Let’s take a “PURSE-onal”* look at Perfectionism today.
Since the life goal of the Melancholy is to achieve (and maintain!) perfection, it’s easy to assume that all Melancholies are “perfection-ists”.
Not so.
When a woman lives a Spirit-led life in her natural PURSE-onality, she is living in her strengths, sharing her natural gifts.
The God-given strengths of a Melancholy are analysis, organization, compassion, devotion, depth, sincerity, and so much more! Her core identity does not reflect the relentlessly critical, dissatisfied spirit of the perfectionist.
This isn’t to say that your Melancholy sister won’t sigh when she finds a dirty dish in the sink or arrange your spices in alphabetical order the moment you turn your back.
But her motivation may not be at all what you think.
Non-Melancholies–especially those of us who are especially sensitive to criticism–can pass harsh judgements on their behaviors.
And we are often wrong.
I've learned this the hard way with my own mother. For decades, I took every “tsk-tsk” she uttered under her breath as a stab in my heart, proof that she did not “accept me for who I am.”
What I now understand is that my mother’s desire for perfection makes her an idealist. Because she loves me so much, she is literally pained when she can not provide the absolute best for me. And what is the absolute best? Perfection!
Her sighs and “tsk-tsks” are not aimed at me; they are aimed at a world she feels is not good enough for me. They express her longing for heaven, where she knows everything will finally be “just right” for her little girl.
“And the one sitting on the throne said,
‘Look, I am making everything new!’“
Revelation 21:5a
Your Turn!
- Who in your life exhibits the strengths of the Melancholy PURSE-onality?
- When might you have over-reacted to a Melancholy’s criticism? How might you re-interpret it in a more positive light?
- Anything else on your heart or mind...
*If you’re not familiar with the Personalities, you can hear several of my messages by clicking here:
“Let’s Get PURSE-onal”
“Let’s Get PURSE-onal”