Essence is Embedded in the New Temperament Names
Temperament theory has been around thousands of years, and given a new lease on life by Dr. Linda Berens, who recently coined new names for the four Temperaments.
So we get to say again, “There are four kinds of people in the world.” Put aside all your preconceptions, your biases, your judgments, and lean into these new names along with their definitions.
Following are synopses of the Temperaments as described by Dr. Berens in her book, Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to the 4 Temperaments—3.0, along with their new names:
If you are an Improviser™, your aim is to vary your actions to get a result using whatever is at hand. "Improvising" is the ultimate expression of the freedom to respond to the needs of the moment. It is also the means to create pleasant aesthetic experiences. (You may be familiar with this pattern as "Artisan," "Red," or "SP.")
If you are a Stabilizer™, your goal is to prevent groups and institutions from falling apart. "Stabilizing" is fundamental to creating an environment where one can be secure in a sense of belonging. It provides the means to economic security. (You may be familiar with this pattern as "Guardian," "Gold," or "SJ.")
If you are a Theorist™, you are driven toward understanding and developing theories that provide the basis for mastery and competence. "Theorizing" is the means to having an understanding of objective truth on which to build a path to achievement. (You may be familiar with this pattern as "Rational," "Blue," or "NT.")
If you are a Catalyst™, your life purpose is to engage with others in a way that promotes their identity without losing your own identity. "Catalyzing" is natural to those who need to have a meaning and purpose to their lives. It is the means to self-actualization. (You may be familiar with this pattern as "Idealist," "Green," or "NF.")
These new names avert previous confusion about the core values of each Temperament pattern, and lend a clarity that previous names somehow missed.
I heard someone complain the minute she heard the new "Theorist" name. She said, "I do more than that!" And she’s right. She does!
I submit that there is no one single name that can captivate all the complexity of who we are as human beings. (Thank goodness!)
These four names were selected because they captured the "essence" of the pattern -- the "can't-help-themselves" identifying essence. The essence of each Temperament is "hard-wired" into our psyche -- it's the thing we can't help doing. Engaging in this essential behavior makes us feel alive, and gives us a sense of purpose.
So if you pay attention to behaviors and inner drives, you might notice if you're a Theorist (for example), you canot NOT theorize any more than an Improviser cannot NOT improvise; a Stabilizer cannot NOT stabilize; and a Catalyst cannot NOT catalyze. And if you're not doing that essential thing enough in your life or feeling appreciated for it, you probably feel dead inside.
I submit to you that these new names are actually synonyms for our life purpose. In other words, if somewhere in your life you are NOT doing the “thing” your particular name describes in some fashion, you are probably not fulfilling your purpose. It’s that important.
Now if you are a "Theorist," you surely do more than merely "theorize"; and if you are a "Catalyst," you surely do more than merely "catalyze." But these names were never intended to summarize or reduce one’s personality. Instead, they are designed to capture an “essence” peculiar to that Temperament.
These new names also provide us with newfound appreciation for the contributions of all the Temperaments.
I shared these new names with a coaching client who’s been through the entire Self-Discovery process on the phone with me. Even after all that, it was as if a light bulb turned on! When I said the new name, he suddenly realized that was what was missing in his act. He’s a Catalyst, and he’s been feeling dead around his job and about his life. Learning this new name gave him profound insights about what was missing. He now knows what he MUST have in his life and in his work in order to feel fulfilled. Months of coaching crystallized in that single transaction.
Similarly, I shared these new names with my girlfriend. She lately began a relationship with someone, and they’re probably going to get married. She started describing their differences, and sharing surprise that they get along so well. She was giddy as a schoolgirl. It occurred to me that learning the new names might grant her some additional understanding. So I let her know that her pattern was called “Catalyst.” She lit up as she related to it immediately! (It seemed like an instant replay of the previous conversation with my client.)
Then I let her know that her fiance’s pattern is called “Stabilizer.” She rolled that term around for a while, and suddenly she began connecting the dots. She realized how much he stabilizes her, and what changes have been occurring in her life since meeting him. She’s found someone she can lean into about creating stability for the first time in her life, even though that’s not what she might have ever called it without my help. She lost 40 pounds since meeting him. She’s exercising regularly, and even wakes up at a different time of day now. These are some of the subtle impacts his stabilizing has on her.
She also got to notice how her catalyzing affects him, and recognize her own gifts. She appreciates him, which in turn allows him to grow more into who he is. She honors and acknowledges him for who he is at heart, not for what he can do for her. I’m not certain he’s ever had that before... When we hung up the phone, she was still rolling the word “Stabilizer” around in her mouth, finding more and more richness for how it was benefiting their relationship. She now had a whole new way to appreciate him.
These new names have created transformational experiences for at least two people – and I’ve barely started talking about them. I can hardly wait for word of them to get out there!
I hope others begin to learn and embrace these new terms. If they have continue to impact like they did these two -- having such dramatic effects on their outlook -- they will be irresistible.
So we get to say again, “There are four kinds of people in the world.” Put aside all your preconceptions, your biases, your judgments, and lean into these new names along with their definitions.
Following are synopses of the Temperaments as described by Dr. Berens in her book, Understanding Yourself and Others®: An Introduction to the 4 Temperaments—3.0, along with their new names:
If you are an Improviser™, your aim is to vary your actions to get a result using whatever is at hand. "Improvising" is the ultimate expression of the freedom to respond to the needs of the moment. It is also the means to create pleasant aesthetic experiences. (You may be familiar with this pattern as "Artisan," "Red," or "SP.")
If you are a Stabilizer™, your goal is to prevent groups and institutions from falling apart. "Stabilizing" is fundamental to creating an environment where one can be secure in a sense of belonging. It provides the means to economic security. (You may be familiar with this pattern as "Guardian," "Gold," or "SJ.")
If you are a Theorist™, you are driven toward understanding and developing theories that provide the basis for mastery and competence. "Theorizing" is the means to having an understanding of objective truth on which to build a path to achievement. (You may be familiar with this pattern as "Rational," "Blue," or "NT.")
If you are a Catalyst™, your life purpose is to engage with others in a way that promotes their identity without losing your own identity. "Catalyzing" is natural to those who need to have a meaning and purpose to their lives. It is the means to self-actualization. (You may be familiar with this pattern as "Idealist," "Green," or "NF.")
These new names avert previous confusion about the core values of each Temperament pattern, and lend a clarity that previous names somehow missed.
I heard someone complain the minute she heard the new "Theorist" name. She said, "I do more than that!" And she’s right. She does!
I submit that there is no one single name that can captivate all the complexity of who we are as human beings. (Thank goodness!)
These four names were selected because they captured the "essence" of the pattern -- the "can't-help-themselves" identifying essence. The essence of each Temperament is "hard-wired" into our psyche -- it's the thing we can't help doing. Engaging in this essential behavior makes us feel alive, and gives us a sense of purpose.
So if you pay attention to behaviors and inner drives, you might notice if you're a Theorist (for example), you canot NOT theorize any more than an Improviser cannot NOT improvise; a Stabilizer cannot NOT stabilize; and a Catalyst cannot NOT catalyze. And if you're not doing that essential thing enough in your life or feeling appreciated for it, you probably feel dead inside.
I submit to you that these new names are actually synonyms for our life purpose. In other words, if somewhere in your life you are NOT doing the “thing” your particular name describes in some fashion, you are probably not fulfilling your purpose. It’s that important.
Now if you are a "Theorist," you surely do more than merely "theorize"; and if you are a "Catalyst," you surely do more than merely "catalyze." But these names were never intended to summarize or reduce one’s personality. Instead, they are designed to capture an “essence” peculiar to that Temperament.
These new names also provide us with newfound appreciation for the contributions of all the Temperaments.
I shared these new names with a coaching client who’s been through the entire Self-Discovery process on the phone with me. Even after all that, it was as if a light bulb turned on! When I said the new name, he suddenly realized that was what was missing in his act. He’s a Catalyst, and he’s been feeling dead around his job and about his life. Learning this new name gave him profound insights about what was missing. He now knows what he MUST have in his life and in his work in order to feel fulfilled. Months of coaching crystallized in that single transaction.
Similarly, I shared these new names with my girlfriend. She lately began a relationship with someone, and they’re probably going to get married. She started describing their differences, and sharing surprise that they get along so well. She was giddy as a schoolgirl. It occurred to me that learning the new names might grant her some additional understanding. So I let her know that her pattern was called “Catalyst.” She lit up as she related to it immediately! (It seemed like an instant replay of the previous conversation with my client.)
Then I let her know that her fiance’s pattern is called “Stabilizer.” She rolled that term around for a while, and suddenly she began connecting the dots. She realized how much he stabilizes her, and what changes have been occurring in her life since meeting him. She’s found someone she can lean into about creating stability for the first time in her life, even though that’s not what she might have ever called it without my help. She lost 40 pounds since meeting him. She’s exercising regularly, and even wakes up at a different time of day now. These are some of the subtle impacts his stabilizing has on her.
She also got to notice how her catalyzing affects him, and recognize her own gifts. She appreciates him, which in turn allows him to grow more into who he is. She honors and acknowledges him for who he is at heart, not for what he can do for her. I’m not certain he’s ever had that before... When we hung up the phone, she was still rolling the word “Stabilizer” around in her mouth, finding more and more richness for how it was benefiting their relationship. She now had a whole new way to appreciate him.
These new names have created transformational experiences for at least two people – and I’ve barely started talking about them. I can hardly wait for word of them to get out there!
I hope others begin to learn and embrace these new terms. If they have continue to impact like they did these two -- having such dramatic effects on their outlook -- they will be irresistible.
posted by Vicky Jo at 9:54 PM
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