The New Temperament / Stories

Email us your story (along with a picture, if you’d like) to mystory@thenewtemperament.com and we’ll send you a $25 gift card that’s good at Barnes & Noble, the Home Depot or Starbucks if we post it. Please limit your story to 200 words or less, and specify the retailer where you would like to redeem your gift card.

Sheila
Small Business Owner
Iowa

“Talk about a life change — try being a single Mom. It often feels like the Universe is stacked against you. At least that’s how I felt with two young children and a mortgage and a job that never felt quite right. Then I decided to try The New Temperament. Not that I didn’t have second thoughts. “A self-discovery tool? Is that what I need right now with my self-esteem already at a low point?” I’m thrilled I went ahead. I agree totally with your report. It described me as a “Sensitive Shaper.” It reminded me how much I enjoyed nature growing up. How I needed to do things in my timeframe. And how I don’t stand up for myself as much as I should. It also made me think about my relationships in a new way. Why some worked and some didn’t. I took a few weeks to reconsider a lot of things about my life. I decided to quit my office job and start my own home business as a specialty flower arranger for large corporations in the area. It’s been a great change. I am happier than ever before — and still amazed at how much temperament reveals about people and situations.”

Stetson
Engineering Student
North Carolina

“I’m working toward a degree in computer engineering with one year to go. I always thought of myself as having the answers to most everything. Except the one thing I couldn’t figure out is why my girlfriend and I were arguing. She’s an engineering student, too. And, still, with both of us caring about each other and wanting to solve the problem, we couldn’t get to the bottom of it. Then I noticed your website and thought I’d give The New Temperament a try. I figured anyone who quotes Cicero is either a nut or has something important to share. Anyway, lo and behold, my girlfriend and I both signed up and quickly solved our problem. I’m a Rousing Discerner and she’s a Material Shaper. I see things from the theoretical side; she’s more interested in practical applications. Also, as down-to-earth as she is, she can’t stand deadlines. And I can’t live without them. So here’s what we did. We worked it out. You can say we “engineered” a new relationship. But all we added was a little love, latitude and understanding.”

Veronica
Self-Styled Personality Assessment Junkie
Ohio

“You guys are cool, seriously. Some people collect tattoos and Old Chinese snuff bottles. I collect personality assessments. I’ve been Bodily Typed, Facially Typed, Left Brain-Right Brain Typed, Elementally Typed and Spiritually Typed. I’ve had my palms read, my feet read, my dopamine tides and my Enneagram evaluated. I’ve been 16-Factored, 5-Factored and even had my Emotional IQ checked. Do you now what the most useful assessment has been? Yours! Yes, I mean it. I scored as an Ingenious Discerner. The routine is not my thing. And it explains why conceptual models, particularly those relating to personality, have, at least in my case, always turned me on. Thanks for showing me a new way to look at things. I can’t wait to share it with my friends.”

Benjamin
From Real Estate Salesman to the Not-for Profit Sector
Florida

“You know that feeling when you see an old friend who’s been gone awhile? That’s the feeling I got when I read my New Temperament report. “Holy smoke,” I realized, “that’s me.” Then I wondered how I lost touch with that person. And I realized how much noise and distractions can get in between you and who you really are. I scored as an Insightful Advocate. The report validated what I already knew about myself but somehow forgot. It got me thinking. About my job, for example. Buying and selling distressed properties. It wasn’t who I was and I knew I had to find something else. Some way I could be of service to people or the community. It occurred to me that a position with a non-profit would be perfect. Then a friend told me of a charitable foundation that needed a fund-raising manager. I applied and got the job. All I can say is thanks for introducing me to a long lost friend. Me.”

Mathew
High School Teacher
Georgia

“I teach advance placement courses in psychology in High School. They’re bright kids. But like most they seem perpetually attached to some electronic gadget – their cell phone, Ipod, laptop, what have you. Anyway, when it came time for me to teach personality theory, I discovered your site and was astounded at how well you organized the material. I set 35 computers up in a classroom so everyone could experience The New Temperament. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Then they all looked at me and asked how I scored. “Vigilant Sustainer,” I revealed. Since that day no one has ever been late with their homework!”