Friendly, Talkative Sanguine

Sanguine!!!

The Sanguines burst upon the scene like fireworks: vivacious, colourful, loud, and all eyes on them!
Sanguines would prefer to either be first, or, as in this case, make a grand entrance at the end of the show. Hurrah!!

Everybody loves a Sanguine. And a Sanguine loves everybody! Being with people, talking, laughing it up, telling ridiculous stories...this is Life At It's Best for this personality type. Unlike the introverted Phlegmatic and Melancholy, Sanguine is out there. Extroverted and the life of the party. Who is standing on the table? Who is telling a loud story (embellished richly with details that may or may not be exactly truthful but are certainly hilarious), attracting a growing audience? The dancing girl in my last post with the huge piece of cake, going from guest to guest, is a Sanguine. She's having fun and wants everyone to have fun, too.

If you've watched Parks and Rec (TV show), Tom Haverford is a Sanguine. Yep.  You get it.
(If you haven't watched P and R, what have you been doing with your life!? That show is a riot. In a can. With sprinkles.)

"Everywhere I go, I'm walking on red carpet." -Tom Haverford

"The only good font is the Soprano's one where the R is a pistol." - also Tom Haverford

Tom has the classic Sanguine conundrum; he wants to be amazing, successful, popular, and talented....but he also wants to do whatever he wants, and that part usually wins. He wants to have money, but he wants to spend money more. He wants to have good relationships with people, but he doesn't want to give more of himself than he has to. He wants his cake....and he can't believe he just ate it, the entire thing, by himself.

Signs and Wonders

You can tell a Sanguine pretty much by the way they dress. (But not always.) Where a Melancholy will be carefully matched, often in pastels or softer colours, a Sanguine will be wearing Skittle clothes. Ok maybe not exactly Skittles, per se. You will notice them, though.

 The coach with the plaid shirt, dark purple pants, red tie flung over his shoulder. The woman who comes to the party late, laughing, dressed in yellow, orange and peacock blue, and some kind of 'bling' flashing. The kid who can't wait to dye his hair orange and picks the most amazing looking running shoes at Sport Chek...you know the ones.

The color red is a popular choice of the true Sanguine. Rock stars often wear red, when they aren't wearing black...Jim Morrison, Steven Tyler, Taylor Swift,  Axl Rose, Sting, Demi Lovato, Gwen Stefani, Brandon Flowers...etcetera. All front, center, and sporting a red something; bandanna, stilettos, Napoleon jacket, lipstick vest. Being a rock star and being Sanguine kinda go hand in hand.
 
Someone like Kurt Cobain though? A front man who was not a Sanguine, he couldn't stand the attention and lack of privacy. It probably drained him utterly being in front of people all the time. Naturally introverted, he wanted people to "get" his music, but it drove him crazy watching them all sing along. "With the lights out/it's less dangerous/here we are now entertain us/I feel stupid and contagious/here we are now, entertain us" go the lyrics to the grunge song that blew up the charts, toppling glam rock and pop like a statue of Stalin. He was a Melancholy/Phlegmatic in a Sanguine/Choleric world; a creative person in a performer's role.
I'd love to dedicate a whole blog post to Kurt and grunge and personality....maybe some day.
Oh well, whatever, nevermind.

The Good, Bad, and Ugly in Sanguine Town

The great thing about Sanguine people is they are so optimistic and fun-loving. They know how to motivate and inspire, and can quickly spread enthusiasm for a project. Their curiosity and high-energy bravado make them excellent idea people, good at selling and getting things "off the ground." They have very expressive faces, and often talk with their hands. A Sanguine is likely to view giving a speech as a great opportunity, and will approach it with confidence and excitement. They will be so funny and interesting that no one will notice they only followed their notes for about two minutes.

 If you need someone to introduce you to people, the Sanguine will be the perfect contact. They have so many friends it's not even fair. If you are feeling down, the Sanguine will take you on a shopping spree or an impulsive trip, saying, "Come on! It will be so fun, you'll love it!" Sanguines live in the moment, and forget about the past easily. They will forgive and forget. When the Sanguine finally arrives (because he completely lost track of the time), every head turns and everybody smiles, genuinely happy the Sanguine is here to start the party.

Tigger is Sanguine

The Bad 

On the downside, Sanguines can be attention hogs, and may barge into conversations simply because they feel left out. Generally disorganized and lackadaisical about boring things like time and schedules, the Sanguine may have a messy desk and constantly be late for meetings and appointments. The maddening thing is though they will apologize profusely, you know they will do it again tomorrow. They truly cared, deeply, for about thirty seconds, and then it faded into the past. 

The Sanguine will have a great idea, but won't be able to see it through. They need someone to do the legwork, to keep them on track, or they will litter the landscape with abandoned projects. "Well it seemed great at the time, but it's totally not fun anymore."

Sanguines are expressive talkers. They might knock a vase off your table with their flailing arms. They love to talk, and may not have the patience to listen. If you try telling them your problem, they will most likely launch into a story to illustrate how they feel exactly the same way, and before you even finish your sentence they will have it all figured out. Sanguines must learn to Shut. Up.

Speaking of stories, they love telling them, often embellishing details and adding little things here and there to make it more interesting. Not lying really...not meaning to lie.... but yeah it's actually lying if you think about it. And if you tell a Sanguine something in confidence, well, don't say I didn't warn you. They seem to have an uncontrollable need to spill, whether it's their guts or someone else's.
(Ok that wasn't a great sentence from a visual perspective...haha. Idioms taken up a notch don't always read well!)

Being with an impulsive Sanguine can be AWESOME - and it can also be hell. "What!? You booked us tickets for where?? WHEN???!"  
"Excuse me? You are getting married...TOMORROW??" 
"Well we were thinking of tonight, but thought it might be too soon." Sometimes the best advice a Sanguine can hear is 'Think Before Acting or Speaking'.
Ahhh, yes. That.

Sanguines are often over-sharers. Every thought they want someone to hear or identify with gets posted on Facebook or Instagram immediately. It's a great time, but really...people may have other things to do than read your post, oh Sanguine. And if they don't "like" it immediately, it doesn't mean everyone hates you and you're a loser. Just post about half the things you want to, and the world will still go on.

The Ugly

There's nothing ugly. That was just to finish the phrase. If there is anything ugly, the Sanguine will pretty it up and sell it for 10 times its worth. 

 

The Wrap-up

The fun-loving, sunny Sanguine can be great to have around, but too much exposure can make you feel a bit sun-burned. You may need to seek shelter, especially if you are on the introverted end of the spectrum. Sanguines need to learn that life goes on when they aren't the center of attention. Also, they like to hug everyone they meet, or drape themselves on people to show affection, but a little shoulder squeeze here and there will do it. 

  If the Sanguine works with their strengths and considers how to tone down their weaknesses, he or she can become fairly balanced. If they get out of control, well, that tends towards narcissism. The ME Monster....and nobody likes those.
Admittedly, the above portrayal has been something of a caricature. No Sanguine is totally as I've described, because there are bits of the other personalities sprinkled in that change the flavor of  individual temperaments.
If You are Sanguine, don't hide your personality and think that you are "too much" for everyone.  Enjoy your flair and zest.  When you feel anxious and burnt out, try and relax; take a seat, lean in and listen to someone else.
If you are close to a Sanguine, take a deep breath and dive in. They will help you get the most out of life. If you feel overwhelmed, let them know gently. The Sanguine's feelings may seem hard and brittle like candy, but they are pretty sensitive, more like fudge.

I hope this post opens a window on understanding the personality that loves life, loves people, and just wants the whole world to love them back.

Phlegmatic: Nothing to Do With Phlegm Whatsoever.

....Hi? She asked nervously, aware that she hadn't cracked the door on Blogger in weeks.
Oh hi, come on in.
You're not mad?
No, I have no feelings on the matter at all. Now, pull up a chair and get writing.
She smiled, and sat down.
....actually, scratch that...go brush your hair or put a hat on and get some coffee. Then you can start writing.
Haha. Nice to see you again, Blogger. So glad you haven't changed.

                            *        *        *

GUESS WHAT!! I learned this morning when I should have been sleeping in but was freezing and too cold to get up and shut the window....
that James Franco has a published book OF POETRY!!!! I KNOW!!!! AND he has his Masters Degree in poetry! I got to get my hands on that book! My grammar is so bad today!!!

Alright. Out of system. System pauses, gears turn.

The Phlegmatic

Have you ever met someone who simply didn't seem to care all that much? Now, if you are a "carer" (rather passionate and verbal about things), this not seeming to care will drive you slightly mad. Notice the word seems. 

"Seems," madam? Nay, it is; I know not "seems." (Hamlet)

Hamlet, I dare say, was not phlegmatic. Though he could have been, a touch, along with strong Melancholy, which would explain his tortured mind and difficulty making decisions. Better leave Hamlet for now. Especially since he is dead, and also a fictional character. Lol.
...

The Phlegmatic leans against the door, smiling a little, watching. Not saying anything, and appearing not to watch, he takes in the group. He is evaluating, pondering, discarding this and holding on to that. He is bemused by the laughing, flamboyant creature dancing from guest to guest, shrieking and spilling things, and allows himself a subtle eye roll as she pirouettes nearby, holding an enormous piece of chocolate cake that looks destined for glory or the floor. Someone stops to talk, and he forgets her, enjoying listening to the rapid banter, injecting a word, or even an explanation, and a dose of his dry humor here and there. He longs to sit down, but every comfortable seat is taken.

Portrait of the Phlegmatic

This personality type loves peace. Peace, at all cost. The are good mediators, but sometimes get stuck in family situations, trying to keep the peace, and losing a bit of themselves in the process. They can be taken advantage of because they won't often speak up. Others get more attention because they holler louder. "The squeaky wheel gets the grease...? well, fine, grease it. I will be in my room."

Phlegmatics, if you haven't guessed, are introverted. They crave peace and time alone. Being with people is ok, but it exhausts them. If you walk into an unknown house and have 5 minutes to guess personalities, the Phlegmatic is in a quiet corner with a book, or just staring out the window contemplating the complexities of life.

Phlegmatic types can be hard to reach. And tough to read, as they are not big sharers.  But don't be offended. They just honestly aren't thinking about calling or texting or reaching out to you. Go ahead and call them, they will be happy, but don't expect a call back next week, and don't waste time and energy being upset about it. Not that they don't care; rather, they are truly empathetic and want to be sensitive to the feelings of others.

Phlegmatics are often labeled "Lazy". Now, this is a bit harsh. There's a grain of truth though, as they will definitely do only what is necessary to get the job done. The path of least resistance.  One of the most profound statements I have heard from a Phlegmatic is this: Nothing is ever pressing. There is nothing that needs to get done Right Now.  For this reason Phlegmatics can thrive under pressure, because they need to be pushed, need a reason to get going. They can be extremely hard workers, if working on a task that makes sense to them.

Most Phlegmatics are slow burners in the temper category. They may lose their cool very slowly, but when they do... Duck!! A ten mile fuse, but a huge pile of dynamite. You may have fun pushing their buttons, but be prepared for the hammer to come down. 99% of the time, though, Phlegmatics are stable and calm.

Phlegmatics can have a good time no matter what is going on. They don't have to be busy, don't need wild entertainment, and they are competitive only when they chose to be. They are content! Imagine that.
(No, I can't really imagine it. But I do try....)

Final Thoughts

The Phlegmatic personality is the most fascinating, in my opinion. Probably the hardest for me to understand. Some of my very favorite people in the world lean toward the Phlegmatic. One day, when I grow up, and am a complete and whole person, I will be a Phlegmatic too.