"The better you know yourself, the better your relationship with the rest of the world." -Toni Collette
I started on the Happiness Project sometime in 2012. I loved Gretchen Rubin and her eternal burst of sunshine. I follow her blog once in a while at The Happiness Project for some snippets of inspiration especially on a downtrodden moment (or if I don't have anything to do).
Today, I stumbled upon this from her site and it was discussing how people would normally respond to expectations in relation to outer and inner perspective. This is from her website and I quote:
The Rubin Tendencies
The Rubin Tendencies is described as "how people tend to respond to expectations: outer expectations (a work deadline, a “request” from a sweetheart) and inner expectations (write a novel in your free time, keep a New Year’s resolution)".
Upholders respond readily to outer and inner expectations
Questioners question all expectations; they’ll meet an expectation if they think it makes sense (my husband is a Questioner)
Rebels resist all expectations, outer and inner alike
Obligers meet outer expectations, but struggle to meet expectations they impose on themselves (like my friend who said, “In high school, I never missed track practice, but I can’t go running on the weekends now”)
Me? Oh yeah, after checking out this video, I am definitely an OBLIGER. I respond to external expectations, I hate to disappoint other people, I don't like letting people down.
I need motivation which is not innate in me, it has to be demanded from me or should come from someone else.
A perfect example of confirming this tendency of mine is a recent talk with my obstetrician. I have been wanting to start on yoga, to gain weight, etcetera etcetera. I knew these things beforehand. I knew exactly what I need to do but I cannot just seem to start on it on my own. Now, hearing it form my OB the other day, I am more engaged on these action plans that I AM ACTUALLY doing something about it now. Crazy psyche, I am telling you!
So how is this related to my happy project? Why is this even important? I think knowing oneself is THE key to happiness. Since you would have an idea what your triggers or motivators are, you can craft your environment such as that it catalyzes you towards what you want to achieve or what can make you happy.
Interested to know your Rubin Tendency? C'mon and click here.
Happy introspection!
xx,
Corporate Junkie
