Unravelling My Thoughts

Meet the Phlegmatic!

There are variances of these traits due to character, which is due to life experiences, which has shaped beliefs. Character shapes temperament, but temperament is the base. Personality is the outer showing of both of them. People can hid bits of their character or personality, but temperament still persists. It cannot be hidden.

The Phlegmatic is patient, witty, dependable, efficient, and practical. The weaknesses of temperament are: indecision, teasing, selfishness, stubbornness, slow, and lazy.

This temperament is the most introverted of all of them. Stressors tend to make us go into our shells, in fear, but not always. The confident Phlegmatics will dish out biting sarcastic remarks that are usually directed at someone of another temperament. Many confident Phlegmatics would be great comedians because we are quiet, then we'll blurt out something that will have others rolling in the aisles with laughter. This skill can often be used as a weapon against depressive disorders of a spiritual nature.

A Phlegmatic is a prime observer and able to distance himself/herself from any situation, yet look closely into it. This is one reason the sarcastic remarks are biting to other people, for we observe other people and can pick out their weaknesses. That "shell" I mentioned earlier is used to distance a Phlegmatic from a situation he doesn't know fully yet. I would never jump into a situation, or allow being put into leadership position, unless I see how something works. I don't ask questions, verbally however. If something is worth doing, then I'll do it, posing no questions at all. If I don't feel something is worth doing, then I just won't do it, no matter what someone may say otherwise. It's a silent type of stubbornness. This stubbornness doesn't work well in the military: believe me, I know.

One thing I found interesting, is that there is a peace about Phlegmatics, in the way we carry ourselves. It is a brilliant disguise, because the spirit may be spinning with turmoil inside.

Something else I did well as a Phlegmatic, which is true for most us of this temperament, was cram for tests and write important papers at the last minute and ace them. It's a Phlegmatic gift, to be able to retain information like that. People of other temperaments might envy us for that skill, but it is not one that brings peace of mind, believe me. It is a skill I would rather not use too often, but it does come in handy when time runs short due to other things. So, when a teacher or professor says that cramming for a test will not work if you want a good score, he/she is right for 3/4 of the temperaments. Phlegmatics are not, however, the highest on the IQ scale. That honor goes to the other introverted temperament, which I will discuss in the next entry.

If there is more you want to know about the Phlegmatic, let me know.