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Strengths and Weaknesses

It is temperament that makes some people art and music enthusiasts while others are sports or industry minded. Temperament sets broad guidelines on everyone’s behavior, patterns which will influence a person as long as he lives. Each temperament has its own unique qualities and shortcomings, strengths and challenges. What accounts for these differences?

To use the idea of temperament most effectively, it is important to understand that the four temperaments are not simply arbitrary collections of characteristics, but spring from an interaction of the two basic dimensions of human behavior: our communication and our action, our words and our deeds, or, simply, 

                                           what we say and what we do. 

Isn’t it interesting that some people talk about reality, while others talk about ideas.  Some people do what works, while others do what’s right.  The bottom line is each person has the choice to develop his natural temperament strengths and overcome his natural temperament weaknesses.  To what degree this occurs depends on the individual’s motivation.  It is possible to learn how to control and overcome the natural weaknesses associated with a temperament blend.

“It is of  benefit furthermore to recognize one's temperament. Only if one knows it, can he judge correctly himself, his moods, his peculiarities, his past life. If one knows one's own temperament, he can work out his own perfection with greater assurance, because finally the whole effort toward self-perfection consists in the perfection of  his strengths and in the combating of  his weaknesses.

Thus the Choleric will have to conquer his obstinacy, his anger, and his pride; the Melancholic, his lack of courage and his dread of suffering; the Sanguine, his talkativeness and his inconsistency; the Phlegmatic, his laziness and his lack of energy. The person who knows himself will become more humble, realizing that many good traits which he considered to be virtues are merely good dispositions and the natural result of his temperament, rather than acquired virtues.

Consequently the Choleric will judge more humbly of his strong will, his energy, and his fearlessness; the Sanguine of his cheerfulness, of his facility to get along well with difficult persons; the Melancholic will judge more humbly about his sympathy for others, about his love for solitude; the Phlegmatic about his good nature and his repose of mind.” [1]

“Temperament is innate in each person, therefore it cannot be exchanged for another temperament. But one can and must cultivate and perfect the good elements of his temperament and combat and eradicate the undesirable ones. Every temperament is in itself good and with each one man can do good and work out his salvation.  With God’s strength this is possible.  “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength”  (Phil. 4:13).  It is, therefore, imprudent and ungrateful to wish to have another temperament. "All the spirits shall praise the Lord" (Ps. 150: 6).” [2]


[1]
./the-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock/ pg 10
[2] ./the-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock/ pg 11



Strengths of a Choleric                  Weaknesses of a Choleric
Practical                                                                                        Demanding           
Quick thinker                                                                                  Domineering
Good trouble shooters                                                                     Easily bored
Enthusiastic                                                                                   Easily annoyed
Will not give up                                                                               Impatient
Great ambition                                                                                Bossy and arrogant
Fearless and courageous                                                                Quick tempered
Passion to win                                                                               Can’t relax
Thrilled with opposition                                                                    Too impetuous
Yearns for great things                                                                    Inflexible
Intelligent                                                                                       Is not complimentary
Does not complain                                                                          Unsympathetic
Born leader                                                                                     Dislikes emotions
Strong willed                                                                                  Little tolerance for mistakes
Not easily discouraged                                                                   Can be rude or tactless
Independent                                                                                   Sarcastic
Exudes confidence                                                                         Critical
Delegates work well                                                                        Must be in control
Makes the goal                                                                              Pride, has inflated ego
Stimulates others                                                                           Holds a grudge
Excels in emergencies                                                                    Revengeful
Visionary                                                                                       His plan is always the best
Likes pressure                                                                               Tends to use people
Self-reliant                                                                                     Decides for others
Energetic                                                                                       Can do everything better
Daring, risk taker                                                                            Can’t say “I’m sorry”
Decisive                                                                                         Too independent
Determined                                                                                     Too busy for family
Doer                                                                                               May make rash decisions
Direct                                                                                             Tends to over dominate
Wants results                                                                                  Enjoys controversy, arguments
Likes to achieve                                                                               “Knows everything”
Goal-oriented                                              



Strengths of a Sanguine                Weaknesses of a Sanguine
Appealing personality                                                                    Compulsive talker
Life of the party                                                                             Has loud voice and laugh
Talkative, storyteller                                                                       Too happy for some
Good sense of humor                                                                     Exaggerates, elaborates
Holds on to listeners                                                                      Dwells on trivia
Emotional and demonstrative                                                          Can’t remember names
Enthusiastic and expressive                                                            Egotistical
Cheerful and bubbling over                                                               Has restless energy
Loves people                                                                                  Naïve, gets taken in
Good on stage                                                                                Gets angry easily
Sincere heart, wants to give                                                             Controlled by circumstances
Lives in the present                                                                         Seems phony to some
Motivates others                                                                              Very loud, boisterous
Makes friends easily                                                                        Disorganized
Realist                                                                                            Sloppy housekeepers
Great salespeople                                                                           Has trouble listening
Entertaining                                                                                    Can’t relax, always on go
Optimistic                                                                                       Doesn’t follow through
Tender and compassionate                                                               Impulsive
Energetic                                                                                        Must be with people
Likes spontaneous activities                                                             Hates to be alone
Envied by others                                                                              Needs to be center stage
Apologizes quickly                                                                          Gets angry easily
Doesn’t hold grudges                                                                       Makes excuses
Creative and colorful                                                                         Fickle and forgetful
Makes home fun                                                                              Undisciplined
Trusting                                                                                           Cannot say no
Likes to play                                                                                    Weak willed
Charms others to work                                                                     Very insecure – lack of self-esteem
Thrives on compliments                                                                    Interrupts and doesn’t listen
Inspires others to join                                                                       Wants to be popular
Changeable disposition                                                                     Dominates conversations
Turns disaster into humor                                                                  Repeats stories
Volunteers for jobs                                                                            Forgets obligations
Looks great on the surface                                                                 Answers for others


Strengths of a Phlegmatic                Weaknesses of a Phlegmatic

Steady, not moved easily                                                                    Introvert
Patient                                                                                              Watcher, not doer
Free from stress, tend not to worry                                                      Meets requirements, then stops
Lives balanced life                                                                               Must be re-started after project 
Meek, most gentle people on planet                                                     Unenthusiastic
In control of themselves                                                                       Can be very stubborn
In control of their environment                                                               Not team players
Comfortable with themselves                                                                Lazy, gets tired easily
Stays focused on project, gets it done                                                  Struggles with motivating themselves
Dry sense of humor                                                                             Tormented by fear
Very witty                                                                                           Indecisive about the next step
Dependable                                                                                        Avoids responsibilities, extra burdens
Practical and efficient, conserves energy                                              Hides real feelings, emotions
Calm, cool, collected                                                                         Can be selfish, want their way
Brings peace to the workplace                                                            Can be too compromising
Makes a very good parent                                                                   Self-righteous, everyone else is wrong
Takes quality time with their children                                                   May think they don’t need God
Family comes first                                                                            Not tidy in their home
Strong spiritual leaders                                                                       Do not discipline well
Peaceful and agreeable                                                                       Not goal oriented
Good administrative skills                                                                   Discourages others
Good leaders                                                                                     Stay un-involved
Good mediators                                                                                Must be nudged to participate
Tough projects do not worry him                                                         Last one to get involved
Very good under pressure                                                                   Hard to get excited
Self-sufficient                                                                                     Tendency to judge others
Has gift of temperance                                                                        Teases extroverts - they annoy him
Gets involved when he feels needed                                                     Resists change
Has gift of longsuffering                                                                      Can be sarcastic
Easy to get along with                                                                        Procrastinates
Do not offend others                                                                           Critical of people who expend energy
Walks away from arguments                                                              Holds grudges
Good listeners                                                                                   Complacent
Predictable                                                                                        Possessive

Strengths of a Melancholy                Weaknesses of a Melancholy
Deep and thoughtful                                                                           Moody and depressed
Reserved                                                                                           Candidate for manic depression
Analytical                                                                                           Does not forgive easily
Talented, creative                                                                                Enjoys being hurt
Artistic, musical                                                                                  Low self-image
Communes easily with God                                                                  Has a false humility
Prayer warriors                                                                                    Off in another world
Perfectionist                                                                                        Critical of self and others
Faithful, devoted friend                                                                         Self-centered, self examining
Appreciates beauty                                                                              Very suspicious
Sensitive                                                                                             Demands privacy
Self-sacrificing                                                                                     Too introspective
Conscientious                                                                                      Feelings of persecution
Idealist                                                                                                 Hypochondriac
Logical                                                                                                 Lingers on past hurts, seems to enjoy it
Peaceful                                                                                               Broods over things
Agreeable                                                                                             Absorbed by his thoughts
Good problem solver                                                                              Hard to get along with, turns people off
Organized                                                                                        Pessimistic, always remembers negative   
Neat, tidy                                                                                              Very proud
Great teacher                                                                                        Can be impractical
Encourages others                                                                                 Slow to make a decision
Controlled self-discipline                                                                          Does not live in the present
Empathetic to others                                                                               Selective hearing
Good listeners and counselors                                                                  Resentful when not appreciated
Inventive                                                                                                  Too meticulous for children
Have discernment of Spirit                                                                        Loses confidence in others
Happy to be in the backround                                                                   Exasperated by disorder
Fruit of longsuffering                                                                                 Dwells on guilt
Does not get upset easily                                                                         Deep need for approval
Avoids conflicts                                                                                       Sets very high, hard standards
Makes lifelong friends                                                                              Hard to please
Open to receiving wisdom                                                                        Hard to meet up to his standards
Believes in “letter of the law”
Has controlled self-discipline

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