Sunday, September 27, 2009

Assignment #4: Discovering Your Personality and Your Touchstone

Exercise 1: What is my Touchstone?
Dream: To create a support foundation for the needy

Touchstone: love, completness, and equality

Role Model: Oprah Winfrey

Target: Have a worldwide support foundation



What I've gained from this process is that any goal is able to be reached. Although I am in school right now to get a degree, I also have other things in life that I would enjoy doing. I have realized that they are all reachable if I can just map out a way to achieve them.

This is one of my dreams since I was in high school. When I was in high school I always did a lot of volunteer work and it always made me feel better, like I was doing something good for a change. I would like to accomplish this goal one day along with one of my best firneds who also has this dream in mind. Helping other people has always been enjoyable to me. I guess that creating a foundation is only me wanting to give those who may be more less fortunate than others.

Exercise #2: What is My Personality Type?

Portrait of an INFJ - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging(Introverted Intuition with Extraverted Feeling)
The Protector
As an INFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in primarily via intuition. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit with your personal value system.
INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types.
INFJs place great importance on havings things orderly and systematic in their outer world. They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, INFJs put a tremendous amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions. This is something of a conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy desk.
INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at, and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.
But the INFJ is as genuinely warm as they are complex. INFJs hold a special place in the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special gifts and depth of caring. INFJs are concerned for people's feelings, and try to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone. They are very sensitive to conflict, and cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress.
Because the INFJ has such strong intuitive capabilities, they trust their own instincts above all else. This may result in an INFJ stubborness and tendency to ignore other people's opinions. They believe that they're right. On the other hand, INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential. INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves - there's always something else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them. They believe in constant growth, and don't often take time to revel in their accomplishments. They have strong value systems, and need to live their lives in accordance with what they feel is right. In deference to the Feeling aspect of their personalities, INFJs are in some ways gentle and easy going. Conversely, they have very high expectations of themselves, and frequently of their families. They don't believe in compromising their ideals.
INFJ is a natural nurturer; patient, devoted and protective. They make loving parents and usually have strong bonds with their offspring. They have high expectations of their children, and push them to be the best that they can be. This can sometimes manifest itself in the INFJ being hard-nosed and stubborn. But generally, children of an INFJ get devoted and sincere parental guidance, combined with deep caring.
In the workplace, the INFJ usually shows up in areas where they can be creative and somewhat independent. They have a natural affinity for art, and many excel in the sciences, where they make use of their intuition. INFJs can also be found in service-oriented professions. They are not good at dealing with minutia or very detailed tasks. The INFJ will either avoid such things, or else go to the other extreme and become enveloped in the details to the extent that they can no longer see the big picture. An INFJ who has gone the route of becoming meticulous about details may be highly critical of other individuals who are not.
The INFJ individual is gifted in ways that other types are not. Life is not necessarily easy for the INFJ, but they are capable of great depth of feeling and personal achievement.
Jungian functional preference ordering:
Dominant: Introverted IntuitionAuxilliary: Extraverted FeelingTertiary: Introverted ThinkingInferior: Extraverted Sensing
REFLECTION
After reading this, I have come to a realiztion that this fits me in a lot of ways. I also realized that my name that my parents chose for me fits me as well because the meaning of my name stands for protector of mankind. I learned that my name and personality goes hand in hand and hand and I like it! A lot of what I read is very true about me. I am a very emotional person and I do hold a special place in my heart for a lot of people that I am close with. I am also now realizing that I can be stubborn at times when I want to as well which I think I would like to change that.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Assignment 3

Exercise 4: Pick a Color.



I am gold. I am rich and full of majesty. I'm rich in elegance and in class. I am strong at times and I can be weak at times because I can be melted and I can be a solid. I shine bright to others to try to bring them joy when I can.



Exercise 5: The Private-Eye Game



Walking through this person room, I would say that they are unorganized but is always busy. It seems like they are rarely at home home because of the many clothes that lay around the room and all of the books and work that lay around the room. What I noticed though is that it seems like when they are in their room they are comfortable in their surrounding. It seems like they are a cozy person because all of the pillows in the room. The clothes and shoes in the closet shows that the person doesn't like to be seen much because of all the dark color clothes. The majority of the colors in the closet are brown and gray and black. There are only a few bright colored clothes. I also noticed that this person pays a lot of attention to small details. Even though the clothes in the closet may seem bland and dead, there is a gold jewlry box that contains a lot of jewlry in it. That tells me that the person knows how to use what they have to spark something up that may be dead. It also seems as if this person cherishes loved ones because of the pictures in the room. I also noticed that this person like to carry big purses which may mean that they like to carry their whole life with them.

Exercise 6: Seeing Yourself as Others See You (Version 2: Creating Your Cheering Section)

Joel Olsteen (uncle)

"I can see that Alexandria tries to be all that she can be. She tries her best to maintain a positive attitude and likes to see nothing more but other people being happy. She is warm and charming and when it comes to meeting new people, she is always open for gain new friends. She is loving and caring even when people have done some wrong in her life. She is very much forgiving."

Maya Angelou (grandmother)

"Alexandria is a person that can be very creative and expressive. She may not show it through words so often, but her actions speak loud enough. In the way she shows love to others is amazing. When encountering with other people she always puts on a beautiful smile. She carries herself well and is very charismatic. A lot of the younger ones in the family look up to her. "

Alicia Keys (sister)

"Alexandria is a strong person who really understands a lot that goes on around her. She is a person that is very goal oriented and if she could change the world she world do so in a heartbeat. She is a woman of good standing and cares a lot for everyone. She is smart, outgoing, and very fun to be around. "

Coretta Scott King (mother)

"Alexandria is a darling. She is spontaneous and is very intelligent. Alexandria is her own person and that is what makes her so very unique. She grows as a person everyday and tries her best to do what is right. Her beautiful spirit that glows on the inside ends up showing up on the outside and that is why she is such a beautiful person."

Exercise 7: Twenty Things You Like to Do

1.talking on the phone/20 min ago, no, w/someone, spontaneous

2.writing/yesterday, no, alone, planned, school and non-school related, mind body and spiritual

3. eating/ yesterday, yes cost money, w/someone, planned

4.watching movies/yesterday, no always, w/ someone, spontaneous, mind body and spiritual

5.going to the show/a month ago, yes cost money, w/ someone, planned, mind body spiritual

6.laughing/today, free, w/ someone, spontaneous, mind body and spiritual

7. going shopping/ last week, not free, planned, w/someone

8. driving/ last week, yes (gas), planned, alone, fast, mind body and spirit

9.walking along the lakefront/ in July, w/someone, free, planned, slow, mind body and spirit

10.traveling/ today, w/someone, not free, mind body and spirit

11.trying new food/ yesterday, sometimes free, w/someone, spontaneous, mind body and spirit.

12.taking pictures/yesterday, w/someone, spontaneous, free

13.going to church /last sunday, w/someone, planned, free, mind soul and spirit

14.track and field/ last thursday, free, planned, w/someone, mind body and spirit

15.sharing time with loved ones / today, free, spontaneous, mind bosy and spirit

16.coloring/ last week, free, spontaneous, mind bosy and spirit, alone

17.helping others/ last sunday, planned, w/someone, free, mind body and spirit

18.party/ two fridays ago, not free, planned, w/someone

19.singing/ today, mind body and spirit, free, alone

20.listen to music/ today, free, spontaneous, mind body and spirit, alone

Exercise 8: Your Ideal Environment

My ideal envrionment would be a place where everyone was happy with laughter and never complained. I would want a place where there wasn't anyone complaining because then there would be less arguments and less problems in the world. It seems to me that if everyone was to work together for the good of others then there really wouldn't be any problems in the world and then everyone would just be grateful for what they have and look at it as a blessing. I would like to live an in environment that was full of laughter because for me laughghter seems to bring my heart joy. That would be a wonderful place to live in because then everyone would have a smile on their face! If I was able to realy live this environment then I would probably spend all day watching funny moves with my family and friends.

Exercise 9: Your Ideal Day

I am awake at 10:45 in the morning and I am making breakfast. I am eating grits, eggs, and sausage. I call my mother and my grandmother to see how they are doing. I text my boyfriend to see how he is doing and to see if our date is still on for the night. I am taking a long hot shower with my favorite shower gel. I am putting on my favorite outfit and perfume. I am driving to class in my mercedes to futher my education and I have a clear understanding of everything. After classes I am going to meet up with my girlfriends so that we can go downtown and have lunch. It is a sunny day outside so me and my friends are going to go to the lakefront and then probably go for a swim. I am tired now and I am going home to go and take a shower so that when my boyfriend calls, I will be ready to go out to dinner. We are going to Shaws downtown for a nice dinner. He lets me order anything I want on the menu! He takes me back home where we go in and finish the night off with listening to old school music and laughing the night away.

Fantasy Analysis:Getting Down to the Basics

Q 1: A house, friends, mom and grandmother.

Q 2: A companion, and my mercedes

Q 3: Waking up as late as I do in the morning, having all the money I wanted to do everything

Q 4: I think that my life would be pretty much still joyful if I just had my house/condo and was able to hear from my mom and grandmother everyday.

Q 5: My friends and family is about the only things that I have of the elements that I listed. I have a place to live but it is on campus though.

Q 6: My condo is what is missing from my life, my mercedes, and my boyfriend. I am also missing money that I would use to do all of the fun things that I want to do in life.

Q 7: The obstacles that may be stopping me from having my ideal day tomorrow would probably be the economy as well as being in school. I don't have money, I am going to have to owe money when I am finished with school, an I would also have to find a job which would also be hard. In order for me to gain this ideal day I have to finish out this stage of my life right now and that is focusing on what it is that is going to give me everything that I am hoping for.


Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Assignment #2 What Do You Love?

Part 1
I interviewed my father to ask him what I was like and what I loved in my primary years of life. My father told me that the first 5 years of my life I was very smart. He said that I would learn thing easily and use to try to analyze things. An example he gave was when I was 2 years old, I would love to pick up the phone and dial numbers to act like I was calling people. He said that he purposely unplugged the cord and left the room and when I wanted to use the phone and discovered that there was no dial tone, I traced the cord so that I could plug it back in. My father also said that during the first five years of my life I was mannerable and well-behaved.
My father told me that when I was little I use to love to stay up late with him and watch movies. I found that funny because I still do the same thing today. He also remember me loving to jump rope outside. What my father thought was unique about me was that I was outgoing and I was just about a friend to everyone I came in contact with.
When I asked my father what he thought I woould grow up to be when I was little, he told me that he thought that I was going to be a lawyer. I found that shocking because I grew older him and my mother was always pushing for me to be a doctor. He said that he thought that only becuase I use to talk a lot when I was little. He said that when we use to go on road trips I was always the one who stayed up late with him and kept him talking while everyone else slept the whole way.

Part 2
When I asked my friends if they could list for me my strengths and weaknesses, it seemed like most of their reponses were similar which made me think a lot. I realized that may I should change some of my ways in order to work on my weaknesses. Some of the feedback that I got back for my weaknesses was that I let people walk over me sometimes, I can be naive sometimes, I don't say what I truly want to say sometimes, I have low self-confidence when I am struggling through life sometimes, and that I let my past hurts and pain interfere with my present sometime. To me all of these go hand in hand and I believe that I should work on these downfalls.
When I asked my friends if they list for me my strengths, they told me that I was strong-minded, kind, dedicated, compassionate, that I have a high tolerance for hardships and pain. I can understand where all of them are coming from, but it also makes me think sometimes if I am too nice since my strengths seems like they somewhat connect to my weaknesses.

Part 3
One activity that I listed during our class activity was about jump roping. I use to enjoy doing that as a little girl in elementary school. The last time I jumped rope was for the first time in a long time sice grade school was my junior year in high school. I almost forgot about the assignment that we were suppose to do something that we haven't done from when we younger this week, and I actually ended up jumping rope with some little kids and my friend Kristen this weekend at a barbeque. I found it funny because I looked like a big kid jumping rope, but I still enjoyed myself all in the same.