If we can all know our temperament and understand each other's temperament, we can know what we're capable of doing and what we're not. What is temperament? A temperament is how someone reacts to the world, or an inborn trait that determines a person's unique behavior style and the way we react to things. Let's simply say it's our mood, attitude, or behavior. Everyone exhibits an attitude. If we can know and understand each other's attitudes, we can avoid many arguments that often lead to fights.
There are four types of temperaments that people exhibit, and many of us may have two or three, but no one has just one. We have the Sanguine, Choleric, Phlegmatic, and Melancholic. These four temperaments have their strengths and weaknesses.
The first two are extroverts (Sanguine and Choleric), and the last two are introverts.
Let's talk about the Sanguine. They're sociable, confident, outspoken, lively, and fun to be with. These are the people who hate being at home; they love to go out, and anywhere they're at, you easily know them and recognize them. They make friends easily because if you don't talk to them, they'll talk to you. They hate boring lifestyles; there are no dull moments with them. They love to make fun and are quick to apologize. However, they have some weaknesses: they're always late to parties from talking too much and wanting to dress to shine, they're shameless and talk anywhere, they forget things easily and are very loud whenever they are, they're easily distracted, and exaggerate things when talking. If they attend an event and want to tell you about it, it'll feel like you're at the event, and they'll add to the story.
Another one is the Choleric. These kinds of people are passionate, leader-like individuals who want to lead wherever they are. They're focused, always good at problem-solving, and motivators. If you have them as friends, they won't let you settle for less; they're a driving force that pushes you to do better. They're good at planning, confident, and want to achieve every goal. However, their weakness is that they're aggressive; if they delegate a job, they always want it perfect, and if it's not, there'll be a problem. They're the kind of boss who doesn't have empathy; their workers have no rest, and they want them to always work without relaxing. They're always busy except when they fall sick; they're too busy for people and can't tolerate people for too long. They're rude and impatient, talking to people anyhow.
Now, let's talk about the Phlegmatic. These are the people who are relaxed, very calm, observant, and affectionate. If they break up with them or people betray them, it takes them a long time to heal. They're peacemakers, always curious to know something, faithful, and accepting of a lot of things. Their weaknesses are that they're shy, lazy, and prefer a soft life without doing much. They're fearful of change, not goal-oriented, and can be discouraging. They can't motivate you as a friend, don't love to participate in anything, and can be stubborn.
Lastly, let's talk about the Melancholic. These people are considerate, thoughtful, planners, and organized. They're the kind of people who, when you go to their house, have everything well-organized. No matter how much you help them clean, they'll still find something to arrange. They love to be independent and are good at preventing problems. However, they have mood swings; they can be sad one moment and happy the next. You can't fully understand them; they're difficult to please. If you clean for them, they might clean it again. They're prone to depression, sometimes procrastinate, are too obsessive, and are deeply affected if something happens to them.
I first learned about this in church, and I've also read more about it. You can read about it too. It's good to know our temperaments because it'll help us understand what we're capable of doing and what we're not. Since I understood my mom's temperament (she's a Sanguine and Choleric), I've been able to understand why she never rests and always wants you to do any work quickly if she sends you on an errand. If you know your sibling's temperament, you'll be able to know how to deal with them. Every person can work on their weaknesses if they know they have them. I believe every bad attitude can be changed if you're intentional about it.
Knowing your temperament can help you navigate life's challenges with more ease and confidence. Take the time to learn more about yourself and others, and watch your relationships and personal growth flourish.