To Mask and Unmask

Have you ever wondered why?
- You and your best friend get along so well?
- You and your sister, though being born into the same family, are so different?
- You hate your boss or don’t quite get along with certain colleagues?
- You either absolutely love your job or feel that the work & job is just not meant for you for reasons you can’t explain?

While it might seem too simplistic for some, perhaps the answer somewhere lies in your “personality”. In the fast paced lives that we live, I often wonder if we are even aware about this personality of ours. How easily, clearly and with surety can we rattle off a few of our dominant characteristics, or weaknesses, or greatest fears? It may seem rather simple, but if you sit down to honestly answer any of these, you’ll witness the complexity and contradictions for yourself. Its true that for all of us the “I” in the ‘individual’ comprises of one that 'actually is' and the other that 'we want people to see'. And perhaps many of us may not have ever really given thought to the “I” in the ‘individual’ that really is.

Its amazing that in the company of close friends and confidants I have time and again had the opportunity to discuss what “I think” and “I feel” a process which somehow has successfully lead to some sought of awareness about “the self”. Further it's been a rather secure space in which I have been able to adorn the mask of the person I am and not just the one I may otherwise want to project or want others to see. Further given my profession as a development professional, working with different cases and communities, I’ve witnessed the impact of nature and nurture (or the absence of it) on individuals and communities, almost forcing me to draw parallels to my own self, discover, question and attempt to clear contradictions.

I seem to be completely rambling here, but to put things into perspective, this post essentially comes post 2 weeks of courses in organizational behavior and exercises to look “within” and a few personal experiences which have left me with more questions than answers, knowing fully well that there could be no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.

I have always been fascinated by theories and perspectives to human growth and behavior, the study of the human mind, the observation and understanding of human emotions, behaviors and personalities in a socio economic context. So undoubtedly the over two hour OB lecture keeps me completely enthralled without the caffeine push :)

To conclude – As cliched as it may sound, I feel that at one level the sheer heterogeneity of the human species making each individual a distinctly unique entity is quite astounding. At another level I am convinced that the ability to understand your ‘self’ combined with the ability to acknowledge and deal with the earlier stated fact, often makes you communicate and interact with people and deal with situations more effectively.

For those of you who may be interested in a 'peak within' can take a look at some online resources that we were given as references.

1) Click here to find out if you are a Type A or Type B personality ?

2) Click here to Take the Human Typology test

PS: I am no certified psychologist to prescribe these tests, but from personal experience feel that they could serve as an excellent tool to get to know yourself. I took both and this is what the results looked like :)

1) Results of Gauri's Type A Personality Test

Your score = 41

What does the score mean?
You seem to be in the middle between the Type A and Type B personality. In this case, the middle ground is good. Your attitude to life is more of the "smell the roses" kind and you know how and when to relax. Nonetheless, you realize that picking up a challenge and competing a little bit for your place in the sun can add some spice to your life. The equilibrium is important, so don't let your hostile, aggressive, and competitive alter ego take over too often. Generally, you are easy to be around, and people tend to feel relaxed and comfortable in your presence. Yours is a very healthy attitude towards life.

2) Your Type is ISFJ
Introverted - Sensing - Feeling - Judging

33 - 25 - 88 - 39 (Strength of the preferences %)

Guardian™ Portrait of the Protector (ISFJ)
We are lucky that Protectors make up as much as ten percent the population, because their primary interest is in the safety and security of those they care about - their family, their circle of friends, their students, their patients, their boss, their fellow-workers, or their employees. Protectors have an extraordinary sense of loyalty and responsibility in their makeup, and seem fulfilled in the degree they can shield others from the dirt and dangers of the world. Speculating and experimenting do not intrigue Protectors, who prefer to make do with time-honored and time-tested products and procedures rather than change to new. At work Protectors are seldom happy in situations where the rules are constantly changing, or where long-established ways of doing things are not respected. For their part, Protectors value tradition, both in the culture and in their family. Wanting to be of service to others, Protectors find great satisfaction in assisting the downtrodden, and can deal with disability and neediness in others better than any other type. They are not as outgoing and talkative as the Provider Guardians [ESFJs], and their shyness is often misjudged as stiffness, even coldness, when in truth Protectors are warm-hearted and sympathetic, giving happily of themselves to those in need.

Their reserve ought really to be seen as an expression of their sincerity and seriousness of purpose. The most diligent of all the types, Protectors are willing to work long, hard hours quietly doing all the thankless jobs that others manage to avoid. Protectors are quite happy working alone; in fact, in positions of authority they may try to do everything themselves rather than direct others to get the job done. Thoroughness and frugality are also virtues for them. When Protectors undertake a task, they will complete it if humanly possible. They also know better than any other type the value of a dollar, and they abhor the squandering or misuse of money. To save, to put something aside against an unpredictable future, to prepare for emergencies-these are actions near and dear to the Protector's heart.