I'm gonna keep on lookin'

Online Non-Community

This actually made me laugh outloud (as in LOL not ROFLMAO). With all the sites available that allow you to “community” (not really a verb is it now?) this one is perfect for introverts — it lets you get rid of people!!!

Whatta concept! If you’re not sure if you’re introverted or not take this simple test over at my other site, “I’m gonna keep on looking”.

Big Fish

It’s been a long time since a movie had involved me so much. Big Fish, directed by Tim Burton, is such a film. I won’t spoil it for you except to say that it is the story of a man who takes life’s everyday trivialities and adds details to them from his imgination until they seem as “tall tales” to his son.

But I am still seeking out the underlying message — I think it’s that life is so precious and unique that even the mundane should be enjoyed and cherished and looked on as miraculous. And this is so hard for me to do — to witness life arising from the activities of everyday life — to avoid boredom and anxiety.

And yet, the other message in the movie is that we each write the story of our lives. I have often said that I do not want to get to the end of my life and find regrets waiting for me there. I must work harder to write the story the way I want it told and remembered.

The Sky Above

As an introvert, I’m continually fascinated by the question of significance. Personal significance — the “why am I here?” kind.

And I’m always on the lookout for articles and such that add meaning or perspective to that question.

So for your introspective pleasure, I give you this article which again indicates how huge our universe is and how small we are.

Space … the final frontier … (sorry)

Why did it take so long?

With a half century under my belt (why did I use that imagery? Hmmm …) I’m only now beginning to learn the “choice of happiness”. For so many years I lived with dissatisfaction about my life — you name it; job, money, “toys”.

As Hans and Franz said, “listen to me now and think about it later” — happiness is an attitude that has to be cultivated and chosen each and every day. Where you are “right now” is the sum total of every circumstance and decision you have made up to this point. It does no good to say, “It’s bad karma or bad luck or bad genes” or anything else.

If, then, where you are now is a result of past choices — then there’s nothing to gain from moaning about your state of being. Change the choices, change the attitudes, begin to choose happiness.

I’m not being Pollyanna here — life is hard at times and painful at times and downright rotten at times — but I still maintain that happiness is a choice.

Traveling to a Black Hole

And I don’t mean my closet! Taking a break from my coaching letters, I again turn my thoughts to the unthinkable. Do you realize how much we as humans are unable to perceive or even imagine?

Well thanks to imaginative friends online, here is a trip to a black hole, free!

Anger anyone?

I rarely get angry but I don’t think it’s because I’m introverted. Beyond introvert/extrovert there are other temperament classifications. To see a comparison of different types of temperament systems look at this article on my other website — I’m gonna keep on looking.

But here is one of my coaching emails dealing with anger:

The reader writes: Thank You So Much! I have taken the temperment (personality test) from one of Florence Littauer’s books (HOW TO GET ALONG WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE) and came out as a strong Melancholy, followed closely by Choleric with almost no Sanguine and just a few Phlegmatic traits. As the typical Melancholy might I’ve always tried to understand who and why I am and how to get along better with others, since I do not! get a long well. Your article was very enlightening and helpful. Now if I can just apply what I’ve learned I might cope better.

And I answered: The melancholy/choleric combination is a very detailed person with a strong drive to accomplish whatever is ahead of them. Unfortunately, it also has the potential to combine the strongest negative traits - criticism and anger. A melancholy/choleric MUST realize that they are not always right (even when it seems SO clear that you are - to you!) and that other’s ways of doing things are okay (even when they seem careless and un-directed).

You will work better with other Cholerics who respect your level of detail. You would do well to cultivate a few Phlegmatic friends who will accept you as you are - and give them the space in your life to (gently) offer you their input on your ideas.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions.