Menoflippishly; sourcing prompts.

I remarked on Friday that there was a lack of inspiration. Nevertheless, a post was made and it contained at least something. It is an interesting process, this blogging lark.

One of the ways we can find inspiration is by picking up from other blogs. Not in the 'scrape and steal' sense, but in the "oh that's interesting, I have something to say about that" sense. If we do spike off from another, it is courteous to link back to the source blog. I am going to do that today.

Sandra the 'Mad Snapper', gives me the giggles most of the time and, every now and then, things to ponder more deeply. She wrote last week about knowing herself a little better. I responded with quite a lengthy comment. Almost another blog post! That was my clue, really. Besides, I also said in there that I would copy here the results provided by the Truity website free test. The reason I said that was because I have been through many of these things before. Mainly during my time in 'corporate'. The National Australia Bank, in particular, loved Myer-Briggs testing and every time any of us went for grade promotion, out would come the tick boxes.

...................sigh........................

In my time as a counsellor, I also had clients complete such tests. Not for diagnostic purposes (heaven forbid), but merely to help the clients gain a more objective view of themselves. The proviso was, however, that they not see such things as being like the ten commandments and carved forever into their psyche. Particularly as, when you've done these things as often as I have, you find that the results will swing according to where you are in yourself anyway. That is to say, if you are a teenager heading for university and/or potential employment, your outlook and life experience will yield a different result to that if taking the same test ten years on. Equally, if you take it in the morning or the afternoon. Or whether you had a raging fight with near and dear prior to taking the test, or had spent your time meditating.

Now, I am not dissing the tests entirely. They have been around far too long and have proven worthwhile in many scenarios. There are going to be certain basic personality traits we have which will remain with us throughout life and it is these which the tests are seeking to establish. At all times it is to be remembered, however, that they are a guide only. They were devised to help self-development (and, more specifically, career management).

We alone are responsible for who we are. Yes, circumstances of birth and situations of life will make their mark upon us, but as human beings, we have been given a power of choice far beyond that of any other animal inhabiting this planet. No matter what sort of bog we find ourselves sunk in, we can turn our minds to find a way out... or surrender that power and let the bog take us.

What these psych-tests might do is help us be more clear about how and why we make the decisions we do and - if we choose - take the steps required to change that pattern. That is our privilege as Homo Sapiens.

Now, without further ado, I display myself to you. Well, the bit that Truity provided.