I've always been just a little intrigued by personality inventories like Myers Briggs and StrengthsFinder (and in fact I was a bit put out when the the newly revised zodiac changed my sign to Leo -- as if!).  And then I stumbled on Style Statement, "an invitation to make more powerful choices, to create your life with intention, to communicate who you are in all you do."  In other words, a label I could live with.

Style Statement is based on determining two words that describe who you are, your foundation and your creative edge.  Your foundation is 80%, the fundamental you.  Your creative edge is the other 20%, representing how you express who you are and "how you do what you do." 

I've been working through the book for over a year and a half now, setting it aside for months at a time, then picking it up to review my old answers and add new ones.  A few months ago I thought I'd settled on a statement, but the words didn't settle themselves in, the flow wasn't there.  For one thing, I resist my 80% word -- not because there's anything wrong with it, but because it is the one adjective that has been used to describe me my whole life.  What kind of discovery is that?  And I've always wanted to add, "but there's more!"  Even if we've never met in person, I'm guessing you know what that word is.

So on to my 20%, my creative edge.  My wings.  My direction.  If my first word was obvious, my second word had to encompass a lot -- history, meaning, function, simplicity, civility, contribution, structure, balance -- all those words that kept turning up in my answers over and over again. Words that at first glance are the opposite of my foundation word.

Sunday morning in bed, alone in the house, picked up my dog-eared Style Statement, wrote a few more notes, pulled out a thesaurus.  And there was my word.  The right fit.  Relief.  Freedom.  I even wrote it in the back of the book in pen:

 

Have you completed a Style Statement?  I'd love to hear what it is and what you're doing with it.

Comments

[Krista]

Gina--thank you for posting this. I have not heard about this, but am going to check in to it. At age 42 I finally know what I want to be when I grow up. I feel that this book will be a good assist. So, I'll get back to you--at some point.

I have a 12 yr daughter. We encourage our children to chase their dreams. We teach them that their "career" should be a "vocation" --That which they are a natural at, enjoy and called by God.

In an earlier post you wrote about Thinking Back and Thinking Ahead. It seems that as a child your "vocation" may have been "set." As an adult, your inner child crept out and emerged.

Question: Do you think this book is only for adults? Could it assist a young person (as young as 12). Not that we have to be tied to the outcome in which the exercise leads us. For even adults can change. You and I both did!

I appreciate your thoughts.