Marita Littauer - Wired That Way Companion Workbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Maximizing Your Personality Type

2006 Marita Littauer

Writing contributed by Tamie Vervoorn

Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com

Revell edition published 2014

ISBN 978-1-4412-2535-1

Previously published by Regal Books

Ebook edition originally created 2011

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Other versions used are:

KJV Authorized King James Version.

NASB Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible , 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

CONTENTS

Can you think of people in your life whom youd like to change? People who are too demanding, too talkative, too introspective or who just dont have it together? Do you ever just want to walk away from a relationship because communication seems impossible, and it seems like the other person will never change?

But are they really the ones who need to change? As Marita Littauer suggests in Wired That Way, Once we give up trying to change the people in our lifeand accept that they are just wired that waywe can begin to understand others and improve our relationships with them. Likewise, when we are able to grasp the way we are wired, we can use that knowledge to grow beyond our natural tendencies and become better and more balanced individuals ().

We all wrestle with things that we want to change about ourselves, but often we feel frustrated because we dont know where to begin. Understanding the way people are wired is essential for living in our strengths, growing through our weaknesses, and building better relationships. Such knowledge affords us greater possibilities for being at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18) as well as for being at peace with ourselves.

Lets begin by taking a look at ourselves. Describe a situation in which you tried to change someone with whom you worked, lived or had a close relationship. Maybe that person had a personality quirk that annoyed you, or perhaps you subtlyfor whatever reasontried to make him or her more like yourself. What was the outcome of your attempts?

In your life today, who do you have a hard time relating to or communicating with? What about that person would you like to change?

What does Matthew 7:3 say about judging the apparent flaws of others?

Look closely at the areas of weakness in your own life. Do you have behavior patterns or character traits that seem to sabotage your relationships?

Sometimes these flaws and weaknesses have less to do with sin or irresponsibility in our lives than with our actual Personality. We all come with our own Personality, determined before birth within our individual genetic makeup, Marita writes. They are inborn Personality traitsthe way we are wired (). And each of our Personality types is prone to various strengths and weaknesses. (Note: If you havent yet picked up a copy of the Wired That Way Personality Profile and discovered your own unique Personality type, now would be a great time to do this.)

Look up Psalm 139. What does it say about the way God wired you?

Isnt it comforting to know that God didnt make us clones of one another? Although we do possess general similarities in our Personalities, He fashioned each one of us uniquely so that we might glorify Him and complement one another! In this study guide, we will take a deeper look at each of our Personalities in order to determine how we can develop healthier relationships with others. It is our hope that this guide will give you the tools you need to improve your relationships with others and solve any relational problems you may be experiencing with others.

Write out Philippians 2:4. What does this verse communicate about healthy relationships?

What key relationship(s) with others in your life could benefit from a better understanding of the way you (and they!) are wired?

Write out Romans 1:8, and then write down what you think this verse says about how God sees those of us who are in Christ (even with all of our quirks and shortcomings).

This, of course, is not an excuse for sin, but a reminder of Gods grace. He sees us as He sees Christ. Therefore, we do not need to feel condemned for the parts of our Personality that need work. God is in the business of refining (or sanctifying) us to make us more like Him. Only through communion with Him and His Word can we mature. Only in Him will we see the true redemption of our Personalities.

Celebrate Jesus sanctifying work in you by writing out the following verses:

John 17:17-19

1 Thessalonians 5:23

). This ought to be a refreshing thought to those who may have struggled all their lives to be neat and tidy, but whose Personality actually predisposes them toward being a bit cluttered and scatteredor who have felt inadequate for not being dynamic conversationalists or powerful leaders, not knowing that their prepackaged Personality determines much of who they are and how they behave.

Marita says the following about how organization does not come easy for her: As a Popular Sanguine, I am not really very organized, but as a business owner and a professional speaker, I have had to learn to get organized. So, yes, I am organized, but it is something I struggle with every day of my life.

When we understand our God-given personality types, we can better determine the changes we need to make to become the people that we want to be without beating ourselves up over who were not.

After reading the descriptions of each Personality given in , which one did you most identify with?

Did you have any a-ha moments when you read these descriptions, recognizing the people you live and work with? Using the space below, see if you can identify the Personality type of several of your close friends. (It might also be fun for you to have them take the Personality Profile with you as well!)

If you have taken the Personality Profile, what did it reveal to you about your dominant Personality type? Are you more of a Popular Sanguine, a Powerful Choleric, a Perfect Melancholy or a Peaceful Phlegmatic?

Keeping in mind the description of the Popular Sanguine as given in Wired That Way, lets review some of the key traits that might show up in someone with a dominant Popular Sanguine personality.

What are the key strengths and weaknesses of the Popular Sanguine?

What kind of people does the Popular Sanguine like to be around? Who dont they like (or feel liked by)?

What kind of leadership might you expect from a Popular Sanguine?

What might be an instant indicator that youve just met a Popular Sanguine?