The Four Temperaments: What’s Yours?

by gold Adjo - 10:00:00

Our temperaments can be grouped into four types. They are Sanguine, Melancholy, Choleric and Phlegmatic. It is very important to know your temperament so that you can understand why you do what you do and act or react how you do. This will help you identify your weaknesses and work on them as well as maximise your strengths. In this post, I’ll focus on stating some strengths and weaknesses of each temperament. I was blessed to learn this at a marriage and relationship seminar I attended. I’ll recommend Tim LaHaye’s books on temperament.

1. SANGUINE

Strengths:

They are extroverts

They have a lot of charisma

They always want to make people happy.

They love attention and are enthusiastic.

They love to have fun.

They are friendly and easily make friends.

They are generous.

They live a life free of care or worries.

They are activity oriented.

They love variety.

Weaknesses:

They are weak willed and easily change their minds.

They lack commitment.

They are very disorganised.

They lack discipline.

2. MELANCHOLY

Strengths:

They are very analytical.
They are loyal and committed.
They are very gifted.
They are very disciplined.
They are orderly and perfectionists.
They love nature.
They plan ahead.
They are very sensitive.

Weaknesses:

They are moody and easily get depressed.
They are very critical.
They are very rigid and unsociable.
They are also vengeful.
They are negative minded and pessimistic.
They find it difficult to trust people and don’t easily forgive.
They are demanding.

3. CHOLERIC

Strengths:

They are strong willed.
They are very determined and decisive.
They are also very independent.
They are also self-confident.
They are visionaries, goal and task oriented.
They are very practical.
They are achievers.
They are very focused.

Weaknesses:

They are insensitive and unsympathetic.
They easily get angry.
They appear to be self-sufficient.
They easily become proud.
They are domineering
They are unforgiving when hurt
They don’t care about the opinions of others.

4. PHLEGMATIC

Strengths:

They are easy going and peacemakers.
They are likable.
They don’t argue.
They are efficient and organised.
They are very diplomatic.

Weaknesses:

They are indecisive.
They are very unmotivated.
They can be very stubborn.
They are spectators.
They are fearful and not able to take risks.
They can be stingy and selfish.

I hope this post was helpful and you’ve identified your temperament. Remember you have the traits of more than one temperament, however, there will be one that is more predominant.

Though it's great to know your temperament, remember if you're a Christian then you have the nature of Christ. This nature is powerful and should determine your attitude. Meditate on God's words concerning your life and strive to be who God says you are.

What's your temperament? Who has Christ made you to be?