Are You Mostly Melancholy?
In the early days of my marriage I used to read my husband’s medical textbooks. Can you guess what happened? I could identify, to one degree or another, with every disease I read about! It’s a bit like that as I identify the various traits of each personality type! I’m a bit of this, and a bit of that. Maybe you feel that way?
Here are some typical traits of the Melancholy personality—do you see some of these in yourself?
Happy when everything around you is orderly.
Quiet, serious, and analytical.
Prefer staying in the background, making sure everything is going to plan.
Feel most secure in a structured environment.
Can be suspicious of new ideas and ways of doing things.
Hide deep emotions, frequently struggling with negative thoughts about yourself.
My friend, Jen, a Melancholy, looks forward to church every Sunday:
She likes the familiarity of being with people she knows.
Music that stirs her emotions.
Sermons that give her mind something to chew on.
“I enjoy digging into Scripture,” said Jen, “and much prefer study guides that demand something from me. I avoid ones that ask simple questions and give you the answers.”“Even though I know the Bible says God loves me,” continued Jen, “it’s hard for me to feel loved. And if I miss my daily devotions, I feel guilty all day. I know God’s grace covers all my weaknesses, but I constantly beat myself up. I want to be a cheerful person but that’s a struggle for me. I get hurt easily and feel I’m forever struggling with my feelings.”
What can help a Melancholy connect with God?
Authors Marita and Florence Littauer, noted experts on personality types, (Your Personality Tree, and Your Spiritual Personality), say of the Melancholy, “It is only logical to assume that when one spends too much mental energy dwelling on negatives, such a mind falls easily into depression.”The Littauers’ advice, like that of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8, is to keep your thoughts on whatever is true, right, and positive.
There are several steps Melancholies can take to experience greater joy and delight in belonging to God. Here are some that can help you thrive spiritually:
Focus your Bible study on the emotions God desires for you. Look up and list verses on joy, thankfulness, hope, and encouragement. Pray for them to mark your life.
Write down five things God has done for you in the past month and journal on each one. What positive emotions do you feel when remembering these things?
Take control of your thinking. Refuse to get stuck in negativity. Reject those thoughts, reframe them, and change your focus.
Transformation of your thinking and self-talk takes time, but it will happen as you intentionally and persistently renew your mind (Romans 12: 2).
Qu. When you get down on yourself, how do you handle it? What could you do instead? I’d love to hear about your growth in this area.
For more help with your self-talk, check my book, I’m Too Human to be like Jesus.
Photo credit: GraphicStock Photo