The Color Code

For those of us who are finding ourselves, I recently read a great book, "The Color Code".

There are four "personality" colors.  Each personality type has strengths and weaknesses.   Each personality is motivated by different values.  Red personalities are motivated by power, blue personalities are motivated by intimacy (as in emotional intimacy), yellows are motivated by fun, and yellows are motivated by peace.  Yes, I'm oversimplifying it.  

The color code concept has been around for a long time.  I remember taking it when I was in my early teens.  If I remember correctly, my colors were blue (dominant), and yellow (secondary).  At the time, I was told this was a good combination.

Over time, I know I've changed.  Sometimes I test more blue/white.  But, as Taylor Hartman says, our main color does not change.  

The Color Code has a personality test in it, to help you as you read.  Or you can take it here.  I found it interesting.  But remember, every personality test is limited, and will not tell you everything.  

The book tells specific specifics about each personality, along with interactions between different personality types.  This helped me to better understand my relationships with my children, and other people around me.  

Here is where you can purchase the book in hard cover and in Kindle.

Glorious from Meet the Mormons

When I listen to music, it's not uncommon for me to pick one song that "speaks" to me, and to listen to it over and over.  The song "Glorious" by David Archuleta, is one of my current favorites, and I listen to it often.  Especially when I feel like I'm searching for peace, and answers to questions.



Every person is special, and has a unique role to play.  Sometimes we feel guided in a certain direction.  And as we follow our hearts, we meet people who touch our lives and help to enhance us and teach us.  And sometimes we get to help and teach others as well.

I love the analogy in this song that each person plays a piece in the music of life.  Because we are all different, all the parts are needed.  When I was younger, I was very involved in music.  In orchestra there were at least 5 different parts to each piece we performed.  When I hear some of those songs played, I listen for the part that I played (it wasn't the melody line).  While that one part may not be spectacular on it's own, the music would not be the same without it.

Each day I want to do what God wants me to do.  My life is not glamorous, but my role is important to many people.  I am a mom, a sister, a daughter, a friend, a co-worker. . . and that's just a few of my roles.  I believe that people come into our life for a reason.  We give strength to each other, and help each other.  I have met strangers briefly who have impacted my life, and have no idea what their words meant.  I watch the quiet example of others, who I'm sure have no idea of what I'm learning from them.  Our impact may be big or small.  But I'm sure it is always bigger than we believe.  And when we all join together either explicitly, or by the influence of others, the difference each of us makes is huge.

Does this song speak to you?

Who are you?

During graduate school, I attended a class where I was told that people need to understand where they are from to really understand who they are.  We began an activity of introducing ourselves based on why we are who we are.

Why are you who you are?

I don't remember exactly what I said, but it was something to the effect that I had grown up in a strong LDS family.  Members of the LDS faith of certain dietary rules (such as no smoking, drinking alcohol and no tobacco).  My family took it to a level of "no caffeine" (the word of wisdom says no strong drinks, and modern science has proved caffeine is addictive, so I abide by my family's rule still).  We attend church weekly and worship.  My family history goes back to modern day Czech Republic, and I've been told I have a "Russian nose".  I also take pride in my very unusual last name (there are only 5 people in the state that have my last name, and others who have it as a maiden name).  I also have ancestry from the mormon pioneers, which means I have learned to work hard, and sacrifice.  

How would you describe yourself based on your ancestors?  

A few year back, I created this as a Christmas gift for my family.

It is a visual "family tree".   Each leaf represents a person (and I included dates and places).  There are 5 generations on this (my children to my great grandparents).  Everyone who got one hung it on their wall (so I guess that means it was a hit :).

If you are interested in directions on how to make one, please leave a comment.  

I enjoy looking at this and seeing where my ancestors came from.  On my tree, everyone is in the USA, but one generation further has ancestors from other countries.  Where our family comes from, their traditions, and many other life choices do effect us.  Just look at how many people had to come to the United States for me to end up living here?  

Take some time to study who you are, and ponder how your family effects who you are today.

Self esteem and resiliency

While studying resiliency, I came across a journal article which discusses 5 types of skills that must be learned for a person to become resilient.  Because I'm a very analytical person, the components behind a theory have to make sense to me before I will "accept" them as truth.

The first component to resiliency is Self-Awareness (From "Linking prevention science and emotional learning: The Oregon Resiliency Project", by Kenneth Merrell, 2010).  How do we gain self-awareness?  Self-awareness is knowing your own feelings, interests, values, strengths, weaknesses, and having self confidence (according to Kenneth Merrell).
A person can not be resilient if they don't know what makes them special and unique.  This goes beyond just knowing, but becomes OWNING these traits in yourself.

What are some things about you, that can OWN?

I'll give you an idea. . .

Please ignore the goofy look on my face :)

I am a nerd, and I know it (and freely admit it).  What kind of person ENJOYS statistics?  yep. . . ME.  That makes me a nerd.  I'm also highly analytical, and need to understand how things work.  I am an avid gardener (growing about 40 TYPES of tomatoes a year - yes, that makes me a nerd). I enjoy learning how to create things.  But for me, I can't make a craft, unless it is useful . . . either to use or a decoration.  I like talking with other people and getting to know them better.  I'm a social science nerd, and like to understand WHY people make changes and do what they do.  One of the things I HAD to figure out is how people become resilient (after learning from my own experience, I had to find a way to explain it so I could help others).

This is just a small sample of how I see myself, and traits I OWN.

What traits do you have that you can "own"?  Things you can admit about yourself?