*Image via travoliti.com
“Being Fearless isn’t being 100% unafraid, it’s being terrified but you jump anyway.” – Taylor Swift
Originally published in the 1950s, the Type A and Type B personality theory is a theory which describes two common, contrasting personality types —the high-strung Type A and the easy-going Type B—as patterns of behavior that could either raise or lower, respectively, one’s chances of developing coronary heart disease.
Go figure, I’m a Typical Type A personality. A poster child for the ENFJ, I even take it a step further. ENFJ, more so than most, have a tendency to be a catalyst of change in people. My dad is a successful Type B ENFJ who has completely shaped the type of business person I am, strive to be and know I can be. Let’s just chalk it up to me being the most confusing person on the planet. (See headline of this post – oxymoron much?)
Last year, I met probably the most impulsive, spontaneous, competitive person on the planet. Besides the competitive part, I’m definitely the exact opposite, even with sports teams. The only thing we agree on is what type of drink we prefer at happy hour. Since then, he’s challenged me to look past my comfort zone and think differently. To believe and to just go for it. To stop being so predictable. To laugh, even when you have a bad day. Those are the best type of people, and I know a lot of them. He’s the best and most intelligent person I know. That’s the definition of awesome.
I’ve found that being in public relations attracts a lot of Type A personalities because of how much we depend on planning, knowing what will happen and being prepared. Situation control is key and the uncanny knack to read people just works. Organization is what gets me through the day – three planners and my friends know to schedule things with me weeks in advance, or I’ll be busy.
Last year, I made the commitment to myself to travel more. I found that I was most happy when I packed up for a weekend, went to a random city and just explored and talked to people. No plans, just relaxation. Relaxing is also uncommon in my world – I’m always on the move. There are a select few in my life who can truly just make me laugh and let go of the control.
This years commitment is different – I’m going to start letting go even more. Continue being blunt and honest with people, but doing it for myself too. To not make plans and just ask people to see where it takes me. To just go and do because it feels right. My impulses for most of my life have been calculated. I’m ripping it off. It might not seem spontaneous to those who live it daily, but for me? It’s a huge step. Life is too short to question or say that you don’t have time for something – that its impracticial and that it doesn’t work in your life. If you want something or someone, go for it. I’m jumping off and believing that anything is possible and will work how its supposed to.
My first step was moving to a different state, 14 hours away from my family and 9 hours away from the people I love and the life I knew like the back of my hand. Head first.
Obstacles in life define you. Sometimes you have years, sometimes mere days. They hit hard, and they hit fast. All you can do is hope for the best. But, are you really going to wait?
Let’s jump.
