Did you know that we are all a mix of the four temperaments? However, we tend to have a dominant temperament, a subdominant temperament, a temperament we loosely associate with a temperament that really doesn’t define us. But in actuality, we are a mix of all of them And striving for harmony between the temperaments we look to balance out our traits and qualities so that we can achieve an overall balanced temperament.
But how do you identify what temperament you are? How do you identify your strengths within that temperament? What shortcomings do you have to grow through as part of your temperament? And what can development of your temperament give you in your life’s journey?
The four basic temperaments are choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic and melancholic.
Choleric is associated with the color, red and blood. When the self dominates in adulthood, the temperament is choleric. Some attributes of the choleric temperament are leadership, extrovert, strong, willed, quick to anger, charismatic, confident, high standards of oneself and others, structured And fast.
The sanguine temperament is associated with air and the color yellow. When the astral body dominates an adulthood, the temperament is sanguine. Some of the sanguine traits are extrovert, socially inclined, charismatic, untidy, forgetful, shallow connection to body, loves variety in food, fashion, and travel, loves adventure, talkative, doesn’t hold onto feelings very long, move forward with ease, flexible, adaptable, lives in the present.
The phlegmatic temperament is associated to the color green and the element of water. When the euphoric body dominates an adulthood, the temperament is phlegmatic. Some of the traits and qualities of phlegmatic are slow and steady, loves routine, avoids, high pressure, avoids conflict, loves food and eating, loves comfort, doesn’t like interruptions, has trouble getting started, but once engaged in a task does not want to leave it until it’s finished.
The melancholic is associated to the color blue and the element of earth. When the physical body dominates an adult adulthood, the temperament is melancholic. Attributes of the melancholic are deep, introverted, loyal, detail oriented, works on skills until perfected, deep thinker, cold disposition, feels deep emotions, often thinks it’s their fault, or they are to blame in situations and are apt to hold grudges.
There are a couple of qualities that are shared by all four temperaments. All four temperaments can be stubborn in their own way. And all four temperaments are emotional, but it is expressed uniquely. For instance, the cleric is quick to anger while the sanguine is quick to love and excitement. The melancholic holds feelings for a long time while the phlegmatic has a harder time relating to their feelings, but through development, they may become more comfortable with their feelings.
All four temperaments are also sensitive. But what they are sensitive to depends on each of their qualities and traits.
Each temperament learns differently as well.
The choleric will learn from someone who is a trusted respected authority, whereas the melancholic will learn through a development of their sympathy and compassion, and the sanguine will learn from someone who they love and who they receive love from and a phlegmatic will learn through example and imitation, so provide a suitable example for the phlegmatic to learn from through imitation.
It is the quintessential fifth element that brings out the balance between the temperaments and that would be the ego. With the ego in charge, we can find balance within our temperament.
Resources include but are not limited to Authentic Parenting by Bari Borsky and Judith Haney and Children and their Temperaments by Marieke Anschütz