G is for Golden Retriever

Strengths Strengths Pushed Out of Balance
Sensitive feelings Easily hurt
Loyal Missed opportunities
Calm, even-keel Lacking enthusiasm
Non-demanding, patient Push-over, taken advantage of
Peace maker, hates confrontation Misses honest intimacy
Enjoys routine, dislikes change Stays in rut, not spontaneous
Warm & relational Fewer deep friends
Accomodating Too indecisive
Sympathetic, good listener Holds on to other's hurt or pain

What does a balanced Golden Retriever look like? Since Golden Retrievers have an eagerness to please others, they have a hard time saying "No." Therefore, their greatest relational need is to set limits and boundaries essential for their own well-being. Further, Retrievers need to practice confronting others. Turn your ability to feel deeply about negative things into a positive step, one where you think and act decisively.

B is for Beaver

Strengths Strengths Pushed Out of Balance
Perfectionist Too controlling
Detailed, enjoys instructions Hard time finishing; slow
Accurate, precise Too critical and too strict
Consistent, predictable No spontaneity or variety; boring
Controlled, reserved, orderly Too serious and stuffy; rigid
Practical Not adventurous
Sensitive Stubborn
Conscientious Too inflexible
Analytical Loose overview
Discerning Too negative on new opportunity

What does a balanced Beaver look like? Since Beavers teen to be extreme in their thinking, it's important for them to realize that nothing is ever as bad as it seems or as good as it appears. Stop catastrophizing. Instead, be more relaxed and let some things remain unfinished or undone. Letting go of the need to have everything exactly right is important for a Beaver. They, too, can learn to turn negatives in their life into a positive, instead of magnifying a mess all out of proportion into something really bad.

We trust you'll share this inventory with your mate, friends and your kids. By understanding your personality bent and how your weaknesses are really your strengths pushed out of balance, then you will have fewer personality conflicts down the road.

This article was originally published on the Crosswalk Careers channel in January 2008.

© Copyright 2005 Smalley Relationship Center