The Melancholy:

Hippocrates, an early Greek historian, who lived from 460 - 370 BC considered the Melancholy as the “black temperament”. No other color best describes this temperament more accurately, for the Melancholy is constantly tormented by dark or “black moods”. Of all the other temperaments the Melancholy in Inclusion surpasses the other temperaments in this area.

The pure Melancholy for example is an introvert and a loner. God does not make any mistakes when He makes us, and it is ok to be a Melancholy when you are living out of your strengths and not the weaknesses.

Melancholies are very family oriented individuals, and are closely bonded to those within the family unit. Even though they can be very exclusive and quiet with people in their families; the family relationship is of major importance with them. Melancholies need to learn to communicate their feelings; emotionally they are very protective and guarded. The way that a Melancholy demonstrates or says that they love someone is by being dependable and responsible not in physical terms such as hugging, touching and holding.

Melancholies are more task oriented as opposed to relationship-oriented. They simply relate better to jobs than to people. Because of their intellectual and analytical energies they can see the end results of a project before moving forward. Melancholies make good supervisors, as long as they are comfortable in those known areas of management. Melancholies are very creative people, but are prone to deep depression.

Melancholies tend to be perfectionists and set unreasonable standards and goals for themselves and the people around them. They are very private people, as well as very serious. They are self-motivated, and do not respond to the promise of reward nor the threat of punishment.

Melancholies are very loyal people: to their family and friends. If they make a promise the Melancholy will keep it. Melancholies have a tendency to be self-sacrificing to those close to them and mankind in general.

Inclusion Strengths In The Melancholy: Introvert, loner, great thinker, genius-prone, very artistic and creative, often found alone in thought, perfectionistic, slow-paced, great understanding of tasks and systems, a critical and challenging mind, and seeing both the pitfalls and the end results of a project undertaken.

Inclusion Weaknesses In The Melancholy: Extremely moody, suffer from “black” depressions, reject people, set standards neither they nor anyone else can meet, develop habits that are very hard to break, have suicidal tendencies, low self-esteem and are pessimistic.

Control Strengths In The Melancholy: Good at decisions and responsibilities in known areas, very good leadership abilities. They adhere to the rules and they need very little control over the lives and behavior of others.

Control Weaknesses In The Melancholy: Rigid, inflexible, sensitive to failure, fear of the unknown, fear of failure, apt to be a rebel and procrastinate.

Affection Strengths In The Melancholy: Very faithful, loyal friends and self-sacrificing. Their feelings run deep and tender (even though they lack the ability to express these feelings). They easily empathize with others and have the ability to make very deep commitments.

Affection Weaknesses In The Melancholy: They dissect the past with theoretical “what ifs,” i.e., “what if” he had given me flowers, I would feel loved; “what if” I were prettier, they would love me more. Also, they are critical of others, angry, cruel, vengeful, emotional, rarely tell people how they feel, have a low self-image and are sensitive to rejection from deep relationships. The loss of a deep relationship (even by death) is devastating to them. Melancholies “have sex” with their spouse; they do not “make love” to them. This causes marital problems.

Melancholies when rising to their strengths, and once these strengths are brought under God, the Melancholy is capable of great and wonderful things. When Melancholies sink to their weaknesses they become destructive to themselves and those close to them.

There is great comfort and reward when we submit ourselves to God (regardless of what temperament we possess) and learn to live out our strengths in temperament that He has given us. The Melancholy is very valuable in the body of Christ under His control. Read through the Melancholy’s strengths and carefully consider if the Melancholy would not be a blessing and asset to their family, to the Kingdom of God, the Church, and the community where they live. God help each of us to live in the strengths of our temperament, our in-born “nature”, God has given us.