Exactly as I am...

I feel like I’ve learnt a lot about myself recently. Thanks to a personal aptitude test called Birkman and a lot of eye-opening ‘ah ha’ moments since then, I’ve been able to see myself in a few different ways. And others too. Birkman tests are so intricate and detailed that I couldn’t possibly understand all of who I am, but I don’t even care to know every reason why I do what I do, and why I am the way that I am, etc, etc. But it was fascinating overall – to sit around a room of close friends and colleagues and learn about myself and what makes me tick.

I learned that I’m a pretty even-keel person when it comes down to it. I have interests in all the areas that are discussed and I’m not on one extreme or the other. Apparently my highest ‘colour’ is blue, which represents artistic, creativeness, imagination, ideas, new projects, aesthetics, etc. No surprises there.

Then I’m apparently also high in green – social services, taking care of others, phoning people out of the blue, etc, etc. Now this one surprised me. Not that I’m not social or that I don’t like to do those things – but I know there are others who would soar in this category, and I was surprised to see it coming up as a ‘high’ colour of mine. Nevertheless, we came to another set of interests, and music ranked high for me too. Again, this surprised me. Yes, I like music, I like concerts – but it doesn’t necessarily resonate with me as much as it can with others. I don’t play any instruments and I don’t have to have the radio on all the time. But here’s the neat thing: when you combine social services with my interest in music, it generally means that I like to see harmony among people – which is SO TRUE. I hate conflict; I get awkward and shy and quiet and would rather leave a room than see other people in conflict. I like to think that I’m a pretty harmonious person most days. That’s just a few examples of cool and interesting things you can learn about yourself, but it’s pretty fascinating, right?

Going through this process has also helped me see where my weaknesses lie – and what happens when my buttons are pushed and what causes me to become stressed and act differently in particular situations; things that I can look out for and recognize in myself and prevent from going further.

I’m also able to see a bit of this in friends and family too. Like, “they’re a really decisive person, so I should ask them to help me make a big decision”, or “that person is really good at numbers and balancing things out – maybe I should ask them to help with my taxes”, or “remember to always have a plan with that person, because he/she does not like spontaneity”…and so on and so forth.

It’s allowed me to see people in a different way, and not negatively at all but as a person that God made. These kinds of tests allow people to be exactly who they are, and not be ashamed of it. So you suck at accounting? So what, God made you that way. You hate grocery shopping because there are too many options? So be it, God made you that way. You take twice as long to do a project than others because you’re a perfectionist? Embrace it, God made you that way.

We are all so incredibly unique and fascinating people. We truly do have a God that’s bigger than us and knew exactly who we would be. He holds our bodies together and gives us thought, ideas, emotions and the ability to love. He created the entire universe, and yet took the time to make us and our personalities precisely as they are.

Amen to that.