The Art of Intimacy
A Newsletter for Searching Singles
September 2007

WELCOME

Happy fall everyone! I've always thought of summer as my favorite season. Those long days, warm nights and slower pace are always a welcome relief from the long, dark days of winter. That being said, there is just SOMETHING about fall. Those first cool, crisp mornings, or those nights I walk outside and smell the wood smoke rising from the homes around me. This is the digging in time of year when we put away the toys of summer and begin to prepare for the hectic season ahead. It is also a time of new beginnings (much like spring) with kids and young adults going off to school and many adults making that move and/or job change before the holiday season arrives.

For the past few weeks I have been cleaning out closets and other storage spaces, recycling and completing small home remodeling projects. It seems that every fall I am compelled to "put my house in order." Since this is true for so many of us, it may be useful to look (once again) at those goals and resolutions we came up with last January and take inventory of where we are and where we need to go. After all, we still have three months left- and much can be done in a quarter of a year.

Assuming that everyone reading this has at least one relationship goal, I thought it would be useful to send you an article I recently wrote for a magazine on personality typing- and its usefulness in helping to find our right type. Like all tools of this nature, it is not "the answer," just on good tool to help get the job done right. Whether you are presently looking for a relationship or wanting to enrich and improve the one you are in- you may find this article to be thought provoking and useful. You may end up with a number of questions when you are done reading it, but asking the right questions will give you half of the correct answer- for you. Read on for an overview of the personality types developed by Myers and Briggs, and my thoughts on how you can apply them to your present or future relationship.


If you need focused help with understanding and finding your right type, consider coaching. I offer assistance from one session up, depending upon your needs. I can help you identify what is most important for you in choosing your mate and look at past/present relationships in light of how well they meet your needs (present and future). You can view my services at: http://www.consum-mate.com/services.htm.
I also offer eclasses that provide tools for developing relationship readiness, more effective meeting and dating skills and productive and satisfying use of communication. These can be found on: http://www.consum-mate.com/eclasses.htm.
Want to jazz up your online profile, get feedback on what is working/not working in your approach, or have a new one written for you? Email Toni@consum-mate.com for details on how I can help.
If you are looking for articles that offer a lot of free dating help and advice, you can find these on: http://www.consum-mate.com/articles.htm. If you haven't clicked on our surveys, consider doing so. We are always looking for your input in order to provide what you need most. These can be found on:
http://www.consum-mate.com/survey.htm or http://www.consum-mate.com/site-survey.htm

Please consider taking the survey located just below. Thanks.

Whatever your relationship needs, we can help you to fulfill them at Consum-mate.

A big thanks to all of you for subscribing to this newsletter. Consider forwarding it to a single friend or loved one who may be in need of some relationship building advice.

QUICK SURVEY

For any new subscribers or anyone who hasn't done it yet, but would like to- I'd really appreciate if you could take a minute to do the following survey. The best way to send is to copy and paste just survey into an email form and then put "yes" or "no" after each one, followed by a number.

Thanks in advance for any feedback you offer.

1. Which of the following topics hold a real interest for you and would be something you would want to know more about? Please answer "yes" or "no."
Please rank in order from 1 through 11- 1 being the highest interest


Bad boys

Relationship chemistry

Nice guys

Understanding attraction

Groomzilla and the Myth Of Happily Ever After

Hooked On the Wrong Chemistry

Serial dating

Understanding and Overcoming negative Relationship Patterns

Dating myths, rituals and rules

Tired of Bad Boys/Girls? Change Your Attraction




2. What relationship issues (below) would you be interested in getting help with, or more good information on? Please answer yes or no and rank from 1 through 13, 1 being the one of greatest interest to you.

Negative relationship history

Attraction to wrong type

Love bad boys/girls

Commitment phobia

Not over a past relationship

Fear of settling

Problem meeting compatible people to date

Never meet people of real interest

Don't understand flirting/attraction

History of serial dating- "relationships" last 1-3 dates

Attract people you are not interested in and vice versa

Are shy- need help with conversation?

Would like to speak body language- know how to read other people

Need help with online dating- profiles, how to take relationship offline

Rush too fast into sex or hurry relationship

Don't know/aren't sure of what you are looking for?

Don't know what to say/do after first few dates

Roles/expectations for men and women in dating

Relationships go from hot to cold- and you are clueless

When/how to move a relationship towards commitment

3. How old are you?
4. What gender are you?

THANKS

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true."
— J. Robert Oppenheimer

FEATURED ARTICLE

Match or Mismatch: Couples Who Are Right/Wrong for Each Other

The sparks began flying the minute Sara and Josh met. Josh was taken with her looks and bubbly personality. Sara couldn't resist his smile, beautiful blue eyes and quiet, sensitive nature. Both were professionals who lived near one another and shared several interests. Both felt it must be kismet and the relationship quickly became exclusive as they decided to move in together after seven months and became engaged before their one year (together) anniversary. As they neared the wedding date, their relationship began to grow strained and distant. It seemed as though the limited time they spent together had become peppered with tension, long silences and avoidance of one another. How could two people who seemed so compatible be so wrong together?


Jim and Beth met at a summer group house at the shore, a few hours drive from where they both lived. They each traveled there for a long weekend- looking forward to a couple of days with a large group of other singles. Beth's first impression of him was mixed. He really wasn't her type physically and their first (brief) conversation was a bit strained. Jim thought she was nice looking but nothing special. He found himself checking out a number of women in the house. Each went off to different activities and came together later in the first day for dinner and a group night out at a local club. Jim noticed that Beth seemed uncomfortable and ready to go back to the beach house, and he wanted to leave as well. He suggested they go for a walk on the boardwalk instead. After a couple of hours of walking and talking, something began to click. Over the next couple of days, they went out to eat, spent time alone on the beach and began to develop feelings for one another. Beth gave him a ride back home at the end of the weekend and Jim called her the next night. They were living together eight months later and married within two years. They weren't the only ones who were surprised by the relationship. Beth was 6 years older and they came from different religious backgrounds. Yet, they fit very well together. What important traits or similarities did they share that made them a good match for a long term relationship?

The above scenarios are but two examples of individuals meeting, making a connection, and choosing to move towards commitment -based on their initial attraction and perception of compatibility/ rightness for each other. They illustrate that attraction is not always immediate and/or based solely on physical chemistry. They also show that even when two people feel an immediate and strong pull towards one another- their personalities may not be a good match for sustaining a long term, committed relationship. So, how do we know if that special someone is a good match for us? If we can't completely trust our own feelings and instincts, what else is there? Fortunately, we can also enter relationships making conscious choices based on variables that can be measured and quantified. While this might not seem to be a very romantic way to choose a partner, it does give us an edge against any negative programming, destructive attractions, or tendencies towards regretful impulsivity that we may have. Thoughtful choices are formed by exploring compatibility with our heads as well as our hearts.


A wonderful tool for helping us do this is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), developed by Katherine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers, using the earlier personality type work of Carl Jung. It helps us to better understand our own personality type, which determines how we take in information and then make decisions based on that information. Our dominant type or temperament is believed to influence our interests, govern our behavior and determine how comfortable or uncomfortable we are in our interactions with others. The MBTI, has a total of sixteen different types, they are:


1. Introverted Sensing with Thinking. ISTJ's are serious, quiet, need security. Dependable, responsible, hard working- and move steadily towards goals, finishing what they start.

2. Introverted Sensing with Feeling. ISFJ's are quiet, conscientious, and observant of those around them- often putting others' needs first. They value security, traditions and serving others.

3. Introverted Intuition with Feeling. INFJ's are forceful and independent yet sensitive, following through with tasks until they are completed. They are very intuitive, have strong beliefs and seek to do what is right in a situation.

4. Introverted Intuition with Thinking. INTJ's are known for taking action through competence and structure. They are long-range thinkers and make excellent leaders or followers- depending on the situation.

5. Introverted Thinking with Sensing. ISTP's are quiet and curious about how things work, often having excellent mechanical skills and an interest in and talent for sports. Known for their ability to find solutions to diffucult problems, bending rules when necessary.

6. Introverted Feeling with Sensing. ISFP's are serious and kind. They avoid conflict and have no interest in leading others. They love beauty, are open-minded and creative and are known for their loyalty.

7. Introverted Feeling with Intuition. INFP's are idealists who are interested in serving others. They have a strong value system, are loyal and laid-back in temperament. Often have a talent at writing.

8. Introverted Thinking with Intuition. INTP's are logical yet creative. Ideas excite them and challenge their thinking. They value competence and knowledge for its own sake and are independent in nature.

9. Extraverted Sensing with Thinking. ESTP's are sociable and action-oriented. They want results, not talk- and are willing to take risks. They are impatient with those who discuss, rather than get things done. High emotional intelligence makes them natural people pleasers.

10. Extraverted Sensing with Feeling. ESFP's are fun-loving people who create enjoyment for those around them. They love to try anything new and live in the here and now. They are likely to be the life of the party, yet have great common sense.

11. Extraverted Intuition with Feeling. ENFP's are idealistic and energetic. They are great at anything that interests them and love new ideas. They avoid getting mired in details and love the big picture. They are known for having many interests and great people skills.


12. Extraverted Intuition with Thinking. ENTP's are bright and resourceful. They have a broad range of competencies and can be competitive. They get excited over new ideas, but avoid mundane, necessary life tasks. They like stimulation and people who have something interesting to say. Their hallmark is logic.

13. Extraverted Thinking with Sensing. ESTJ's are organized, traditional and practical. They are hard working and exceptionally good at organizing and managing complex activities/events. They like being in charge and are often known as upstanding and well respected in their communities.


14. Extraverted Feeling with Sensing. ESFJ's are often popular and good hearted. They feel a responsibility to those around them and value service to others. They seek feedback and encouragement from others to feel good about themselves.


15. Extraverted Feeling with Intuition. ENFJ's are usually popular and great with people. Their energy is focused outward on others around them and they dislike being alone. They make excellent managers and enjoy serving others- even at their own expense.


16. Extraverted Thinking with Intuition. ENTJ's are outspoken and assertive with others. They are great at understanding how organizations function and have little tolerance of inefficiency or incompetence. They are often strong public speakers.

Using the MBTI, let's examine Josh and Sara's relationship, in light of their types. Sara is an ENFJ and Josh is an ISTJ. Sara was the outgoing one in their relationship. She disliked being alone, so she always wanted to fill her leisure time with activities she could share with others. She had difficulty understanding Josh's need for quiet, alone time and she became frustrated at what she saw as his anti-social attitude towards her friends and family. She often waited for him to get home, wanting to talk about her day or something happening with one of her friends. Josh was often quiet and somewhat unresponsive, which led Sara to believe that he was uninterested in her and did not care about her feelings.

Josh often felt overwhelmed by Sara's need for other people. He interpreted it as her avoidance of being alone with him. When she wanted to share events from her day or discuss a problem, Josh often found her getting frustrated by his quiet listening in which he struggled inwardly to identify solutions and the right words to offer his support. He often felt as though she were deliberately picking a fight with him when she would raise her voice and express anger over his lack of feedback. This caused him to withdraw from her as a way to keep the piece and reduce the stress between them. After a while, he felt as though he could do nothing right, and began to avoid Sara completely. Soon after, both of them decided to call off the wedding.

In contrast, Jim is an INFJ. He has a strong presence, yet has the ability to be sensitive, especially in his relationships. He has strong intuition, which helped him negotiate the challenges he and Beth experienced as their relationship developed. He is someone who always follows through on what he has committed to, and worked to do the right thing for Beth and the relationship when they met bumps in the road.

Beth's INTP provides a good fit, with just enough difference to help them compliment each other. Like Jim, she has an independent nature, and can follow or lead- depending upon the circumstance. She values competence and, together with Jim's follow through, they make a good team in handling day to day responsibilities and long term planning. Both are logical, yet Jim's ability to pay attention to detail compliments Beth's love of the big picture and focus on visioning, not implementing.

While the MBTI is only an assessment, not a hard and fast predictor of relationship success- it does show that certain "types" are naturally more compatible because they see and interact with the world in similar ways, taking in information and drawing conclusions based on their unique (personality based) view. If you are in a relationship and would like to better understand your partner's perspective and/or find ways to enhance your communication and understanding of each other- take the MBTI and see what insights it can offer. If you are single and in search of that right relationship, don't ask them their sign on that first meeting- ask them what their type is.

This article by Toni Coleman can be found in "Going Bonkers" Magazine in its most recent ( Fall 2007) edition. You can find it on the shelves of Borders, Books-a-Million and Hastings bookstores as well as many independent book stores and newsstands.

END NOTES

This month's article was written to help all of you who are in search of the right partner- one who shares (at least some) of your passions, knows what you are trying to say even when it is hard to articulate, laughs at the same (stupid?) jokes- and who "gets" you in a way that other people you have dated, did not.

It is only one of the useful relationship building tools out there- but it is a good one that can be utilized by everyone.

IN THIS ISSUE

1 WELCOME

2 Quick Survey

3 QUOTE OF THE MONTH

4 FEATURED ARTICLE: Match Or Mismatch: Couples Who Are Right/Wrong For Each Other

4 END NOTES