Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Personality Test

I just took this personality test and it was surprisingly accurate.  Apparently I’m an Observer/Thinker:

Observers/Thinkers have a need for knowledge and are introverted, curious, analytical, and insightful.

How to Get Along with Me
  * Be independent, not clingy.
  * Speak in a straightforward and brief manner.
  * I need time alone to process my feelings and thoughts.
  * Remember that If I seem aloof, distant, or arrogant, it may be that I am feeling uncomfortable.
  * Make me feel welcome, but not too intensely, or I might doubt your sincerity.
  * If I become irritated when I have to repeat things, it may be because it was such an effort to get my thoughts out in the first place.
  * don’t come on like a bulldozer.
  * Help me to avoid my pet peeves: big parties, other people’s loud music, overdone emotions, and intrusions on my privacy.

What I Like About Being an Observer/Thinker
  * standing back and viewing life objectively
  * coming to a thorough understanding; perceiving causes and effects
  * my sense of integrity: doing what I think is right and not being influenced by social pressure
  * not being caught up in material possessions and status
  * being calm in a crisis

What’s Hard About Being an Observer/Thinker
  * being slow to put my knowledge and insights out in the world
  * feeling bad when I act defensive or like a know-it-all
  * being pressured to be with people when I don’t want to be
  * watching others with better social skills, but less intelligence or technical skill, do better professionally

Observers/Thinkers as Children Often
  * spend a lot of time alone reading, making collections, and so on
  * have a few special friends rather than many
  * are very bright and curious and do well in school
  * have independent minds and often question their parents and teachers
  * watch events from a detached point of view, gathering information
  * assume a poker face in order not to look afraid
  * are sensitive; avoid interpersonal conflict
  * feel intruded upon and controlled and/or ignored and neglected

Observers/Thinkers as Parents
  * are often kind, perceptive, and devoted
  * are sometimes authoritarian and demanding
  * may expect more intellectual achievement than is developmentally appropriate
  * may be intolerant of their children expressing strong emotions

Sorry, kids!  That last part is pretty true…

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Conviction

Sometimes I can’t believe the stuff that comes out of my mouth.  That little guy inside that lets the good comments through and keeps the bad ones back?  He goes to sleep entirely too often.

There are way too many times when I say something off the top of my head only to realize as soon as the words are out, “What part of me thought that was the appropriate thing to say???”  It seems that by the time the red SHUT UP NOW light comes on, it’s usually too late.

I had a serious “Come to Jesus” meeting with myself yesterday.

On the way into church (Church!) Jens and I were entering the new children’s building and he made a comment about how the crosswalk was odd because it doesn’t go from the parking lot to the church entrance path… instead it goes from the parking lot to some random sidewalk that leads away from the entrance.

And suddenly I was going into some diatribe on how they did a few things that just didn’t make any sense AT ALL from a practical perspective.  Thirty seconds into the conversation, I started listening to myself.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Y’all, I talk loud.  That’s the one lasting effect from all those years of theatre training.  I have no doubt that any of the families entering around us heard every word of that conversation.

Funny thing is, I LOVE the new children’s building.  There are so many things about it that make our church and school experience so much better.  But this conversation wasn’t about these things.  And why not?  It’s not as though I was in a bad mood.  I hadn’t been seriously affected by any of the things on my “list.”  I really had no excuse or reason to be stringing out complaints for everyone to hear.

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Well.  There’s a wakeup call.

The thing that really puts the sick ball in the pit of my stomach is the kids.  My kids.  Others’ kids.  What on earth possessed me to set that kind of an example.  It’s too easy for me to believe Kaelin isn’t listening to me if she’s not engaged in the conversation - an assumption proved wrong when I hear her say things like, “I hate that,” a phrase I am guilty of too frequently.  And now how many of those parents are going to have to do “corrective” training with their little kids who picked up some negative comment from me?

I spent the rest of the day in conviction because what I really wanted to do was seek out all the families around us and apologize to them for my wayward tongue.  But since I have no idea who they were, that’s pretty much impossible.

So if you see me walking around with a strip of duct tape on my mouth, just assume it’s probably for the better.