Type A Personality, Type B Personality:
How Much are We Really Controlled by "Personality Types"?
by www.Sedona.com People have been trying to identify and characterize their individual personalities ever since the famous psychologist Carl Jung began discussing psychological types in 1921. There are countless purported "types" out there - introverts and extroverts, dreamers, realists, idealists, leaders - but perhaps the most familiar to us all are the Type A and Type B personalities. What characteristics make up each of these personalities? Type A | Type B | | | Impatience | Patient | Has trouble relaxing | Relaxes easily | Aggressive | Easy-going, mellow | Has a “short fuse” | May avoid confrontation | May get upset over small things | Not quick to anger | Competitive, achievement-oriented | | Time urgency (interrupts others, becomes frustrated while waiting in line) | |
Meanwhile, it is possible to also have a mix of these characteristics, which is classified as Type AB personality. Do We Really Have Personality "Types"? Certain characteristics of your personality likely are an innate part of you, just as your physical features are. Things like extraversion or introversion, for example, tend to be more innate. However, many aspects of your personality have been molded by your life experience - how you were raised, your culture, your habits, your work life, and more. For instance, you may have had a Type B personality in college, but since you entered the working world have switched over to a Type A. This is clearly due to the stress of your career, not an actual change in you. Further, even if you think a specific personality type fits you like a glove, it's important not to limit yourself with its expectations. In fact, you can use your personality type to see where you need to grow. For example, a person who is Type A might learn how to become more patient to get along better with their coworkers, or may try to relax during the weekend for some enjoyment. A Type B personality also has room for growth. They may learn how to be more aggressive when asking for a raise at work, or may need to become more aware of timeliness to avoid being late. Balancing Your Personality to Achieve Your Goals Of course, if you're not happy with any aspect of your personality - your impatience, your quick temper, your tendency to avoid confrontation (even when perhaps it's warranted) - you can always work on it. Remember, your personality type does not control you - you control your personality. "Personality profiles can be helpful in order to see where we can do some work with ourselves, however they are not written in stone as most people believe," says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training of Sedona Training Associates. In fact, balancing your personality to include a healthy mix of characteristics is simple when you use The Sedona Method to release. The Method is a tool that allows you to let go of just about any feeling you'd rather not have, leaving you free to experience only beneficial emotions. "When you release, your personality naturally comes more into balance and becomes more healthy and supportive of your goals," Dwoskin says. Anytime you feel restricted by your personality type, you may be missing out on a positive experience, but a balanced personality can be instrumental in helping you to achieve your goals. "So let go of any attachment to whatever personality type you may have, and keep releasing on all issues - whether or not they are related to your type. This tends to bring things into balance with ease and grace," Dwoskin continues.
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