Personality and its Conditioning

In one of my classes, we had to take a social style personality test. I scored close to the middle of all the personality styles, but leaned more towards the "Expressive" style. The only thing that is relevant to this blog is that this test highlighted to me that I am a people person.

I was thinking about how I always feel that I need to have some sort of interaction with people everyday otherwise I go kinda crazy. I really don't understand this need. Some people can go without social interaction and be fine. I started wishing that I was like that, but then God convicted me about that thought process. He made me a people person for a reason. My desire for interaction is a strength for His glory. I need to have faith that God will satisfy my need and use it for His purposes.

This whole realization process led me to another thought: I derive a lot of my definition of self-worth from what society tells me is "cool." I feel a need to dress a certain way, talk about certain things, etc. etc. etc. And what makes me laugh is that while I am be conditioned by status quo, I'm striving to be individualistic. What a paradox! I want to fit in while maintaining uniqueness. When I think about it like that, I realize that I will never be satisfied! My self-worth must be defined by my status as a unique creation and child of God otherwise I will continue on a path that circles down into perpetual discontentment.

Furthermore, something else I find sickening is that while we are trying to maintain individuality while fitting in, we jump on bandwagons called "trends." But, the stipulation is that you must straddle the wagon because if you put both legs in, then you will be too late because everyone else is already getting off this bandwagon in order to board the next and you will be labeled as a fan (or even fanatic) of uncool things. Everyone will make fun of you because you like certain music, movies, books, magazines, clothes, philosophers, pastors, colors, instruments, etc. etc. etc. Well, you know what: I find some strange things very cool and good. I think we can get so caught up in being the most forward thinking or the most conservative that we miss some really good things in some really good stuff (that is okay to like for your entire life or at least more than a year). Accountability is necessary, but I also think that open mindedness can be good.

So there, I will close with a passage that is resounding in my soul as something that I need to meditate on:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2: 5-11