Type “A” Myths

I am a notorious type A personality. I like order, plans and checklists. Productivity has been most valuable to me. If I am engaged in a worthwhile pursuit I can find meaning and satisfaction in whatever is needed to accomplish the task. I don’t do as well in an open ended, no resolution type of situation. Being home with few distractions and few options has allowed me to unravel many of the type A myths.

1. Getting up at the crack of dawn to exercise doesn’t increase your calories burned or the desired outcome.

2. Time is relative, being busy doesn’t necessarily mean productive or successful. Faster/more doesn’t equal better. The dust will always be there.

3. Mortality dictates a larger percentage of our quirks than the spirit does. Much of what we struggle with has more to do with the physicality of mortality than it does with any internal flaw.

4. Being a morning person doesn’t give you higher “moral” ground. We all have the same 24 hours. Does it really matter which ones you are awake for? Who cares when you get your stuff done, as long as it gets done!

5. Spirituality and righteousness include questioning, pondering and sometimes complete disagreement.  It also includes humility, patience, perseverance and acceptance.

6. It is in the quiet and the still that the work of refinement is done.

7. Sometimes you can check everything off your to do list and still neglect the most important things.

8. The things that make you “look” the best most often are the LEAST important.

9. Spirituality has no direct relationship to the hours spent warming the pews or the number meetings attended.  It is about the relationship between you and the Lord and your willingness to follow his plan, even if you don’t understand or like the “why’s” of the request. 

10. Type “A” personalities are not always preferred. Flexibility and an Open Mind make for happier, more accepting and content people.

11.  Type “A” personalities are highly productive and are efficient at getting the job done.  That doesn’t mean that their way is the only way to get it done.

12. Type “A” people agonize because of the expectation of controlling things that were never meant to be controlled.  Let it go!

13. I think life is more about ACCEPTING and UNDERSTANDING our limitations than trying to pretend we don’t have them.

Obviously, I am not a completely reformed type “A'” personality but I have a much better perspective on what really matters.  This isn’t a judgment on which personality is better either.  I love people of all varieties.  I am just doing some myth busting!

God made each personality for a reason and he needs every single one to do their part. Each unique perspective is valuable and needed.    This is a celebration that different does NOT mean superior or inferior.  We are what we are, as long as we are moving forward and improving each day, there is no ranking.  There is a place for each one of us in God’s arms regardless of the mold he used in our creation.