UNDERSTANDING YOUR TEMPERAMENT

PARTAKERS OF HIS DIVINE NATURE   {Temperament, Individual And Interpersonal Management}

UNDERSTANDING YOUR TEMPERAMENT

INTRODUCTION:   
Many times, we wonder why we act the way we do. We see ourselves manifest unpleasant tendencies that might make us cry out like Apostle Paul in frustration, ‘Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?’ –Rom. 7:24. Well there is no need to search for what is responsible; the culprit is your temperament. Most people do not know whether it exist and are ignorant of the power it has over them. When you confront them with their weaknesses, you hear them saying, ‘That is just the way I am, take it or leave it’. How sad. It is important to have an understanding of your temperament because it affects almost every area of life including your eating habits, attraction, choice of life partner, relationship in general, career etc. This study is based on Tim Lahaye’s ‘Why You Act The Way You Do’.  As we study, may we be restored in Jesus name.

DEFINITION OF TERMS:         

1.       TEMPERAMENT:  
        This is the emotional part of a person’s nature. It is the raw and default state of your natural emotional reactions to stimulus from your environment.

2.      
 c         CHARACTER: This is combined effect your thoughts, childhood upbringing, education, religious beliefs on your temperament

3.      
        PERSONALITY:   
        This is what you show to people or what they see on the outside. It may be sincere or false

THE TEMPERAMENT QUADRANT: 
The table below summarizes the types of temperament and how they can be identified. While this quadrant may be very useful, it is not however exhaustive or complete.

Temperament	Slogan	Cognitive style Receiving and analyzing information	Cooperation style How you work together with others	Conflict management style How you react to conflicts	Relationship style How you relate with people	Strength	Weaknesses
Sanguine	Lets have fun	Sentimental- Thought based on feeling	Tells people what he wants and likes to emote i.e show  emotion	Integration and synergy- lets stay together and cooperate	Highly assertive and highly responsive	Friendly, compassionate, stimulating, talkative, ambitious	Weak willed, egotistical, unstable, Exaggerates, Hot tempered, Disorganized
Choleric	Give me control	Perceptive - Focus on things and receives insight immediately	Tells people what he wants and controls	Power and competition- show of force	Highly assertive but has low response to people’s well being	Strong willed, determined, practical, Active, Confident, productive, independent, goal getter	Unemotional, sarcastic, hostile, unforgiving, domineering, Impatient, quick tempered
Melancholy	Do it right Perfectionist	Intuition –instinctive. Be aware or form judgment without thinking or learning	Asks people what they want but controls the outcome	Accommodation and suppression	Highly responsive but with low assertion	Gifted, analytical, self disciplined, self sacrificial, faithful, sensitive, analytical, detailed	Bad temper, Moody, too emotional, pessimistic, easily offended, critical, snob, suspicious,
Phlegmatic	Take life slow and easy	Analytical thinking- Takes time to Draw inference from premises and conclude	Asks people what they want and likes to emote i.e show emotion	Avoid and deny	Low assertion and low response	Cool, easy going, dependable, diplomatic, objective, orderly,	Passive, unmotivated, fearful, worrisome, stingy, indecisive

CONCLUSION: 
Discover your temperament, release your strengths. Manage your weaknesses by not making excuses, realizing that they put people off and cause you to lose opportunities, transform them into strength, avoid things that force you to manifest them, surrender them to God and receive grace to conquer, overpower, and suppress them.

Remain restored                                                            

                                                      Copyright © 2010 Victor A. Aduwa. All rights reserved