Do You Have Personality?
I was invited to attend at church staff meeting this week. During the meeting we took a personality test. I found the test to be quite revealing and actually immensely helpful. When you understand how your spouse, church volunteer, or co-worker operates, you can work together with increased effectiveness. I was fascinated while listening to our Missions Pastor talk about how she purposely forms missions teams based upon their personalities. She consciously matches complementary personalities to room together and canvas together. The teams are highly effective.
The personality test I want you to take is based on a book written by Gary Smalley. I found it already in a PDF form, on-line. So, click on the link below take the test. Then come back. It is short. I promise.
Now this is where I just crack up... Think of the four personality styles in terms of their use of an instruction booklet:
- The Lion discards the booklet altogether.
- The Otter can't even find the handbook (and wouldn't read it anyway)!
- The Golden Retriever reads the handbook from cover to cover.
- The beaver probably wrote detailed additions to the booklet and corrected any mistakes.
Okay, So what personality are you? What personality is your spouse?
What personality am I? Can you guess? What about Dineen? What was Jesus?
We have all been uniquely created by God with a personality all our own. We can strive to do what we do best using the talents and temperaments God has given us. We should also strive, with love and understanding, to accept others for the way they are, first identifying their personality styles and then recognizing their needs. We can all work together if we are willing to accept our own limitations and utilize other people's strengths.This is especially true in our marriages.
We also must be willing to recognize that all personality styles have a downside. No one personality style is the best, even thought we may relate best with those most like us. God created us uniquely to be used as a body, functioning in harmony.
Be Blessed
In the near future: I am currently preparing for a new series that Spiritually Unequal Marriage has yet to tackle. I am waiting for some research material to arrive by mail. As soon as it is here, we will get started. I hope next week.
Give this test to your husband. See how you are alike and where you are likely to have clashes. If you want to know what personality your small children are, buy the book and read it with them. They cheer for the animal that matches their personality. God Bless.










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I LOVE the work you are doing here!
I LOVE see you on Twitter...Facebook....but always smile when I knock on your blog door...for each visit reminds me of the blessings you have shared with us over the years...yes--it has been years hasn't it!?
God Bless you Lynn!
Diane
Posted by: Diane | April 24, 2009 at 04:02 AM
Well, it comes as no shock that my hubby and I are NOT the same animal! LOL! I know he is a LION and that is where I have the fewest points. I guess what I find strange, is that I used to be a lot more Lion when I was a teen, but learned too many people just don't appreciate being pounced and dragged by force! Can you believe it?
I can see where I had some of the worst of the Lion's traits, so I relinquished them and gained new traits to replace them for the sake of building up others and making peace.
Very interesting. And as always encouraging! More food to chew on!
Posted by: Julianne | April 24, 2009 at 05:06 AM
Well, I'm a strange beast! Lion and Otter were exactly even...opposites of each other. LOL Does that mean I'm a skitzo?
Posted by: Marsha | April 24, 2009 at 05:21 AM
That is so funny that you would post about personalities. For my "Show and Tell Friday" post today, I also posted about personalities! Stop by and take a look if you time.
Shall we say that great minds think alike?
:-)
Posted by: Stacy | April 24, 2009 at 05:35 AM
I am a Golden Retriever getting ready to marry an Otter... Who would've thunk it? ;-)
Great reminders, great post.
Posted by: Abby | April 24, 2009 at 06:17 AM
I scored evenly on the Beaver and Golden Retriever. Both define me. I am married to an Otter. We compliment each other well. How cool was this! Thanks for doing this. It was fun!
Posted by: Laurie Ann | April 24, 2009 at 12:16 PM
WOW I have 3 personality's. lol. The total cam up the same on all but the otter.
Posted by: Grammy | April 24, 2009 at 01:02 PM
This was fun - I'm a big time Otter my hubby's a big time Lion. Now I know why he's always mad when I lose my keys:) Excited for your upcoming posts!
PS What was Jesus?
Posted by: Nicole | April 24, 2009 at 06:44 PM
I love these kinds of personality tests! Thanks for the Smalley link.
Well, I'd guess you're an otter. Me? I'm a cross between a beaver and a lion. My husband is an otter/lion combo. Your DH? Would he be a beaver?
Looks like Gary Smalley has given animal names to the four main brain functions (thinking, intuiting, feeling, and sensing). Very clever!
Have a blessed weekend. Love ya!
Posted by: e-Mom | April 24, 2009 at 10:37 PM
lol, I am an otter, and Eddie is a lion. This was really interesting.
Posted by: Denise | April 25, 2009 at 12:37 AM
Brother, I'm almost completely a beaver. How interesting. I married an otter by the way and have a lion son, an otter son and a golden retriever son. Not sure where the other son and my daughter fit in yet.
Posted by: Rita | April 29, 2009 at 04:08 PM