Real Resolutions

After writing a week of resolutions, I was struck by the fact that the usual ones paraded around seem so trite and tiresome: lose weight, eat healthier, wake up earlier, exercise more. Plus what does this leave skinny early riser exercise addicts who eat healthy to do? How challenging is it for a Classic (SJ) to fit in a little more exercise/self discipline? Not so much. So, today, we offer up some ideas on innovative resolutions for each personality type — resolutions that stretch your personality type’s non-preferences, the personality equivalent of your left hand if you’re right handed.

I got this idea from the brilliant personality type coaching duo, Katherine W. Hirsh and Elizabeth Hirsh at Hirshworks about stretching and growing your type. It was an article in this August’s APTi (Association of Psychological Type International) biennial conference bulletin and was about to enter my dustbin when I flipped through and saw some brilliant nuggets from them.

Our recommended Classic unconventional resolutions are the most obvious. Do something impractical and unstructured — fit in something terribly fun once a day that isn’t on your To Do list, isn’t a chore and doesn’t advance your agenda in some way shape or form — yes, goof off more and allow others to do so as well.

Now on to Funs’ (SPs). Try preparing for some things well in advance. While you’re amazing at doing things in the moment, you’d be amazed at what results you’ll achieve with a little bit of advance prep. This sort of forsight often can make life even easier than you already think it is. Plus, you’ll astound all of those nagging advance planners in your life, Classics, Organic Structures (NFJs) and Smart Structures (NTJs).

As for Organics (NFs) see if you can internalize non-harmonious discussions as ways to actually achieve understanding. Often it’s the constructive criticism that can lead to even more productive brainstorming sessions and better ideas. Part of this resolution is to try and realize that criticism is sometimes just as helpful as praise. So the next time you find yourself in disagreement or in a confrontational disussion, try receiving what you perceive as negative feedback in a positive light.

And last but not least, our idea for Smarts (NTs) is to try persuading people of your point of view without being confrontational. Yes, this would be a walk in the park for almost every Organic alive but for you guys, there are times you probably don’t even realize that you’re being confrontational. In practicing the art of gentle persuasion throughout the year, you might just finally understand why the old saying, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar,”  has stuck around for so many years.