Monday November 10, 2003 by Hal
The first time I saw this animation in book form, it had a profound effect on me. The size and scope of the universe — from macrocosmic to subatomic is inherently incomprehensible even to an introvert’s imagination.
One clear winter night I was returning home from a meeting and pulled off to stretch the kinks out. I chose to pull off at Enid Lake Dam. Driving out on the dam, it was cold and very, very dark.
When I got out and looked up I was awe-struck. With no light pollution the sky was full of all different colors and sizes. The Milky Way stretched like a river through the sky.
The amazing thing is that, according to my reading, on such a night you see only about 2,700 stars. The Milky Way contains 100,000 million stars. And according to this article, the total number of stars in the universe is 70 Sextillion stars (70,000 million, million, million).
This mind numbing information has led to a coupe of articles over at my other site — I’m gonna keep on lookin’ — here and here.
Sunday October 19, 2003 by Hal
Today was one of those golden days - autumn but still warm, skies clear and blue, air still - almost magical.
As I sat outside drinking all this in, for some reason I realized how much the expectations of others inhibit us. When defining Self Concept, I often list the forces that shape how we feel about ourselves.
These can include the input of parents, friends, family, teachers, mentors - the list goes on and on. But I realized that even when these people are not physically around, their voices can echo in our heads.
When was the last time you were free of the inner dialog of others? How much of our behavior is constrained by the expectations (spoken, unspoken, past, present, future, known and unknown) of others speaking in our heads.
We live together in the world and are influenced by others - but somehow, sometime it is necessary to be free of the thoughts of others; to better know our true selves.
Wednesday October 15, 2003 by Hal
I’ve often had to explain the difference between temperament and personality - at least from my point of view and experience.
Your temperament is that basic set of behaviors and ways of thinking you were born with. This is the entire premise behind the Meyers-Briggs and DiSC tests. This will indicate whether you are outgoing or introverted, prone to anger or criticism or anxiety, and it cannot be changed.
It can, however, be modified. Personality is the temperament modified by life. Your personality is the sum total of your experiences on top of your temperament.
You can find a couple of pretty good free temperment tests here and here. My indepth article on temperament is on my other blog - I’m Gonna Keep on Lookin’ - here.
Sunday October 12, 2003 by Hal
I’ve studied temperament and personality now for over 10 years. I know the natural strengths and weaknesses of all kinds and types of people.
But the saddest thing I think is a person who, for who for one reason or another, has “put on” the behaviors of a temperment type not their own for such a long time that they have “become” that type.
It seems so forced and unnatural, like an introvert who thought they had to be outgoing so they forced an outgoing “face” for so long that it stuck (Like your mother told you - if you keep doing that your face will stick that way!)
What are your experiences with people who behave “off type”?
Tuesday October 7, 2003 by
When did you first realize you were introverted? In her book, The Introvert Advantage, Marti Olsen Laney says it was like a revelation. “There’s nothing wrong with me, I’m just introverted!”
This is a place for introverts to complain about the “evil extroverts” (as my daughter calls ‘em) and for extroverts to try to figure us out. Please feel free to comment on our daily entries.
Visit my current weblog at I’m gonna keep on looking.
Monday May 12, 2003 by Hal
Tears are emotions in liquid form …
Not sure why, but that just spoke to me.