AS FRANK SINATRA SAYS...

Lois here: At ReachGlobal Crisis Response we value each individual knowing who they are and how they are gifted, believing that self-awareness is important to effectiveness.  One of our tests is called the DISC personality profile. It assesses your behavioral style and preferred environment. I took it back when we were first coming into the ministry.  When I got the results back I was horrified to see a bid "D" after my name. D as in Dominance! I did my best to keep that information hidden. It just sounded like something one wouldn't want to be. I wanted to be I (Influence) or S (Steadiness) or C (Conscientiousness). I barely even registered the latter 3. And there is Bud...Conscientious steadiness. It asked us to answer as we are in our workplace. Dang! That was supposed to be me! Oh, how I burned with envy. I read words like...domineering. I don't want to be domineeing. And people would say things like, "You D's are hard to take sometimes." Ouch.
     So, I figured that having been a teacher ruling in my classroom all my life had tainted how I answered the questions and who I really am. So I took it over, determined to have a different result.
     So I uploaded the test and started answering. The problem is that I am totally driven to do things right. So I honestly answered the questions. I hit the send button and it replied that my results were winging their way to my email. So, with eager anticipation, I hurried to gmail and opened the message. And there is was...I was more D than before. I wanted to cry. And then I realized that I am who God made me. Why do I want to be different from that? I should celebrate who I am. So for the first time I actually read the report in detail. It said that D's like to challenge the status quo and want to get things done. D's like challenges and getting things done. They like opportunities to challenge themselves and individual accomplishment. Seek new and innovative problem-solving methods. Well, gee, I could learn to live with that.
     You see I made the huge mistake of looking only at one word and applying in a negative context to the whole person. Wrong. Doing that I missed the good stuff. Soooo. I have decided to embrace my D. Temper the bad aspects and be aware of if it is coming out too strongly. Yeah. I can do this. So, like the words of Frank Sinatra...I gotta be me. Thank you God for investing in my so many rich characteristics that I can use to serve you. Frank would be proud.