What is a Melancholy Temperament and Why Does it Matter?
Hippocrates, the ancient Greek philosopher and man regarded at the Founder of Modern Medicine, is credited as the first man to identify the Melancholy temperament.
Nearly 500 years ago, he called it the black temperament.
He imagined that people who had this temperament were essentially distressed by an overabundance of black bile.
He recognized that various people had certain predispositions to various modes of behavior and developed a classification system of four temperaments that was based on his observations during the practice of medicine.
He held that human behavior was characterized by 4 primary modes of behavior: Melancholy, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.
These four temperaments are still recognized today, and a fifth has been described, although they are now considered to be genetic rather than liquid.
Each of the temperaments he identified had unique characteristics, but he also recognized that most people were a blend of characteristics and equated these blends as differing amount of body fluids, e.
g.
black bile, blood, phlegm.
An overabundance of a particular fluid could be the source of distress.
The mind of a Melancholy is always turning, constantly thinking, perpetually grinding away at one thing or another.
There is a large amount of energy expended in this thought process.
If the thought process is channeled along positive paths, incredible and wonderful results can blossom.
Most of those who have achieved fame in the fine arts had a melancholy disposition.
But there is a powerful dark side to the Melancholy temperament.
Often a Melancholy mind is a bit like an automobile in need or steering alignment.
A automobile might have a tendency to pull to the right, and without frequent corrective actions, will end up off the road and into a deep and lonely ditch.
Likewise, the Melancholy may find itself subtly pulled into negative thinking, and if left uncorrected, can find herself "in the ditch" in a "clinical depression.
" When this powerful thinking engine gets to work considering how wrong things are, how it has been treated unfairly, how unjust things are, the consequences can be unfortunate.
As a Melancholy's thoughts spin downward, so does their mood, their self-esteem, and their outlook on life.
Maintaining a positive outlook is not an easy thing for a Melancholy.
There are many people equipped with a Melancholy temperament.
The good news is that a spirit-filled Melancholy is a marvel to behold.
When people with this temperament learn to channel their powerful thought processes in harmony with the Spirit of God, wonderful things happen.
If you have ever found yourself reading a book you could just not put down or stood in awe while admiring a work of art, you are most likely experiencing the work of a Melancholy.
No other temperament is as likely to produce profound genius as the Melancholy.
In the Bible, it is likely that Moses, Solomon and John were Melancholy.
Where outstanding wisdom and understanding are seen, a Melancholy temperament is likely operating behind the scene.
Why It Matters Your temperament is provided to you before you are born, and it stays with you for life.
You behavior can be changed by your will, but the tendencies generated by your temperament will always be there.
The type of work you are best suited for and the people you surround yourself with are highly dependent on the nature of your temperament.
Melancholies forced to deal with large numbers of people will invariably be uncomfortable, and prolonged exposure to this kind of situation can lead to very real difficulties.
Every person is unique and has a unique set of temperament characteristics.
But discerning temperament characteristics can be very difficult to see by simply thinking about them or looking a mirror.
There are more effective ways to discover your true nature.
You can get a good reading on the nature of your temperament by testing.
There are many different inventories available.
Some free, some with a price.
The free one will provide some insight, and the ones with a price will typically be much more robust.
Why not discover the true nature of your temperament and have a better life.
It's painless and inexpensive.
The results, in the form of a happier, more satisfying life, can be "priceless.
"
Nearly 500 years ago, he called it the black temperament.
He imagined that people who had this temperament were essentially distressed by an overabundance of black bile.
He recognized that various people had certain predispositions to various modes of behavior and developed a classification system of four temperaments that was based on his observations during the practice of medicine.
He held that human behavior was characterized by 4 primary modes of behavior: Melancholy, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.
These four temperaments are still recognized today, and a fifth has been described, although they are now considered to be genetic rather than liquid.
Each of the temperaments he identified had unique characteristics, but he also recognized that most people were a blend of characteristics and equated these blends as differing amount of body fluids, e.
g.
black bile, blood, phlegm.
An overabundance of a particular fluid could be the source of distress.
The mind of a Melancholy is always turning, constantly thinking, perpetually grinding away at one thing or another.
There is a large amount of energy expended in this thought process.
If the thought process is channeled along positive paths, incredible and wonderful results can blossom.
Most of those who have achieved fame in the fine arts had a melancholy disposition.
But there is a powerful dark side to the Melancholy temperament.
Often a Melancholy mind is a bit like an automobile in need or steering alignment.
A automobile might have a tendency to pull to the right, and without frequent corrective actions, will end up off the road and into a deep and lonely ditch.
Likewise, the Melancholy may find itself subtly pulled into negative thinking, and if left uncorrected, can find herself "in the ditch" in a "clinical depression.
" When this powerful thinking engine gets to work considering how wrong things are, how it has been treated unfairly, how unjust things are, the consequences can be unfortunate.
As a Melancholy's thoughts spin downward, so does their mood, their self-esteem, and their outlook on life.
Maintaining a positive outlook is not an easy thing for a Melancholy.
There are many people equipped with a Melancholy temperament.
The good news is that a spirit-filled Melancholy is a marvel to behold.
When people with this temperament learn to channel their powerful thought processes in harmony with the Spirit of God, wonderful things happen.
If you have ever found yourself reading a book you could just not put down or stood in awe while admiring a work of art, you are most likely experiencing the work of a Melancholy.
No other temperament is as likely to produce profound genius as the Melancholy.
In the Bible, it is likely that Moses, Solomon and John were Melancholy.
Where outstanding wisdom and understanding are seen, a Melancholy temperament is likely operating behind the scene.
Why It Matters Your temperament is provided to you before you are born, and it stays with you for life.
You behavior can be changed by your will, but the tendencies generated by your temperament will always be there.
The type of work you are best suited for and the people you surround yourself with are highly dependent on the nature of your temperament.
Melancholies forced to deal with large numbers of people will invariably be uncomfortable, and prolonged exposure to this kind of situation can lead to very real difficulties.
Every person is unique and has a unique set of temperament characteristics.
But discerning temperament characteristics can be very difficult to see by simply thinking about them or looking a mirror.
There are more effective ways to discover your true nature.
You can get a good reading on the nature of your temperament by testing.
There are many different inventories available.
Some free, some with a price.
The free one will provide some insight, and the ones with a price will typically be much more robust.
Why not discover the true nature of your temperament and have a better life.
It's painless and inexpensive.
The results, in the form of a happier, more satisfying life, can be "priceless.
"