Article July 9, 2012 Issue

'Type A' or 'Type B'? Or neither?

Blythe Evans

Have you ever heard someone casually joke about being a “Type A” or “Type B” personality? Or maybe you’ve identified yourself with one of these categories.

One dictionary says, “ Type A” people have “a personality type characterized by ambition, high energy, and competitiveness, and thought to be susceptible to stress and heart disease.” Yikes! Those are mixed reviews. On the other hand, some research online indicates that people with “Type B” personalities are patient, relaxed, and easy-going. But they are also apathetic, have poor organizational skills, and sometimes lack a sense of urgency when it counts. Not any better!

When identifying who we are, what our strengths and talents are, we do well to identify ourselves with God, Soul. Man’s true identity is the reflection of Soul and includes only good, pure, strong character traits such as intelligence, kindness, harmony, balance, flexibility, grace, etc. We read in Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy, “The divine Mind is the Soul of man, and gives man dominion over all things” (p. 307).