It’s taken me a while to pluck up the courage to write this blog post. It’s not that I have anything particularly shocking to say, it’s just…well it’s been quite a while since I last wrote and it’s kind of hard to get back in the saddle. I’ve written posts in my head a hundred times and then second guessed myself and thought better of it. I see the outcome of my words and dwell on how they will be received.
My problem is largely perfectionism. A fear of getting something wrong. A fear of offending. A fear of letting my family down.
I think, to an extent I was born this way, but perhaps there was some nurturing involved in the formation of my fears? I see perfectionism in Elizabeth and Jonathan, who are both, in many ways, quite like me. It’s strange seeing aspects of my own personality from the other side.
I see perfectionism can lead to procrastination and can be something of a disability. The reality is that nothing will be perfect this side of Heaven and trying to create perfection will only lead to frustration or pride.
So, instead of perfection, I will have to satisfy myself with good enough. By the Grace of God I pray that something I say will be of use to someone.
I’ve been learning a lot about personalities recently. I have a great interest in the workings of the human mind, what makes us tick. Each of us are unique, but within a family we see overlaps in personality and understanding a little more about why we think or behave the way we do helps us to be the best version of ourselves.
It is my aim to honour God in my thinking and not to overly secularise this topic. God has created each of us and I see that for every weakness there is a strength. For example, Jonathan is a very skilled craftsman and makes beautiful things, but oh my, he is slow. He’ll get the job done, but timing isn’t his specialist subject. Christopher, on the other hand, will have a job done before you’ve even thought of it! It won’t be perfect, but it will be done. The amazing thing is when these two young men work together. The job gets done with efficiency and beauty.
I’ve learnt that I’m a highly sensitive INFP. For those who need that translated, it means I’m an introverted mediator, sensitive to bright lights, sounds and emotional stimuli. I feel all of these things on a deeper level than most people, apparently 20% of people are made this way. Without thinking about I’ve learnt to deal with this by, among other things, having dimmer switches on all our lights, avoiding using the bathroom fan and opening the window instead and avoiding background music. I can’t eliminate all stressful noises (I have ten children😜) but I can recharge regularly by sneeking off for 5 minutes alone. I’ve found having emotional teenagers to be really draining, as I absorb all their feelings, but knowledge is power and so I’m learning to set boundaries to help them and preserve my sanity.
The flip side to this is that I’m deeply empathetic. For example, during the lockdowns, when everyone was clapping on doorsteps and baking banana bread, I was churning inside, thinking about children living with abusive parents, unable to escape. I prayed for children with alcoholic parents, children who took responsibility for caring for their siblings in the absence of parents who had to work.
Carrying around so many feelings is often exhausting and yet it means I have to draw so close to God, to hand over everything that weighs me down, to trust that he watches over everyone and he hears my prayers.
But God created us to be part of a body and no one part is better than the other, we need each other in order to thrive.
In our marriage I see that Phil is a doer, not a feeler and I’m so grateful for this. Whilst I’m busy dwelling on the problems of the world, he’s busy fixing them. I share my concerns with him and he’s the first to ask what can be done. When I had the vision of living on this smallholding, Phil was busy working out the finances and practicalities.
Recently Phil has been laying cables ready to install some solar panels, enabling us to rely less on the grid and preparing our family for the days ahead.
Marriage and family can be a beautiful picture of God’s body, the key is perspective. We need to look at situations from a distance, see the bigger picture and in everything give thanks.
I’m still working on this…I’ll let you know how it goes.
What about you? Have you done a Myers Briggs personality test, this one is free https://www.16personalities.com/?
Are any of you highly sensitive? Here’s a test https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/
I’d love to hear from you if any of this resonates with you.
Sending blessings to you all, Vicki
Jonathan says:
Perfectionism can lead to procrastination, I relate to that 🙁
Your Results
Mediator
INFP-A
Diplomat
21%
79%
EXTRAVERTED
INTROVERTED
68%
32%
INTUITIVE
OBSERVANT
41%
59%
THINKING
FEELING
43%
57%
JUDGING
PROSPECTING
51%
49%
ASSERTIVE
TURBULENT
=======================================================
Your Total: 17
you are probably highly sensitive.
========================================================
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
=========================================================
God help us to weave a tapestry of love and not hate in our children, a spirit of tolerance and caring, and a dedication to freedom for all and not just some. God help us to sow seeds of peace and justice in our children’s hearts today. Amen.
Vicki says:
That’s really interesting. I think the percentages help because they show the nuances in our personalities. Thank you for sharing, Vicki
Angela says:
Oh yes I can relate to that! I didn’t take a test yet but guess I’m similar to your type. Sometimes I feel like I’m just not made to be a mom (of 6 in a few months). Being sensitive to noise and chaos, plus having a really hard time to structure myself.
Oh and perfectionism…!
“I see perfectionism can lead to procrastination and can be something of a disability.” YES.
Also my husband is so different. On good days I can appreciate it…
Me with my empathy and over thinking and he’s like “Just don’t take it so personal.”
Sometimes it’s nice to have somebody understand you.
Plus it’s encouraging to see that others like me can also raise big(ger) families.
Mostly I get the impression that other mom’s of bigger families have everything together and things come more easily to them. Like the type of just do it and don’t think too much.
God knows why we are who we are.
Ultimate comfort is that he loves and understands us as we are even when nobody else does and he knows how hard we try even if the results don’t look like it.
Thank you for this post!
Love & blessings from Germany, Angela
Vicki says:
Angela, thank you so much for your reply, it’s so good to know others out there have similar challenges. I wonder if might ask us to raise so many children because of our weaknesses, for when we are weak, then he is strong. Sending blessings, Vicki
Jonathan says:
NIV2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.