Meet the Personalities

Have you ever had a rattle in your car that you couldn't identify? An unidentified rattle drives me crazy. But, if I can figure out what is causing it, the mystery disappears as does my insanity.

People and personalities are a lot like rattles; people tend to annoy us more until we understand why they do the things they do. In other words, they don't drive us as crazy when we hold the key that unlocks the mystery of their "rattles."

The Personalities is that key. They were first observed by several Greek thinkers before Christ was born. These thinkers noticed that people fell into four distinct categories. They attributed the differences between each group to the bodily fluids they thought dominated a person's make up. Although it's since been proven that genetics predetermines an individual's personality and environment shapes it, the Greek names orginally used to identify each group have stood the test of time and are still used today. So without further ado, let's meet The Personalities.

The Popular/Playful SANGUINE - the word sanguine is from the Greek word meaning "blood". Sanguine personalities are so named because the early Greek thinkers thought these people had red-hot blood coursing through their veins. Sanguine people are bright and lively and tend to be fun-loving and outgoing. They are the most playful of the four personalities types.

The Powerful CHOLERIC - choleric personalities are very goal oriented and usually accomplish any goal they set for themselves. The name choleric (pronounced like "collar" on a shirt) comes from the Greek word that referred to the yellow bile that was thought to dominate this group's bodily fluids. Choleric people tend to be intense and sometimes bossy, but if you want a job done and done right, call a choleric.

The Perfect/Proper MELANCHOLY - people displaying the melancholy personality have gentle spirits and quiet dispositions. They tend to be deep thinkers and strive for perfection. The early Greeks thought this group was affected by an abundance of black bile, thus the name melancholy. Although each of the personalities can experience depression and disappointment, this group tends to be more affected by these conditions than the others. Melancholy personalities love beautiful things and the world is a more beautiful place because of their presence.

The Peaceful PHLEGMATIC - this personality is named after "phlegm." You know, that lovely sticky substance that often invades our throats. The Greek thinkers noticed this group of people was less energetic than most and attributed it to the phlegm they believed was crawling through their veins. Phlegmatic people are often the hardest to identify because they often blend into their surroundings. They tend to be easy going and the most content with life. Everyone needs the calming influence of a phlegmatic in their family or circle of friends.

God created us as unique individuals and because we are different, The Personalities is the key to help us unlock the mysterious rattles in ourselves and others. Join me next time when we will learn how to identify each personality by their appearance.

(c)2008 Shona Neff