Emotional, sensitive and get this weird mood swings. Like some mornings I can just wake up feeling like crap..and I don't even know why.

But like I mentioned, all these weaknesses made me lean on God more, which I is a good thing. =) At least I can relate to some men of God in the Bible. Haha.

Anyway the article also talked about Choleric, which i could identify with, the achievement oriented temperament, but I guess its my secondary personality. Still mostly the melancholy.