Jesus was the epitomy of meekness. To be spat upon, beaten, and crucified without arguing for His defense. He had the power to call many leagues of angels to stop them from this merciless killing, but He, of course, knew that this had to be done to defeat sin and death. There would be no argument that would change of the minds of those who persecuted Him, some without knowledge of who He really was. An example of an imperfect man in the Bible was that of Moses. He was called the greatest prophet Israel had ever known. He was bombarded with resistance while in the desert, yet he did not submit to his rage against the protestors. He went to God and let Him handle it. My favorite story about Moses is Numbers 16, when Korah leads a rebellion against him and tries to usurp authority. Moses put the judgment lay in YAHveh's hands, and His power caused the protestors to be swallowed up into the ground, which broke open with an earthquake, then closed up. The rest of the protestors were wiped out with fire from the heavens, then still others were wiped out with a plague. Moses is the same man who, when God told him to go to deliver His people, asked who he was to do such a thing. This is meekness.

Now, onto the temperaments:

All of the temperaments have the natural element of selfishness. We are born into this world caring about what we need, for that is how we survive. When we get older, we realize that we could not possibly be an island to ourselves and forget that others have and will influenced our lives. Our focus, however, is still on ourselves. To be meek is not a natural fruit of man, but rather a supernatural fruit of the Holy Spirit.


People of Sanguine temperament, like the others, do not naturally exhibit this fruit. Anger rises up when it comes to defending themselves. If the subject of disagreement is a passionate conviction of theirs, it could even get violent. Their happiness can turn to anger on a dime, and it is not very predictable to people who do not know them. They are interested, mostly, in boasting about who they are and what they have done, and do not concentrate on the person they are speaking with. This is not intentional, but rather done without much thinking. Sometimes their experiences will help others deal with problems, but it goes against the grain of this element of selfishness to expect the other person to talk about someone other than himself/herself. When this fruit is incorporated into their lives, Sanguines boast about other people and take less offense when they are criticized. They focus less on themselves. With this fruit, their anger is kept in check, and that has good effects on physical health also.

Cholerics are bold and are often seen as arrogant and stubborn in whatever they attempt to do. For the Apostle Paul to take the persecution that he did in his years of spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles, this fruit had to be incorporated into his life. He was still bold, and the Choleric tendency to see the bigger picture did not go away. He had a thorn in his flesh, which kept him humble. He called for the people at Philippi to rejoice in the Lord when he was in prison in Rome, standing in human excrement and submitting to other horrid conditions. The Cholerics are naturally stubborn to defend what they believe is right, even if they aren't. It's like trying to break down a brick wall when arguing with them. Their words can often be biting and cruel to those who oppose them, so many possible friendships are lost forever to their stubborness. They are born leaders, but they often miss the point that, to become the greatest leaders, they must serve the most people. When this fruit is incorporated into their lives, Cholerics are powerful, caring, and unstoppable leaders.

Melancholies have a natural small dose of this fruit, although their selfishness often leads them to feel sorry for themselves, driving them to Depresssion and and other depressive illnesses. They may hurt themselves, physically or psychologically for the wrongs that they have done other people. Their selfish tendencies can lead to vengeful thoughts and actions against those who ignore them. Moses was most definitely of Melancholy temperament. It would be good for anyone of this temperament to read the first five books of the Bible, and especially the story of Moses. He, of course, wrote the first five books in the original Biblical Hebrew. He was a writer of great magnitude, telling the history of God's people even before his birth. God entrusted him with much, for he was humble and meek. Melancholies, like Moses, are self-sacrificing and are willing to submit to authority when said authority proves himself/herself. The problem, as I've said before, is that they remember these times of self-sacrifice and brood over them, which doesn't do anyone else any good. They are thinking of themselves and how they were hurt, and how they sacrificed something of great worth to them, and how no one seemed to notice. They have a hard time seeing the big picture, and that their actions never go completely unnoticed. They may never, naturally, know how they've affected great change. Melancholies need a full dose of this fruit for the betterment of their physical, psychological, and spiritual health.

Phlegmatics are silently stubborn and bold. It is not apparent to those who do not watch "the quiet one." We tend to think we know what is best for our lives, and we ignore input from others who say anything to the contrary. We do not say anything in defense, but rather act according to or against what we are told to do. Abraham had problems with this fruit, at first, but when he was asked to sacrifice his most precious gift, his son, he passed the test. He knew, by faith, that God would supply a sacrifice, but he did take the knife to Isaac, ready to kill him as God had instructed. This is meekness and humility. Without this fruit, we would possibly sabotage something that we do not think is right. This can be done through clever pranks, lying, or just by omission. We react with sarcasms that can bite just as hard as the Choleric's harsh words. When the Lord breaks down our stubborn walls, and we incorporate this fruit into our lives, our temperament weaknesses become powerful strengths to help others. When our thoughts become congruent with the submissive exterior that othes often see, then we become great counselors, no matter what problems others may confront us with. Glory be to God!


Is there anything else yet to say about meekness?
 

Faith comes both by the Word of God and by the filling of the Holy Spirit, with His many fruits. Uncompromised faith obliterates doubt and fear. This faith is thought to be more than just faith in God, but also in each other. We are to be dependable in our love for one another. We are to surrender our worries, anxieties, and our whole lives to God, and He will give us rest. There is no permanence in godless happiness, for only God has the strength to buffet and take on our trials. I would not try to take on all of my life's trials, for I am weak without Him. I tried, believe me. All of us have tried to handle things in our lives, thinking that we were in control. We figure out, sooner or later, Who is really in control.

ID: 864706   (Rated: E) Faith vs. Fear  Faith overcomes fear, if you believe it. by Beth Barnett loves YAHshua

People of all temperaments need this fruit. It is written that it better to give than receive, and that is what this fruit is: the giving of self and possessions. It is in a word: selflessness. This fruit is a dramatic mental health booster. When one helps others and doesn't focus on self-depreciating thoughts, then overall mental health improves. It is a good feeling to know that you have the power to make a difference in other people's lives. Giving to another, whether it be time, money, ideas, etc., boosts self-esteem. When you start focusing on others, your troubles will begin to not look so bleak. The blessings you receive in return are priceless. They may not come back in the same substance that you gave, but it is often far better than you could imagine. You may not be able to see it in the short-term, but in the long-run you will be blessed beyond measure.

People of Sanguine temperament often focus on themselves in conversation. Anyone who has studied business or networking knows that this is not a good approach to make contacts. It is also not a good approach to making long-lasting friendships. When Sanguines do incorporate this fruit into their lives, watch out. They are passionate, spontaneous, and emotional givers. When the hot buttons of their passions are pushed, they have no grief about giving fully of themselves in any way. They often think out of the box, so an idea that ignites their passions, no matter how far-fetched it might be, will have a lot of their attention and time. Thank God for these vivid dreamers.

Cholerics often give if it would help themselves personally in some way. That, although it is giving, is not the primary reason to give. They will miss out on opportunities to give and reach out to other people that could impact their lives in ways they will never know. Cholerics are practical and find it hard to think out of the box, for they have set their course in life and they are going toward their goals. They often ignore people they feel will not help them. Cholerics need a good dose of this fruit, for when it is incorporated into their lives, they will learn that putting others above themselves will gain them a peaceful, abundant life, full of friends and family. They use the abilities that were once used for selfish purposes, and teach others how they can gain confidence and a positive mental attitude. Cholerics are generally positive people, and that will stand out when they are driven by the Holy Spirit.

It is imperative that people of Melancholy temperament incorporate this fruit into their lives. They often focus on negative thoughts of self, and how they have failed. They get lost in a fog of gloom and doom, locked away to themselves. They suffer from self-depreciating thoughts. They anguish over past losses. This is not the life that God would want for the people He loves so much. When Melancholies incorporate this fruit into their lives it will be life-altering. Melancholies naturally feel emotionally drawn to others who are suffering. When they start reaching out to other, not for selfish reasons, but to help others get out of their ruts, then they themselves will be lifted up. Some of the greatest prophets of all time were Melancholies. The things Moses and Elijah had the power to do when they took their eyes off of themselves were phenomenal. These two Melancholy men changed many lives for the better. Melancholies who have been touched by the Holy Spirit can be extremely self-sacrificing, giving their time to others in abundance. They are often happy in their giving. They will learn who they really are when they reach out to others. They are powerful, heartfelt givers, and their attention to detail helps them to fully understand what it is that they should give. They are also, like the Sanguine, out of the box thinkers. They are not practical thinkers, but rather analytical. The possibility of things not yet seen are not invisible to them, so they do not hesitate to give of themselves for such purposes.

Anyone who has read earlier entries knows that I am of the Phlegmatic temperament, so I will speak from my own experience in saying that this fruit is lacking in us unless we strive to incorporate it. It is a sad thing, but we do not give if we feel that we do not have the time, money, or expertise to do so. If we are in times of stress, then we put a wall up around ourselves and feel that we cannot afford to give anyone anything that they could possibly do any good. We do not anguish over our failures, but our self-talk is of the practical, negative nature. We don't focus on "what if's," but we focus on what we have and what we don't. We often feel inferior and that giving of ourselves is pointless. We do not see the big picture. It has to be shown to us. We are often stingy in all of our giving for all of these reasons. It all boils down to selfishness. I have found that the best way to overcome negative thoughts is to help other people out of their burdening situations. We are peaceful people by nature and can help calm people's storms of life by just being the attentive listeners that God made us to be. We are not extremely emotional, so situations of distress others are in can be looked at from a practical perspective. Our humorous nature can also relieve tension in situations of distress. Helping others is the best self-esteem booster imaginable. We just need to get off of our rusty-dusties and get out and reach out to strangers. The fruit which helps overcome this fear of meeting new people and encountering difficult situations will be covered in a soon-to-come entry: faith.


Any comments on the fruit of goodness? Am I missing anything? Do you have any experienc you would like to share?
 

Gentle people have tender hearts toward other people. There is no "unimportant" person to them. There are no rash judgments based on cultural stereotypes. This is not the way many people act toward one another, but, like I've written before, with God all things are possible. Incorporating the fruits of the Spirit in your life would be thinking and acting out of the box, but who wants to suffocate in the world's stale status quo thinking? Not me.

People of the Sanguine temperament are outgoing and friendly and rarely hold grudges over long-passed offenses. They accept people as they are, and that is good and bad, for their association determines their mentality. They, naturally, tend to think very high of themselves and might easily forget what they had planned to do to help someone else. As they grow older, they will develop standards for those people they will accept as long-term friends. They are friendly toward everyone, usually, but certain people do not fit in with the crowd they usually run with. The other problem a Sanguine has is that they will often blurt out comments without thinking of how it will affect someone else. A Sanguine driven by the Holy Spirit learns quickly to tame his/her tongue and is passionate about uplifting other people.

Cholerics need a large dose of gentleness. When they are on their course toward their goals, they often will ignore the people they feel cannot help them. They may be rude to those they feel have no right to give them advice. If they don't see a certain person fitting into the big picture of where they see their lives going, then they will be easily turned aside and forgotten. Their tongue, like the Sanguine, is unruly. They are not happy with incompetence, and if they do not hold their tongue and learn to treat people gently, no matter how badly they might have messed up, then they will alienate friends and family and lose out on potentially loving relationships. Cholerics should, at any cost, incorporate this fruit into their lives, for their sake, and the sake of their loved ones.

Melancholies naturally have a good dose of this fruit, most of the time. They are genuinely moved by other people's distress. They often will sacrifice their own well-being for the sake of another. The reason I said most of the time, was that Melancholies are also naturally moody. There are times when they are delving into self-pity and depression that they are not concerned about helping others because they don't feel that they can help themselves. Melancholies often deny their own worth, even with the tender golden hearts they were richly endowed with. Focusing on others, but not totally forgetting about building their own self-worth is a balance a Melancholy must make. The other fruits of the Spirit, including this one, will help them do just that.

Phlegmatics often look at situations from the outside without getting emotionally involved. We tend to watch other people before trusting them. We fall into the trap, however, of the media, for we are the most prone of all of the temperaments to be indulgent in sedentary television viewing. This, I've learned, is not good for the observant Phlegmatic. I've cut off my cable and now concentrate on association with postive people, as well as my writing. We are not, however, outright verbal about our objections toward someone. We tend to avoid people we don't think will speak with us because of self-esteem issues. We will also avoid people who we feel are beneath us. We have a standard of who our friends are, for we have very few people we fully trust. I've learned, however, to think out of the box on this issue. I have a positive view of people in general, and I haven't been let down since I've formed that point-of-view. No one is beneath me speaking to. I went to a homeless shelter to volunteer my time, and I've lived amongst foreigners for a few years while in Germany. What I've found is that our wants and needs are basically the same. And, the most important spiritual need of all is to be recognized and to be loved. The gentle, patient heart of a Phlegmatic can go a long way to help other people out of their dire situations. Phlegmatics should indulge more in the Holy Spirit, and less in television.


Do you have any other comments about gentleness?


 

Longsuffering is a combination of patience and endurance, and, like the other fruits, some temperaments have a natural tendency to display it, although not perfectly, and others must strive in prayer daily to grasp this fruit. Longsuffering and peace go hand in hand. Actually all of these fruits go hand in hand to produce a peaceful life that can only be characteristic of a Spirit-filled person.

People of Sanguine temperament have a hard time with this fruit because of their emotional deep convictions and their tendency to believe that everyone loves them. When things don't go their way, their happy, go lucky nature may turn on a dime into rage. They don't typically get impatient with specific people, but with situations that compromise their deeply held convictions. They do have a tendency to be weak-willed, so they will try to make amends later, if they remember to do so, but certain situations are too compromising to their values, so they'll just avoid the pain of going back into them at all. Things are fast and furious in their minds, and people of other temperaments who don't move as fast as they do may also bring on in them angry impatience. The endurance part of the equation is not a natural strength of this temperament either. Sanguines will often start projects with a passionate fervor, but once the momentum dies down, they will not be emotionally convicted to finish them, leaving others to deal with the small details of accomplishing the tasks. They will move on to the next project that drives their passion. They do not like to do the behind-the-scenes work, so that is often left to others. In school, however, many homework and projects will not drive their passions and others are not involved in their individual assignments, so they must learn to push themselves through this weakness by incorporating this fruit into their lives. This fruit is a must for the Sanguine to strive for. It will help them find peace with other people, who might avoid them to not encite their rage.

Cholerics are not usually patient with people of other temperaments who can't see the big picture as they do. They are self-sufficient and often do not appreciate the input of others whom they feel will not further their accomplishment of their goals. They are often not willing sacrifice their own pride to help another person succeed above them. Now, with this fruit incorporated into their lives, this changes, and they become the best motivators anyone could come across. Their persistence toward their goals can be turned to persistence in helping others with goals as well as seeking to accomplish their own. Cholerics have a postive perspective on their lives and they know where they are going in life. They have the endurance part of the equation of longsuffering, but lack the patience. When that element is added, Cholerics are the best leaders, in business or otherwise. I do know some Spirit-filled Cholerics, and their generosity is overwhelming. Cholerics believe in other people who don't see potential in themselves, and help them discover it.

Melancholies usually work behind the scenes, and do not take on leadership roles. They are self-sacrificing and go the distance in anything they do. They are patient with people who are distressed, for they are emotionally drawn to help them, no matter how much it interferes with their own lives. They can be critical of others, so they are not perfect in this, but, then again, without the Holy Spirit, none of us can even come close to perfection. When filled with the Holy Spirit, they put others above themselves always, some times to the point of denying themselves of their own needs. Melancholies have this fruit at varying degrees, and should seek the full dose of it.

I can illustrate this fruit in the Phlegmatic with words I've heard many times about my mother. "She's the kindest, gentlest, most patient person I know." I get the temperament honest from my mother, although her secondary temperament is different than mine. I will discuss that in a later entry. Because Phlegmatics usually roll with the punches and do not get overexcited about anything, they have a very long fuse which is often lengthened through sarcasm and hilarious one-liners. It helps to look at situations with a sense of humor, and I do see irony in many things that happen in my life, whether good or bad. Now, this sarcasm can turn cynical and be directed toward other people, so Phlegmatics are not completely off the hook in praying for this fruit of the Spirit.



Anything you want to add about longsuffering?

 

There is no other fruit that is more misuderstood than peace, although love is a close second.

People of Sanguine temperament find this fruit difficult to incorporate into their lives. Many times, Sanguines will overload their schedule, not usually written, with activities that wish to involve themselves with. It gets burdensome to them that they only have so much time to burn for all that they want to do. Sanguines also wish to please everyone, seeking as many friends whom they can confide in. When someone gives them critical opinions about themselves, then they will often try to fit in, no matter what headaches it might cause them. Chasing other people's acceptance will not bring peace, but chaos. Absorbing the environment the way they do, Sanguines should try to associate with positive people. It will rub off on them. The one peaceful element of the Sanguine, however, is that they do not hold grudges, unless the situation was very dramatic. They may blow up in anger at you one day, and two days later, they'll give a hug and not remember the argument on either end. They are also very willing to accept forgiveness and do not concentrate on their past mistakes.

Most Cholerics wear a straight, stern face a majority of the time. It's not that they are unhappy, though. They, naturally, use self-motivation with positive self-talk. If they are not doing that, then they are on a path to accomplish whatever goal they have set for themselves at the moment. They see the bigger picture of what their actions will accomplish in the long run, and they have in mind who and who cannot help them achieve their goals. They are self-sufficient and often do not appreciate someone else telling them that there is an easier way to get their job done. They try to take on everything themselves, which makes it hard for them to accept salvation and the peace that comes with the in-filling of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul had to be stricken with blindness before he gave in to God's will for his life. After reading Paul's writings in the Bible, everyone can see the power of this fruit of God's Spirit in his life. Paul didn't understand it, and he didn't try to, for he does see the big picture, afterall.

Melancholies are desperately in need of this fruit. All of the problems and mistakes of yesterday are drowning out their positive self-images. Mulling over the past does not bring peace. Their contemplations, however, are focused on themselves, in the small details of "what if." They do not see the big picture, but rather concentrate on the details of a certain subject, which makes them accomplished researchers. They are often pessimistic when encountering a new situation, and often downgrade themselves in accomplishing what is asked of them. They often have to try to figure out the "how" in all situations, and God's Spirit is not someone who was made to be understood. Peace can escape Melancholies for lack of understanding. When they see God's power in their lives and how He can bring peace in the most compromising of situations, they are overwhelmed and give up in their analysis. The story of Moses, the most powerful prophet ever, illustrates what God can do with this beautiful temperament.

An outward showing of peace is exhibited by Phlegmatics. We do not get overly excited about anything. There is an "if it happens, it happens" attitude. We do not mull over problems again and again. We seek to escape them somehow. We are often quiet until we get to know other people. We do not jump into situations without watching it from the outside. We let problems bounce off our built-up walls, which is both good and bad. Appearances are not all they are cracked up to be though. A Phlegmatic may look peaceful on the outside, but be eaten alive inside with worrisome and self-defeating thoughts. We often do not worry about ourselves, however. We worry about our loved ones and our inability to do anything about their problems. We want to help them, but we feel we are powerless to change anything. We also tend to try to meticulously control the things in our lives we believe we can change, and worry about what we believe we have no power over. It is needless worry and grief, but, in the moment, it seems necessary. When we are told that our worries are pointless, we put up our stubborn wall and silently continue to go our own way. So, Phlegmatics are definitely in need of this fruit of the Spirit, even though it may not be so evident from the outside. Trust me, I can vouch for this internal anguish. But, I can also vouch for the peace that comes with the in-filling of the Holy Spirit. It truly cannot be understood, but I feel peace in the midst of the problems I encounter in my life, and I trust that my loved ones are in the Lord's hands. He can provide much more help than I ever could. I cover them in prayers, and pray that I may be an instrument, in any way that He deems possible, to help others.


Do you face any other problems in obtaining peace than the ones I mentioned here. Let me know, please.








 

I'm back to the topic at hand!
Joy is a fruit of the spirit that people often confuse with happiness. Joy, unlike happiness, does not depend on outside circumstances. A joyful person can be joyful no matter what is going on around them. It's a delightful optimism that cannot be easily understood.

People of Sanguine temperament have the most apt ability to embrace this fruit of the Spirit. Some of them are the type of people whom the Melancholies would scoff at and the Phlegmatics would poke fun at. Because of this ability to embrace the joy they feel around them, they are not susceptible to a long bout of Depression, unless there is a deficiency of certain nutrients in their diets.

People of the Choleric temperament are shaped, like others, by their past experiences. If they are brought up with encouraging parents, teachers, family members, and friends, then they can easily incorporate this fruit into their lives. If, however, they are brought up in a negative environment of any kind, it will be extremely hard for them to accept this fruit. Once they are teenagers it will be apparent whether they will accept this fruit, or put up their stubborn brick walls up against it.

Phlegmatics are usually not affected much by events that cause others emotional calamity, but we can often be cynical about those who seem happier than we are. "They can't be that happy because I'm not that happy," we might say. That is the wrong way to think. When we become joyful about what happens when other people succeed and accomplish their goals, then our cynicism and worry will drop the waste side. It is hard for a cynic to be joyful about about anything, but with God all things are possible.

A person of Melancholy temperament will find the hardest time to embrace this fruit. They often think on past failures and mull them over again and again. They are driven, emotionally, to people who need help with sorrowful situations. They can sense sorrow better than any of the other temperaments. They must, however, not make those sorrowful problems of other people their own problems. To embrace this fruit, they must let go of past failures and how other people might think of them negatively, and use those thoughts not to hinder them, but to empower them. This temperament is the most in need of this fruit, but rarely are led to fully incorporate it into their lives.


Any other thoughts on joy?




 

I will continue with the fruits of the Spirit, shortly, but I would like to receive comments on my paper for the time being. Next week, I will continue with the topic at hand, though. I appreciate the patience of anyone following the topic in this blog. The paper is a focused concentration on the topic at hand. The only thing I haven't covered in this paper is treatment with the fruits of the Spirit, as children may not yet be at the age of accountability. I'm struggling with whether or not to include the fruits of the spirit. Any suggestions?

--See last entry for paper.

Thanks.
God be with your spirit.





 

Here is the paper on ADHD that I am still working on.

ID: 962590   (Rated: E) ADHD: Disorder or Temperament Variance?  Medical model vs. temperament--An analysis of 2 models of socially deviant behavior. by Beth Barnett loves YAHshua

In the next nine entries, I will go into the fruits of the Holy Spirit, then I will, if anyone is interested, go into how you can exhibit those fruits in your life, for we can't do it all on our own. The fruits of the Spirit are outlined in Galations 5:22-23, and it is written that there is no law against such fruit. Each temperament has a natural tendency toward some of them, and some must be incorporated into their lives, though the Spirit. The fruits are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (self-control). First I'll write about love, which is outlined very well in 1 Corinthians 13. This is the love that lasts, and is not hindered by anything.

People with the Sanguine temperament do love themselves with this capacity, but Spirit-filled Sanguines have a passion to help other people. Their focus is changed. When a Sanguine get passionate about helping other people, then there is nothing that is going to tear him/her from it. I know a couple of Spirit-filled Sanguines, and they just go on and one about their lives in Christ, and about the joyful experiences they've had in ministering to other people. They are not gossips, but rather build other people up, while speaking with them, or by speaking about them to someone else.

People with the Choleric temperament need this fruit in their lives in abundance. These are the people who have their hearts in the right place, but have their sights so far away on their goals, that the don't often notice the other people who helped them along the way. This changes, of course, when the Choleric becomes Spirit-filled. They are great motivators and compassionate leaders with a passion for other people. They don't always full credit for reaching a goal, but let others share in the glory. Their biting remarks toward other people are softened into motivating ones, helping others see that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. They will use their powerful leadership skills to to push others ahead of themselves.

People of Melancholy temperament should strive for this fruit with full force, for it might possibly save their lives. They often center their thoughts on themselves, so looking outwardly and using their self-sacrificing nature and tender hearts to reach out to someone else, will help them see that the big picture that God has for them is much more beautiful than the the small inconsistencies they seem to dwell on. Melancholies have a tremendous capacity to love others.

Phlegmatics have issues with trust and hiding in a shell of self-protection. The fruits of the Spirit give them new confidence. We are great observers and counselors, if we have the right foundation in our lives. With love as a driving force, we can be that calm in the storm when others are frantic, and we can look at others with a sense of trust, knowing that we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Our humor will not lose its edge, but it will lose its stinging bite, when it comes to antagonizing others. The humor will change, not go away.

That's all I've got to say about love, for now.





 

I will be using application of information in Dr. Tim LaHaye's information in this entry. Some of it will be as I've seen it in my own experience. After this, the next few entries will talk about the fruit of the Spirit, and how they can be incorporated to turn weaknesses into strengths, or just turn them around to profit a man for God's glory.

Sanguines are erratic drivers, in that they will speed when they feel like it, then, out of the blue, will slow down, when the mood strikes them. Advertisements on the side of the roads are for these people. Their attentions can be drawn away from the road in front ot them easily. Dr. LaHaye gave the advice of not sitting in the backseat of the car if you intend to have a conversation with a Sanguine, who is driving, because he/she will look back to speak to you.

As for studying, the inattentiveness can be a problem, which I will discuss in later entries about ADHD, but I will apply what I've seen a Sanguine friend of mine do when studying, which is very clever. He knows himself very well, and knows that if he stays at home or at work to study, then his mind will drift to other things that need to be done. What he does, is go to a bookstore, or any place where there are other people study. It places him in that mode, or atmosphere. His attention isn't so easily pulled away from his studying this way. Sanguines have to study as they go along. They are great at finding things to do to procrastinate, but they are terrible last-minute crammers, in that they will not remember very much of what they cram in their minds all in one sitting.


The Cholerics are the ones darting in and out of lanes, between traffic, at very high speed. They are in a hurry to get where they need to go, and, God forbid, that anyone should slow them down. Don't worry about speaking with a Choleric behind the wheel, for he/she won't be much of a conversationalist. He/she will concentrate on the road, above all else.

As far as studying goes, it would have to depend on the subject matter. They are not good at remembering bare bone facts, but can easily elaborate on the big picture, and will use one fact they know to help them in what they don't know. This is my secondary temperament, as I've said, and it plays a role in how I study. I use nmemonic devices to take a small set of facts and put it into something big and solid, such as a nonsense word that will cover a whole idea, not just a single fact. If Cholerics do not find a subject to be important to their goals, then they will become bored and will not give of their full efforts in the course.


Melancholies are slow and steady drivers, most apt to analyze traffic and follow the flow of it. They tend not to be erratic drivers, and are usually very predictable in their driving habits. They do, however, want elaborate details on how to get to unknown places, and also keep a schedule as to where they need to go and when.

As for studying, Melancholies will use their time wisely in studying slow and steady. They want to absorb the details, and can be perfectionists in getting all of the answers completely correct. This temperament group is noted, by Dr. LaHaye, to have the highest IQ scores of the four. Their analytic minds can tear apart facts and memorize them very easily. Abstract ideas that cannot be memorized may create a problem for them. The ideas and facts are easy, but application is a Choleric strong point.

Phlegmatics are the "Sunday drivers." We are normally very slow, lest we have a secondary temperament that likes to manifest when behind the wheel, like mine does. Normally, Phlegmatics are the easiest to spot on the road because they'll follow the speed limit exactly, and not go over. I would normally say we, but since I tend to have more Choleric tendencies here, I use "they." I did have a Phlegmatic problem when I first started driving, however, and that was merging with traffic. Of course, that could probably be because I really learned the bulk of my driving skills on the Autobahn in Germany. There's no way you can hesitate in merging, unless coming to a complete halt and waiting forever and a day, when traffic is zooming past at 90mph+.


As far as studying goes, Phlegmatics are procrastinators that can do very well at absorbing a lot of information in very little time. Like I said before, I don't recommend this as a habit to develop, because it causes a lot of distress when studying for intensive college courses down the road. Research is not done well at the last minute. I know, trust me. Phlegmatics must push themselves to get things done, or else they may postpone readings and assignments until the last minute. They must set priorities, and stick with them, or else suffer the consequences of their procrastination. One other thing I know from experience, is that I do not study past a certain point after an intense session of it, for I just get to a repose in my mind that I just have to stop, and make the statement, that if I don't know it by now, then I just don't know it. I have not agonized over tests. I agonize more over papers that have to be written because that involves much more concentration, to me.


Any questions about these habits before I start focusing on more positive elements of temperament?










 

When I speak of selfishness, I'm not judging anyone severely. It is clearly evident that it is human nature that people think of themselves, before any other person. There are a times in which this element of temperament can save your life in dangerous situations. However, I do want to reveal how this life-saving element can cause great distress when TOO MUCH focus is on self. Each temperament is different in how they express selfishness.

Sanguines don't think badly of others when they meet them on the street, unless, of course, something dramatic happened earlier in life that might cause them to not be so outgoing. They do not believe anyone is out to get them, but rather will tell their life stories to anyone who listen. They are upfront and honest. This is not necessarily a bad thing, unless they only consider themselves in their conversations. It is a skill that must be learned, to know that people aren't always interested in you, but rather themselves. This type of selfishness can be detrimental to relationships. To maintain healthy relationships, they may have to learn that it is not all about them.

The Choleric's selfishness is of a different sort. They care what will get them through to achieving their personal goals. They can get so driven in this pursuit, that they don't take help from anyone else. They won't look left or right, but just keep on driving through to their goals. It took the good Lord to blind the Choleric, Paul, to make him see that it was not his own strength that he received victory. It is not his glory that he was to seek. Their stubborn nature can turn people away from trying to help them. It is hard to help someone who won't accept it.

Those of Melancholy temperament may take slight comments personally that were never meant to be taken out of context. Someone's always talking about them, or doing something to just to irritate them. Seriously, though, they internalize all of this and let it stir and stir, and they focus on how bad their lives are. They focus on small details that are, many times, specks of sand when compared to the big picture of their grand lives. When they are involved in helping other people, and take they take their eyes off of themselves, they are quite insightful problem-solvers for other people. Their type of selfishness can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety, and may manifest physical symptoms, if not remedied, like mentioned above.

I turn to the Phlegmatics now, and I personally know that, even though we seem calm, content and genial, there is a selfish nature that is very strong. We close ourselves into our shell, and we tend not to want to share anything with anyone. When we go through problems in our lives, we just want to get through it unscathed, and will try to shy away from people who try to make us face the problems head on. When going through trouble, we may see someone who genuinely wants to help us, but we whisper under our breath that they don't speak to us. If they ask how we're doing, we're forced out of our shells. We don't like it, but I praise the Lord for people who pay attention to us quiet sufferers, and don't give up in trying to hammer through that tough skin. I can say that the best thing I've learned in my life, is to just let people into my life. When I saw that other people faced the same problems I did, it made a world of difference.


Any questions about selfishness and temperament? Let me see them.


 

Unlike the people of Melancholy and Phlegmatic temperaments, people of the two extroverted temperaments react to stress with anger. They are different, however, in their predictability and causes.

People of Choleric temperament are predictable in what causes them rage. I tell you this, not so you can incite wrath in one of them, but to see if this may be your way of reacting, and to show you why what you say to someone of this temperament is of vital importance. What angers them most is a questioning of their integrity, without tact. Now, many Cholerics will not mind taking criticism when it is pointed toward their deed, and not their person. It's not wise to personally attack a Choleric with words you can't defend, because you will be made to do so. They do want to improve themselves, but humility is not often their strong suit. They are self-sufficient, and abhor being told that they are wrong. Some of them are stubborn enough to stick to their guns, no matter how well you argue your point, and no matter how wrong they may be. They, also, cannot stand incompetence. Some of them resound cold, harsh words to those who they feel could be doing a better job at their tasks, no matter if the Choleric can perform them himself/herself, or not. Other Cholerics may be harsh in their words, but with a gentle anger, which will motivate others to do their tasks with confidence.

People of the Sanguine temperament are a bit more unpredictable in their anger. Each Sanguine has values he/she holds dear and is very passionate about. Unless you personally know what those values are, it is very hard to know what words of yours might violate those convictions. Sanguines need a wealth of attention, and they seek it out. They are the easiest to get to know, yet some of them are still screaming to be heard.

Sanguines can be emotionally unstable, and a chaotic environment may set them on edge without much effort from any one person. They are genuinely happy people, unless the tension in their environment stirs them otherwise. To anyone who doesn't know them, they are unpredictable in their moods, but to their friends, they are just them. Unlike the Melancholy, they do not hold their rantings inside, but rather boldly vent them aloud. It can sometimes bring on the attention they seek.


Are there any Sanguines and Cholerics out there who would find me in error about anything? Let me know, please.

 

I will discuss two ways of dealing with stress, depending on introverted and extroverted temperaments. The first reaction is fear, and the second is anger. I will cover fear in this entry, and anger in the next.

People of Melancholy or Phlegmatic temperaments respond to stressors in fear, being nonconfrontational in their approaches.

Melancholies will internalize stress and think upon it again and again, often being critical of other people without actually coming out and saying that something is wrong in their lives. Small incidents will twist over and over again in their analytic minds, and the stress may build up, stessor after stressor, until a physical reaction causes them to seek help. Social support for Melancholies is a must. They usually have only a few close friends, whom they are very loyal to, and that same loyalty is expected to be returned in kind. The one thing that someone of Melancholy temperament may have to watch out for is the negative influence of other people. They need to pour as much positive into their lives as possible to drown it out. They may internalize other people's problems as their own, especially the problems of close friends and family. Speaking positive self-talk, which can be learned through many self-improvement books, and avoiding gossip at all costs, will make for a much longer, healthier life for someone of this temperament. Reading the book of Psalms will build up any Melancholy who is down on himself/herself. Most are them are written by the delightful SanMel, King David. Reading the story of Moses, a beloved Melancholy, in Exodus, will give hope in how God can work through this temperament. It is a powerful story, and Moses wrote it!


People of Phlegmatic temperament do not internalize stress, but rather shy away from it or avoid it at all costs. Phlegmatics would sooner run away or muffle the stress in any way possible. This might be a physical flight away from any type of danger, or, perhaps a numbing of reality with drugs and alcohol. I, and many Phlegmatics like me, I suppose, can mentally close ourselves in and not let other people know that we are having any problems whatsoever. We can also just forget something bad that happened, and, maybe, it will go away, sooner or later. Trust me, that hardly ever works. Social support is also a must for Phlegmatics, no matter how much we like to stay off to ourselves. For those approaching loved ones of this temperament, building trust is key to any lasting relationship with us. We don't often have very many friends, but the ones we do have, we'll never forget. We may often, however, worry over the stressors of our loved ones to forget our own, which can take its toll on relationships when we verbalize them over and over again. We feel we cannot control what happens, so we may bother the people who may be affected, and tell them to watch out for danger of all sorts. The writings of the Apostle Paul, the Choleric, from the Bible, would be great instruction, motivating the reserved Phlegmatic. Reading the story of Abraham, a fellow Phlegmatic, will bring understanding of how God can work in us, in spite of our fear.


Is there anything else you would like to know about fear and these two temperaments? Let me know.
 

This is my secondary temperament, and I have a brother and cousin who both have this as a dominant temperament.

Like the other temperaments, this one is both beautiful and ugly at the same time. It's not a disorder, mind you, but just is as it is. Again, there is variance within these traits, so not all Cholerics will fit every last one of them.

They are the innovators with great optimism and strong intestinal fortitude. They are driven toward their goals, and they know where they are going in life. Now, don't step in these people's way unless you feel you can keep them from running you over. They often don't see the small details or obstacles that could possibly be in their ways of accomplishing their goals. They particularly do not like to hear that they are wrong.

They are self-sufficient and determined to be right about nearly everything. Some of them will not admit they are wrong, even if it is blaringly obvious that they are. The stubbornness is much more verbal than with the Phlegmatic. They can come off as rude and overbearing, if they don't watch their tongues closely. They may seem to have lack of compassion for other people, at times. They believe, since they can do something, then others should be able to do it just as well, which has good and bad connotations to it, depending on whom they are speaking of. They are great motivators, in that they know how to put people in their places, as far as seeing the big picture, instead of focusing on small problems.

Like other temperament types, however, they don't often think that the other person might think in different ways than they do. A person of Melancholy temperament, for instance, can see the small details, but has trouble seeing how it fits into the grand scope of things. Cholerics see the big picture very easily. The temperament of ChlorMel is the making of a very dynamic leader, who has the big picture and the small details in mind--Don't bother debating them, if you don't know your facts, and the latter goes for MelChlors also. This mix of two very different poles of temperament could lead to problems, depending on social circumstances and variances of temperament.

There's a huge difference between the Phlegmatic and Choleric temperament, also. The Phlegmatic would see something that has to be done and hope that someone else will eventually take care of it, but the Choleric will see that same thing and charge in to do something about the problem. The Choleric doesn't ask why, doesn't deny that he/she can do it, and doesn't bother worrying about how it is going to get done.

I will end on another good note. I do believe that the optimism of the Choleric is breath-taking. Some of the great innovators of our day are determined Cholerics who get back up no matter how many times they get knocked down. When you tell a Choleric he/she can't do something, then the challenge is on, for better or worse.

Do you think you are of the Choleric temperament? Let me know if I missed anything.



 

I know many people of the Sanguine temperament, and I enjoy being around them. They are high-energy people. I love being around a Sanguine who has found his/her passion and is "in the zone." Their attention spans are not usually well-focused until they find something that they are passionate about. They can be restless and unfocused, and can be led where their fancies take them, no matter which direction they are currently going. This can lead to problems with learning, for some things they may have to learn may have nothing to do with what they are passionate about. With these subjects they may become bored and may find other routes to amuse themselves, perhaps in their hobbies. One funny antecdote I have from a business standpoint had to do with an associate of mine who was making an excuse to a prominent leader in the same business about not reading self-improvement books because he fell asleep when he read. This leader simply told him to read standing up, and he would never make the mistake of dozing off again.

That passion, when found, can stir a crowd into a buzz about whatever topic the Sanguine is discussing. Sanguines are fun-loving and highly emotional. They are very good in sales jobs, and any type of job in which motivating people is involved. King David in the Bible was a vibrant Sanguine, who danced in the streets, sometimes half-naked, praising the Lord. It is written that he was well-loved by his people. There weren't many Sanguine kings, but King David was true to the traits of this temperament. He, also, was given over to a weakness of temperament, lust, which had cost him much joy later in life, when dealing with the consequences. The other temperaments do have this weakness also, but it is strongest in those of Sanguine temperament, who might seek out short-term pleasure when long-term happiness is yet to be found.

They can be emotionally unstable when stress tries to tear them away from something they enjoy. They can sometimes fly off the handle, so to say, if someone doesn't see what they are passionate about in the same way they do.

They are quick to talk of themselves, but can also be moved to be passionate in speaking about the people they care about. You often will know a Sanguine's life story, at least the happy parts, if you know him/her even for a short time. They are attention-grabbers, and often succeed, with good or detrimental results. When attention cannot be paid to them, and they try to grab it, they may not make the best of choices as to what they should do to get anyone's attention.

They are social butterflies. They also have a need for a lot of loving attention, so they might cave into pressure when it comes to giving up their convictions, so as to fit in with the crowd better. Sanguines often have many friends.

They immerse themselves into their environments. They absorb all that is going on around them and make judgments on how to act, with that in mind. If their environments are chaotic, then so are they. If they are in peaceful surroundings, then they are calm. Fitting themselves to their surroundings is not always the best approach to all situations. Peter the Apostle told Jesus, when among the disciples that he would never deny Him, but when in the midst of Jesus's persecution, he denied Him three times, just as He had predicted. Of course, things turned out well for Peter, because he had already his true passion, and his focus went back to where it once had been.

They are quick to speak, and, sometimes, do not take into account the consequences of their words before they say them. They state the obvious, even if it is not socially appropriate to say it aloud.

They are great starters in grand projects that have their focus at one time, but when they lose interest, the project will fall flat or be given into other hands, perhaps a Choleric's (I'll explain in the next entry.) If, however, they are given adequate encouragement, i.e. attention, they will be driven to continue in their pursuits, whether their passion wanes or not.

Even though they are quick to anger, they do not often hold grudges. It would take something very dramatic for a Sanguine to seethe over someone else's actions for a long time. When they are told that they are forgiven, they simply believe it, no questions asked. They are the easiest to accept forgiveness when it comes to sin and salvation in the Christian church.

Do you think I left anything out?



 

I had a talk with some relatives this morning. I spent the night chatting with my cousin, by marriage, and she was one of the Choleric/Sanguine blend of temperament. I'd shorten that name to say ChlorSan. I will go into the Choleric soon enough.

Her husband, however, is a Melancholy, and I spoke with both of them in the morning, and he had some questions which were very Melancholy in nature. He was very inquisitive and analytical. He's very intelligent, but he doesn't consider himself too smart. It's a lot like a person with this temperament to underestimate his/her worth. I mean, Moses, a Melancholy man from the Bible, didn't even believe he was worthy enough to lead his people out of captivity, even when God told him, very straightforward, that he, indeed, was chosen to be their leader. Moses was trusted by God enough to write the first five books of the Bible, and he didn't leave any guesswork to details of measurements, life stories of the generations before him, or lineage. Some of the best writers today are of the Melancholy temperament.

Now, we did talk about Moses. And we talked about the author of Spirit-Controlled Temperament, Dr. Tim LaHaye, which is of the same exact blend I've observed my cousin's husband to be--MelSan. He wanted the details of why I thought this way, so, as the practical, observant Plegmatic, I told him what I hear in his questions, in his curiosity. I described the Melancholy temperament to them, and the variances of its traits, due to life experience.

He said he was a dreamer, and could think up other realities. That was of no surprise to me. Many artists are great Melancholy dreamers who take us places in their writings, paintings, and other masterpieces. A world without people of this sort would be a very drab, dull place to live.

Unfortunately, however, he also mentioned he had battled Depression. That, again, was no surprise. The analytic mind of the Melancholy can often dwell on the past, and anguish over antagonistic words and situations. They can be sensitive to jokes or comments which people of other tempermaments would shrug off or laugh at. They are moody, and most likely carry themselves with a straight, or even frowning face, often looking at the ground. This is not always true, as I will write about later. In this sorrow, they can come up with some brilliant artwork. Like I wrote before, they are very intelligent, are most likely to have the highest I.Q. of all the temperaments. It is often masked, however, by self-doubt and anguishing self-introspection that can lead to the pit of despair.

People of this temperament are usually very organized, or they really aspire to be. For me, the Phlegmatic, almost is good enough. I have an organized mess, and I know the filing system, but don't tell that to Mr. Melancholy. My Stepdad, for instance is a Melancholy, and my Mom, a Phlegmatic. She puts paperwork in the correct files in ever sort of direction, and he goes behind her and straightens them up. These two temperaments work pretty well together, otherwise.

There is another aspect of the temperament I discussed with my cousin and her husband. We talked of another relative of ours, whom I had observed to, also, be of Melancholy temperament. This man we spoke of was vengeful and held grudges against people he felt had wronged him in the past in some way or another. He had tried to stick his nose in where it didn't belong, and spread gossip that wasn't quite true, so that, maybe, he could feel better about himself. This is, sometimes, how a Melancholy might cope who had learned no easier way, other than to blame himself.

I'll end this on some light notes, though. They are very methodical in their work and are often great administrators and managers.

I'm in college now, and I can recognize, with a gut feeling, if a professor is a Melancholy, within a few class session. If they lose me in big ideas from from seemingly small elements of study, then I know. I actually learn nothing at the time of those lectures, but have to hash over the words in my head until my mind catches up. It's powerful to listen to the ideas from people of Melancholy temperament. The area of research that they are passionate about could be very minute, but what can be learned from their complex view on it can be very vast. I'm not awed by their intelligence, but I am in awe at the complexity of their perceptions, and the depth of their studies.

This temperament can carry with it, also, an emotional sincerity toward other people. They are sensitive to the sadness of others. They will cry with those who cry and share feelings quite openly with friends and family, whom they consider trustworthy. They don't have many friends, but the ones they do have, they are very loyal to.

Are you of the Melancholy temperament? Do you feel I left anything out?




 

There are variances of these traits due to character, which is due to life experiences, which has shaped beliefs. Character shapes temperament, but temperament is the base. Personality is the outer showing of both of them. People can hid bits of their character or personality, but temperament still persists. It cannot be hidden.

The Phlegmatic is patient, witty, dependable, efficient, and practical. The weaknesses of temperament are: indecision, teasing, selfishness, stubbornness, slow, and lazy.

This temperament is the most introverted of all of them. Stressors tend to make us go into our shells, in fear, but not always. The confident Phlegmatics will dish out biting sarcastic remarks that are usually directed at someone of another temperament. Many confident Phlegmatics would be great comedians because we are quiet, then we'll blurt out something that will have others rolling in the aisles with laughter. This skill can often be used as a weapon against depressive disorders of a spiritual nature.

A Phlegmatic is a prime observer and able to distance himself/herself from any situation, yet look closely into it. This is one reason the sarcastic remarks are biting to other people, for we observe other people and can pick out their weaknesses. That "shell" I mentioned earlier is used to distance a Phlegmatic from a situation he doesn't know fully yet. I would never jump into a situation, or allow being put into leadership position, unless I see how something works. I don't ask questions, verbally however. If something is worth doing, then I'll do it, posing no questions at all. If I don't feel something is worth doing, then I just won't do it, no matter what someone may say otherwise. It's a silent type of stubbornness. This stubbornness doesn't work well in the military: believe me, I know.

One thing I found interesting, is that there is a peace about Phlegmatics, in the way we carry ourselves. It is a brilliant disguise, because the spirit may be spinning with turmoil inside.

Something else I did well as a Phlegmatic, which is true for most us of this temperament, was cram for tests and write important papers at the last minute and ace them. It's a Phlegmatic gift, to be able to retain information like that. People of other temperaments might envy us for that skill, but it is not one that brings peace of mind, believe me. It is a skill I would rather not use too often, but it does come in handy when time runs short due to other things. So, when a teacher or professor says that cramming for a test will not work if you want a good score, he/she is right for 3/4 of the temperaments. Phlegmatics are not, however, the highest on the IQ scale. That honor goes to the other introverted temperament, which I will discuss in the next entry.

If there is more you want to know about the Phlegmatic, let me know.


 

I am studying Mental illness in college and I read an article about ADHD that struck me with awe, as I related it to another book that I read. Dr. Tim LaHaye's Spirit-Controlled Temperament discusses the four different temperaments, and the twelve temperament blends. The four temperaments are Phlegmatic, Melancholy, Sanguine, and Choleric. I put Phlegmatic first because that is my temperament, just to let you know. I also have secondary temperament of Chloleric, which mixes quite strangely with my dominant temperament. That's me. I will describe some the temperaments in more detail in later entries.

Anyway, Dr. LaHaye's book also spoke of Depression in a very different, profound way. He said there is such a thing as Depression resulting from a chemical imbalance, but that most cases of physical Depression are results of a spiritual deficiency of selfishness. He discusses the likelihood of the different temperaments of getting this disorder. He is of the Melancholy temperament and admits it, and this temperament is the most prone to Depression because of the way their mind works, which I will discuss in later entries. The temperament weaknesses of the Melancholy temperament would make a person more apt to be depressed.

I read this article on ADHD and I noticed that all of the "symptoms" are weaknesses of one temperament, the Sanguine. People of that temperament are beautiful people to be around, God love them. I enjoy their company, but their attention spans are not often that long, and they are naturally outgoing, energetic people. I do believe ADHD is real, don't get me wrong, but I don't consider it a disease. More on this as I do more research.

Here is a short description of the different temperaments. There is so much more, but this is a nice start :

ID: 869788   (Rated: E) Temperament Lowdown  Poetic view of the innate temperaments. Can you see yourself? Please, let me know. by Beth Barnett loves YAHshua