Personalities in the Present Economic Crises.

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Facing the  present economic crises with personality can be a real challenge.  Depression is on the rise and Zoloft is being prescribed in record numbers.

• The Playful, funloving Sanguines slip into depression when life is not fun anymore.  Fun for them is going out to eat, partying, shopping and spending money.

• The Powerful, Achieving Choleric gets depressed when life is out of control and their forward progress is impeded. Not being able to fulfill your goals for lack of money can be very depressing.

• The Proper, Perfect Melancholy sinks into dpression when life is out of order and life gets messy.    Being very careful with their money, a financial crises can send them into a tailspin if they weren’t ready for it.

• The world of the Peaceful, mellow Phlegmatic is turned upside down when life is too full of conflict and having financial stress creates a lot of conflict.

An economic crises where jobs are lost and income reduced, retirement and investments cut in half, health insurance no longer affordable and bills piled high is a recipe for depression for any personality.  What’s a personality to do?

The playful Sanguines tend to deal with their pain through eating, shopping or some other fun activity while stuffing their pain.  The Cholerics work harder as pressure and anger builds and they push the pain out of their minds.  The Perfects worry, fret, and retreat further into their negative thinking.  The Peacefuls don’t do anything in exteme but seem to have even less energy and motivation further frustrating their desire for peace from others who want them to “do something.”

What should we do?  Instead of denying and trying to escape our pain  we need to face it head on.

• The Melancholy Perfects need to take time to process their thinking alone and then find a very close friend with whom they can talk about what they are thinking and feeling.  Process the pain instead of letting it fester. Perfects are great at making strategies.  Come up with a strategy for making it through the crises and work it.  Focus on the possibilities instead of the problem.  Praise the Lord in the middle of the crises and he will give you a new perspective on your situation — His.

• The Playful Sanguines need to talk about what they are thinking and feeling with a friend.  Check their thinking to bring it captive to the Word of God.  Are you telling yourself the truth?  Some discipline may be called for in your spending and eating habits or the way you spend your time — that feels like pain but you will like the results later.   Go ahead and have some fun but make it something affordable that’s not centered around food.   Enjoy just being with family and friends.  Listen to your praise and worship CD’s while driving, cooking, or relaxing; they will help to lift your spirit.

• Cholerics love a challenge like a crises.  They actually can flourish in a crises.  You feel like you need to “do something.”  You do, but instead of trying to control others to try to bring a sense of comfort to you,  inventory what you might need to change and control that.   You see the problem.  If you don’t know the answer then seek answers by reading books, magazines or the internet.  There are experts out there who can help with your financial problems.  Reading a book and coming up with a plan of action can give you a sense of control in the midst of a crises.  Ellie Kay has some excellent books on finances such as “Living Rich for Less.”  Above all, stand on the Word of God.  The Word is your sword or weapon of choice.  Memorize a couple of verses and repeat them if motivation wains.

• Peaceful Phlegmatics tend to put their head in the sand and ignore problems but it doesn’t make them go away.  It usually just frustrates others.  While others are over reacting you are the one with the strength to keep your cool.  Look at the problem and admit there is a financial problem.  Listen to what others are saying and weigh their solutions.   You desire peace in the midst of this storm but remember peace is not the absence of bad weather, but the confidence that you will make it through the storm.  Take a look in the Word to see what God says about providing for you.  He is Jehovah Jireh, your provider.  You can put your confidence in Him even when you can’t in man.  Pray and ask God for wisdom and guidance through the storm.  Of all the personalities you have the patience to wait out the storm.  You bring a sense of calm and level headedness to others.  Allow God to use you to minister to others.

Each personality blend has their own needs when a crises hits to keep them from becoming distracted and depressed.  But no matter what your personality there are principles from the Word of God to guide you.    Philippians 4:4,6-7 ,8 says

• “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
•  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
  
• 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Rejoice whether you feel like it or not!  Sing, praise, worship and rejoice in the Lord!  Next pray and give thanks.  Prayer allows you to process your needs and give them to God.  Thanksgiving is an act of faith.  You’re having faith that God is going to do this and you’re thanking Him ahead of time.  Think on what is true and put those things into practice in your life.  Be intentional in your thinking, bring it captive to the Word of God.  Consequently, God’s peace with be with you and you can go through anything when God is with you — confidence (peace) that He will see you through the storm.  Now that’s a plan for overcoming crises depression.