Let me start with this: I know this is a hot take. I know not everyone is going to agree with me. But someone has to say it and it might as well be someone who has spent time navigating corporate life, observing everything from {read more}
Start being more authentic today. Some people may not like the real you, others may not appreciate you in your fullness. Those that stick around or new friends that are made, will be more authentic connections.
There is a good chance you’ve heard this lesson previously, but it is one I come back to often and wanted to be sure to share.
The late, Dr. Wayne Dyer is known for asking the question, “When an orange is squeezed, what comes out?” The answer, of course being, “Orange juice (and probably a few seeds for future oranges).” That’s right, apple juice doesn’t come out, celery juice doesn’t come out. Only orange juice comes out.
The question is meant to illustrate, that what is inside, is what comes out. Wayne goes on to ask, “If you were squeezed, what would come out?”
Please know, this isn’t meant to be taken literally… but it is food for thought. Just think, when is the last time you felt stressed or frustrated, in other words, squeezed? What came out…? Maybe a big sigh and a grimace? Or maybe a special gesture and a few curse words? Perhaps, you used the energy and went for a run? Maybe you redirected the energy and let off some steam by focusing on a hobby?
Either way, what is inside is always what comes out. If we are filled with anger, it will eventually come out. If we are filled with joy, it will be shown on the outside. Filling our minds and hearts with a delightful, light-hearted attitude will allow that to be expressed. Being mindful of what we are watching, listening to, and believing is so important to ensure we aren’t allowing ourselves to be filled with unhelpful thoughts.
The next time you pour yourself a glass of water, think to yourself – if I was quenching my emotional state, which feeling would I choose to take in.
And, if you so choose to connect in the comments below, tell us how much you LOVE pulp 🙂
Welcome back to my blog everyone, and happy autumn season here in the northern hemisphere. As baseball season is transitioning from its regular season into playoffs; I thought this was the perfect time to highlight how great of a sport it is! And of course, {read more}
Being human, living on earth and going through the seasons and cycles which are life is apt to have moments of weakness, feelings of sadness, or simply once in a while experiencing being off of our game. Today’s post comes from many years of forcefully pushing aside any emotion (good or bad). I can wholeheartedly confirm that ignoring an emotion or character trait does not make it go away. Acting like it doesn’t exist within us will prevent us from growing.
A different approach
In order to best honor ourselves, it is important to recognize these moments, and let them affect us. Let the moments be the moments, or the cycle be the cycle. Honor your feelings, tears or rage that can come over you during these times. Fighting these seasons of life or cycles will not make them go away. Instead letting them come and go with grace will allow for a smooth transition from one to another. In other words, be okay with saying, “I am not okay.”
Try your very best to avoid self-judgement during these times. Recognize the differences and changes occurring within you; observe yourself as though you were an outsider looking in. But again, reserve all judgement. Find the beauty in the unstable moments and lean into seeing through to the recovery of your natural self. The more you can accept the low and broken moments, the better it will feel when things are pieced back together and whole again.
Be honest with yourself
Only through admitting the truth in a situation, can we properly overcome it. Furthermore, taking accountability for our low moments, feelings of deep sadness and any expressions of these intense feelings allows us to decide what to do in the future. This honesty with ourselves allows us to be present to our emotion, better understand what is the cause behind it; and set ourselves up for success in future moments.
Examples
For example, if a certain cycle in life typically has you feeling depressed or weepy – plan ahead for the next month. Plan to watch a romantic movie, or read a book or simply have down time. Don’t try to push the emotions aside. Instead, plan on having a nanny or good friend take the kids, maybe even send your loved ones away so you can enjoy some solitude. Either way do not self-shame or get inwardly critical for what you are feeling.
Or perhaps, there isn’t a natural cycle causing your pain. Instead, maybe you are burnt out and need to start saying ‘no’ more often. The moment of realizing how you are feeling and the resulting honoring of that feeling brings about the process of empowerment. The moment you say no, to set a boundary and take back your time will create a sense of self-respect.
The same goes for anything which is making you feel poorly, perhaps it is not a cycle OR others need for your time. Perhaps you are not honoring your body through the food you eat. This is another example where being honest with yourself is step one. Cause and effect is step two. And changing something is number three.
Recognizing the need for an adjustments, letting yourself sit with your emotions and holding space with yourself will begin to help build self-trust. Just imagine how much better you will feel once you start honoring your specific need.
Challenge
Give yourself grace through these moments, try and reserve self-judgement and any spiraling self-loathing. Instead, embrace yourself for all that you are – the brilliant pieces, the dark and gloomy pieces and the radiating pieces. And remember, you are human. And you are loved.
This is a new one and I am excited to share it with you! In a recent HBR (Harvard Business Review) article, titled, “Have you taken the difficult person test?“, a ‘darker’ personality test for the taking. The article indicates that taking any personality quiz {read more}
You asked for it! So here it is. Below is a typical ‘day in the life’ of me 🙂 Most days I try and mix things up, but the activities contained in my day are usually the same. The theme of the pandemic and being {read more}
The Myers Briggs personality test is something I bring up every so often in my blog. The post about the brain character quiz peaked the interest to know my Myers Briggs type. In the spirit of embracing my personality, I am sharing my type in this blog. In addition, I share my history with this specific test, and my thoughts on my current personality type.
What is the myers briggs?
Myers Briggs “Type Indicator” (MBTI) is one of the well known personality type tests. Corporations, universities and other groups commonly use this test. This test is helpful when seeking a new career, deciding on a college major or getting to know yourself better. Similar to what I mentioned in the previous personality post: these tests are not to be judgmental. Many are also not founded in science. Therefore, it is important to use the results and determine for yourself their accuracy.
The test takes into consideration 4 areas. Within those 4 years, each has two contrasting groups, which make up the letters in the resulting personality test. There are 16 potential results, and it is common for people to change through the years.
Energy with the world: Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I)
Information Processing: Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)
Decision Making: Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
Structure: Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)
My history with the test
It so happens that I have taken it at least 4 times if my memory serves me correctly. Twice in my current day job, once when doing a career assessment before deciding on a career and once in my early career. Now that I know my actual type, the history of my constant desire for new things makes sense. When I took this test during a career assessment, I was well into my years of experience. At the time, I had gone back to school to explore doing something in the medical field. The career guidance counselor had me take it to get a better idea of what might be suitable; and therefore more satisfying to me.
The first few times I took the test, I came up as Introverted. Through purposeful personality evaluation and improvement, I directed myself on how to be comfortable as an extrovert.
Each time I’ve taken the test I’ve come up with Intuition for information processing category.
Within the realm for decision making, all four tests have showed me as ‘thinking’.
Lastly, the structure category has changed only once, which leads us to the next section. My shocking results.
My recent shocking results
When I last took the Myers Briggs, the ‘type’ it told me I was was new to me and shocking. Well, it was shocking until I did more research and talked it over. And then, I embraced it. Now, about a year after learning this about myself, I can say that it has freed me in a sense. Now, more than ever, I feel like I can be myself and that I understand myself more. My quirks make more sense.
The most recent test results showed I was an ENTP
Extrovert
Intuitive
Thinking
Perceiving
The Myers-Briggs Company describes an ENTP so sweetly and optimistically:
Quick, ingenious, stimulating, and alert. Resourceful in solving new and challenging problems. Adept at generating conceptual possibilities and then analyzing them strategically. Good at reading other people. Bored by routine, will seldom do the same thing the same way. Apt to turn to one new interest after another.
Introduction to Type® by Isabel Briggs Myers published by The Myers-Briggs Company. https://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/the-16-mbti-types.htm
Original worry
When I got the letters back and did a quick internet search for “ENTP memes”, I worried and shocked! One particular meme compared my type to a wasp while comparing an ENFP to a honey bee. If you go look, you are sure to find many negative connotations to an ENTP. Many of them I’d say are true of me, and many not. For example, I stay away from debating people. Especially after the last two years, it just isn’t something I want to do at all. In addition, I try hard not to hurt anyone in anyway, including their feelings or perceptions. A fellow ENTP in my life will debate someone on their personal choices; I find this to be wrong, hurtful and useless.
Seeing the positive side
After going down a meme spiral, I snapped out of it. After sharing my concerns with fellow test takers, I started to look at the positive side to things.
One if the characteristics that stood out to me was always trying to figure out a better way. This has never and will never be an attempt to prove someone else wrong. However, it is something that I am good at naturally.
A second one was the feeling of monotony of doing something twice in the same way. There is something to be said for process at work, but in my personal life variety is so important.
Lastly, it is natural for me to think up something completely new; and within minutes know if it would be a good long term solution. Again, this isn’t to come across a certain way or think ‘faster’ than another. It is just natural. One day I recognized this skill set me apart, and I purposely adapted my communication style. Basically, I still let my brain do it’s thing. But I slowed down the communication of those ideas and strategies to those around me.
Before you go
This youtube video from Personality Theory channel came up on my feed. It is one prompt for writing this post today. It brings out the softer side of the ENTP personality.
Clever, inventive, novelty seeking and persuasive, the ENTP is an extrovert who engages with the world in a creative, intellectually curious and adaptable manner. Restless and prone to boredom, the #ENTP craves variety and is always scanning for possibilities, new ideas and mentally stimulating activities to preoccupy themselves with. #16personalities#MBTIPersonality Theory
Welcome back fam! I’m going to get straight to the point: for the longest time I forced myself to be someone I wasn’t. Instead of embracing the delicate, soft parts of myself; I showed the world only my thorns. Randomly finding this little quiz on {read more}
