Get to Know Me: Personality
During my Life Coaching Certification Course many years ago, we were asked to do an exercise where we wrote our own obituaries. Sounds a bit morbid, I know, but it was an impactful experience. We prepared a message we would like to hear read over our lives, our accomplishments, etc. Then in class we were asked to lay on a table under a blanket with our eyes closed as a peer student read it to us. It forced us to really dig deep and think about what we want to be said of our life this side of Heaven.
My writing has evolved these past few years and has become the space where I express my love for Jesus through scripture teaching, revelation, prophetic encouragement, exhortation of my fellow sisters in Christ, etc. I've been determined to keep the main focus on JESUS and NOT myself. {More on this in HeatherFerroni.com...REALLY?!}
As I've mentioned before, I've been blogging for about 15 years. It started off more as a personal journal and therapeutic release of processing life, creative expression through poems, a documentation of life through my eyes. One of my first blogs was titled "The Intertwined Workings of My Underestimated Mind". {Can you tell I'm an analyst?!}
But lately, God has put it on my heart to revert back to showing the world who I really am through my writing. I have about 30 fully written journals and something in my spirit tells me some of this content will be produced publicly after I transition from this earth to Heaven. So, instead of waiting for you to learn about me through those private writings or through the interpretation of who I am through my remaining friends and family at my funeral, I thought I'd take some time to share my heart with you. Is that alright?
The truth is, I've been a massively misunderstood person my whole life. {Even by my own family}. It used to discourage me, upset me and make me feel rejected, defensive and unloved. But honestly, when I made Jesus my LORD (On November 2, 2014 - more on this to come), EVERYTHING changed. Including my addiction to the perception of perfection, people pleasing, acceptance, etc. Why? Because at that moment, I knew my life was not my own, I was FULLY surrendered to God and with that WILL come opposition, rejection, and attack.
“The closer I grow to Him, the easier it becomes to embrace this reality and cling onto the truth of who I am in Him, the purpose with which He created me and the promises He has for me.”
So I'll begin with sharing the foundations of my personality. Next I'll share:
- Family Background................Tue 2.20.18
- Faith Journey..........................Tue 2.27.18
- Greatest Influencers.............Tue 3.6.18
- Leadership Development.....Tue3.13.18
- Work Experience....................Tue 3.20.18
- Relationship History..............Tue 3.27.18
- Values........................................Tue 4.3.18
Since as long as I can remember, I've been absolutely fascinated by the human experience. I absolutely LOVE people and am intrigued by human behavior, motivations, biological factors and sociological elements that help shape and develop people into who they are, what they believe and how they behave.
Personality Profiling methods are so fun to me! According to the Myers-Briggs personality Profiling method, I'm an ENFJ. To get a pretty spot-on description of my personality characteristics, click HERE.
From 16Personalities Report of the ENFJ Personality Type, here are some things that stuck out most to me:
- ENFJs are natural-born leaders, full of passion and charisma. Forming around two percent of the population, they are oftentimes our politicians, our coaches and our teachers, reaching out and inspiring others to achieve and to do good in the world.
- The interest ENFJs have in others is genuine, almost to a fault – when they believe in someone, they can become too involved in the other person’s problems, place too much trust in them.
- Strengths: Tolerant, Reliable, Charismatic, Altruistic, Natural Leader
- Weaknesses: Overly idealistic, too selfless, too sensitive, fluctuating self-esteem, struggle to make tough decisions.
- The joy ENFJs take in moving things forward means that there is always a sense of purpose behind their friendships, creating bonds that are not easily shaken.
- People with the ENFJ personality type are always up for a good challenge – and nothing thrills them quite like helping others. But while willing to train the necessary skills, ENFJs will always show an underlying preference for the sort of help that draws a positive long-term trend, that effects change that really sticks.
- Quick learners and excellent multitaskers, people with the ENFJ personality type are able to take on multiple responsibilities with competence and good cheer. ENFJs are hardworking, reliable and eager to help – but this can all be a double-edged sword, as some managers will take advantage of ENFJs’ excellent quality of character by making too many requests and overburdening their ENFJ subordinates with extra work.
- While perfectly capable as subordinates and colleagues, ENFJs’ true calling, where their capacity for insightful and inspiring communication and sensitivity to the needs of others really shows, is in managing teams.
To sum it up in my own words, here's what you should know about me:
1. I value communication
Growing up with Italian influence means family values such as loyalty and fierce protection run in my veins. I don’t shy away from confrontation. Conflict doesn’t scare me. To me, it affords all parties an opportunity for greater understanding and growth.
I'm not good with being told what to do. I like to know the “why” behind the “what”.
2. I'm ridiculously honest
Accusations and assumptions infuriate me because I’m a ridiculously honest person and will always tell the truth (even if it’s incriminating). I remember ratting myself out the first time I ditched a class in high school because I felt so guilty and was afraid of getting in trouble.
“I’m an outgoing introvert”
3. I absolutely LOVE humans!
Around people I give all my energy and often feel depleted and want to retreat to recharge.
I'm an external processor so I’ve found that writing is my best outlet. I’m a talker and love feedback, reading and studying people.
Random Pieces of Semi-useless Information:
- I was the only girl to play coed soccer around age 11.
- I have a freckle on the bottom on my foot in the same place my dad has one.
- I won 2nd place {sheesh} in a beauty pageant at age 5. {I did win "Miss Personality" though...go figure!}
- I see eating as a social experience
- I've never had stitches
- I'm 5'0". I'm 31 years old and people often mistake me for being younger.
