Phlegmatic - The Four Temperaments

"Your personality is somewhat like your natural state.  Someone has said it is the way we are when operating on automatic pilot. ... it is the way we operate when we are most relaxed with ourselves." -Robert A. Rohm, PH.D. (Positive Personality Profiles, pg. 15)

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Learning about the Four Temperaments-- or personalities-- is what really started my journey of self-discovery and improvement.  I was so intrigued by all these terms I had never heard before, like "sanguine" and "phlegmatic".  I just had to find out what they meant.  I quickly read both Personality Plus by Florence Littauer and Positive Personality Profiles by Robert A. Rohm, PH.D.  What I discovered was so astonishing and enlightening!

First, understanding the personalities gave me self-awareness.  Previously, I had little ability to look at myself and perceive why I would do something.  Knowing I was a Phlegmatic-melancholy taught me why I think and do things the way I do.  Florence Littauer says, “Get acquainted with the real [you] underneath before trying to change what shows on the surface.”  Ironically, the things I wanted to change and improve most, were some of the natural weaknesses of my personality.  Having my thinking explained on paper, made a HUGE difference in helping me to understand myself and work towards strengthening my weakness by changing the way I thought about them.

Second, knowledge of the temperaments was a small bit of new information that improved all my interactions with people.  Dr. Rohm poses the question, “If I understand you and you understand me, doesn’t it make sense that we will have a better relationship?”  Of course!!  Everyone knows there are different ways to approach and treat different animals.  Why wouldn’t it be the same with people?  I found myself relating with and understanding everyone according to the thinking of their own temperament, not my through phlegmatic filter.  It was so freeing.

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Below is the Model of Human Behavior from Dr. Robert Rohm's book, Positive Personality Profiles

What temperament are you?!