My Analytical Rant

The past few weeks I have been reading the book "Trading Places". I like reading marriage books & this was on the top seller list so I thought I would give it a try. Only to find out it is really a relationship book, not just a 'marriage' book. The point of the book: EMPATHY, how it can save & change relationships & how to master empathy. ...UGH!... was my 1st thought when I realized what it was about (& probably why it is taking me longer than it should to finish it). I am not a 'relationship' person. I love you friends out there but overall relationships are draining to me & take a lot out of me. I know it is weird, but I am that girl that really could move to the mountains alone & never be bothered by it. I love people & my family I just lack an emotional 'need' for them. I often hear preachers say, God designed us for relationships... I always think, God must have gotten a wire crossed with me cause I really don't have that need.

Empathy, probably one of my worse qualities (according to the book, also why relationships aren't my thing. LOL.)  I'm not the person who feels bad for the guy on the side of the road...  I say to myself "hey dude quit flipping a sign & go to Taco Bell & get a job!" I know I'm cold hearted! ;) This book has been a big slap in the face. Also reminding me that words are only 10% of any relationship, the other 90% is body language, facial expressions... Isn't that just great?! something else I suck at! I'm told often that I am hard to read, I am overall misunderstood.
Can you tell how much I am loving this book!? LOL.

So in the book there is a quiz/test to determine your Social Style:
Sympathizer- feels more than thinks
Personalizer- short on both feeling & thinking ( I think I know a lot of these people!. jk.
Empathizer-perfect balance of thinking & feeling
Analyzer- more thinking less feeling

Me? you guesses it. Analyzer & Personalizer
"...As they see it, the best way of avoiding pain is to guard their heart by keeping to themselves." Ouch. that hurt a little bit. But it is true. Ever heard the quote " it is better to have loved & lost then never have loved at all" I have always thought the person who wrote that was a total retard. Never made a lick of sense to me & my analytical mind.

Then, the book recommends having your spouse take the same test.
My spouse: Empathizer, of course!
(Gosh it makes me sick!) Yeah it's nice to know that I married near perfection but for real, do you have to score perfect on everything! (so annoying) ;)

Needless to say, I have a love/ hate relationship with this book. The mature side of me appreciates that it is challenging who I am & how I handle relationships. And the immature side of me is so aggravated that I want to burn it! It would be really easy to look at it & say 'this is who I am- like it or leave it" but I know that does not make me better of a person. So this is my rant. I have been told by people that "you look like you have it all together" this is just a little proof that I am FAR from all together.  I am being refined daily! Lord give me patience to finish this book! :)