“That each of them may eat and drink,
and find satisfaction in all their toil
—this is the gift of God.”
Ecclesiastes 3:13 NIV
Do you like taking personality assessments? I hesitate to let you know I do because a neuro-psychologist friend of mine, raised a brow when I told her! Maybe I’m crazy, but I find them fascinating. Perhaps it’s because taking a Birkman Method Personality Assessment in 2008 changed my life. At the time I took the test, I was a Director of Finance and Operations for a company I co-owned in the Automotive Industry. I dreaded work and felt drained most of the time. This girl had a fancy title, yet very little satisfaction for her toil!
MY BIRKMAN BREAKTHROUGH
When I got the results back from my Birkman Assessment the lights came on and I understood for the first time why I felt so dissatisfied. The first section of the test rated the ten areas of work activities or interests to see what brings you the most fulfillment in life. Any area scoring above 50 energizes your personality, while scores below 50 are draining.
My top three Areas of Interest were:
- Persuasion (Selling, Communicating) at 96
- Social Service (Helping Others) at 94
- Literary (Writing, Formal Persuasion) at 92.
Somehow Musical was next on my list at 75, which seems illogical given that I can’t hold a tune! (Wondering if I answered something wrong there???) Clerical was last on my list above 50.
The Birkman rep explained how anything above 90 was considered necessary activities, in order for you to feel fulfilled. They weren’t just things you liked to do, they’re things you needed to do!
My job at the time barely included any activities that were in my top three Areas of Interest. No wonder I felt frustrated! I could see how I enjoyed the Operations side of my role and not the Finance side since Numerical scored below 50 on my list. Sure, I can perform the role as a bookkeeper; I’ve done work like that since I was twelve, helping in my parent’s business. It was clearly a learned activity, not an innate ability.
Fast-forward four years from taking the Birkman and I published my first book, Water In The Desert, followed by Soul H2O…and hopefully many more books to come (Literary).
I now travel internationally and speak to women’s groups (Persuasion). This position allows me to help people I’ve never even met (Social Service). It’s so much beyond what I could’ve ever imagined for my life. Working as an author, speaker and blogger is my dream job. At this point, there is great satisfaction for my toil and I consider that an invaluable gift from God.
Does Work Bring You Satisfaction?
Jeremiah 29:11 tells how God’s plans for your life are good. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” When you’re fulfilling the activities God uniquely created you to do, you’ll feel satisfied. The more you spend time in relationship with God, the more your desires for the future will line up with God’s good plans for your life. It’ll become natural.
On this, day after Labor Day, take the time to ask yourself: Am I fulfilling Ephesians 2:10 through my paid job or volunteer activities? If not, it may be time you got crazy like me and completed one of those Personality Assessments!
Prayer
Father…I believe you’ve placed a divine destiny within me because, the Bible tells me so in Ephesians 2:10. Let the desires of my heart help me discern Your purposes for my life so I can experience Your gift of satisfaction. May I use my time and my abilities for Your Glory, and enjoy every minute of it! In Jesus Name…Amen
[tweetthis]Does Work Bring You Satisfaction?[/tweetthis]
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
- Ecclesiastes 3:13
- Jeremiah 29:11
- Psalm 37:4
- Ephesians 2:10
#Dare2Share
Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!
IF YOU LIKED THE REFRESHING IN THIS #SOULH2O DEVOTION, YOU’LL LOVE MY LATEST SOUL H2O DEVOTIONAL BOOK: 40 THIRST QUENCHING DEVOTIONS FOR WOMEN.
YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, #SoulSurvival – Donna Riedland
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community – Barbara Bradford Ottinger
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin
Hi Sherry! Here’s a hearty “me too!” for this post. I tried not to like personality assessments, but I’m intrigued by them too. Thanks for sharing your journey towards finding satisfaction in your work. The Ephesians 2:10 passage is wonderful encouragement for us all!
Joy,
I’ve found the Birkman to be the most insightful assessment. It’s great if you take them as a couple, a family, church or business. They give you reports on how each person needs to be heard and how they will listen to what you say. If they’re caring, it will let a team soar once they know what each other needs. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Sherry, I love personality tests. I have experienced seasons of intense job dissatisfaction, and I learned too late that they were ill-fit for my God-given personality. Now that I’m freelancing full-time, I’m more satisfied than I’ve ever been. I plan to encourage my children to take the tests when they are young adults so they can hopefully avoid some of the dissatisfaction I experienced.
Sarah,
I think we have a lot in common girl! My kids are older now (25 and 22) so they benefitted from taking the Birkman. It also helped us to learn how to better relate with each other. If you do the Birkman’s in a group they give you a report that tells you how each person needs you to speak to them, so they hear you and how they need to speak to you. It’s amazing!
Praying you have an amazing day!
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Hi Sherry,
I loved hearing about your personality test results, but I personally hate to take them! It seems as if my glaring faults are magnified but maybe I’m too hard on myself! 🙂 I just love how you transitioned out of a role you didn’t enjoy into what God was leading you toward — and you are a brilliant speaker and writer with such care and concern for others! Sending love to you! xoxo
Valerie,
You are SO encouraging! I can’t imagine there being too many faults. I love how the Birkman reports on your personality. There are no “faults”. It just explains how you are created to thrive. I’m done with existing or just surviving…I want to THRIVE!
Praying you have a weekend full of love my friend!
~Sherry
xoxo
I am so intrigued by personality assessments — right now I’m trying to understand the Enneagram a bit more. It’s fascinating that God made each of us so unique, but then built into us the ability to change and become our best self for His glory!
So glad to learn more of your story in this post!
Michele,
God did so uniquely craft each one of us. Praying you sense a new passion and direction as you seek to discern all the amazing talents he’s placed within you — and I can see a ton of them!!!! You won’t have to search too much cause they seem pretty on the surface to me 🙂
Praying you have a blessed weekend!
~Sherry
xoxo
I like these too! They can shed so much light on our situations that we would never have seen!
So true Sarah!
Have a blessed day!
~Sherry
xoxo
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that personality test, Sherry. I’ll have to look for it. I love that it changed your life. 🙂 I think personality tests are fun too. But, I never fit well into one neat little category. I always seem to be a big mix of a few things. I’ve been told that’s a good thing, and I suppose I can see the benefits, but it’s always frustrating to me because I want to know stuff about myself. haha. 🙂 What a gift that you were able to uncover your areas of strength and put them to Kingdom use. Love that testimony. 🙂 ((xoxo))
Brenda I can totally relate. I am a mix of the four main personality traits. I’m told it’s a good thing too 🙂 You really might like the Birkman. It’s been sooooo helpful for me.
~Sherry
xoxo
Sherry, I always love visiting your blog. You stand out to me as a woman who has compassion for others and who is strong in Christ.
I’d love to take that personality test too!
Valerie,
You just made my day! Your words have encouraged my heart in a HUGE way! I love visiting your blog too!
You’d love to take the Birkman test <3 If you're ever considering it I can hook you up with their rep who did my testing. He will connect you with the right person.
Praying you have a blessed day and sense the presence of God as you write.
~Sherry
xoxo