Out-of-the-box thinking: for Hetty's husband, it's the most natural thing in the world. In this blog post, she explains how people with a lot of Dreamer energy, like her husband, think and how they remain vital and resilient, both at home and at work.
Humans as barcodes
Last Saturday morning, around 8:00 AM, we were at the kitchen table reading the weekend newspaper. My husband was on his iPad, and I had the paper version. Toasted bread, a jar of blueberry jam, and a teapot of green tea were on the table. As always, we sat diagonally across from each other so I could easily unfold the newspaper. For years, this has been our favorite way to start the weekend.
And as often happens, the same articles catch our eye in the newspaper.
“Have you read that article about racism yet?” I ask.
“Yes,” says my husband, while continuing to read, “that whole racism thing is just a strange phenomenon when I think about it. Humans are actually just like a barcode.”
I pause for a moment because I can't immediately grasp that context. This out-of-the-box reflection is typical of my husband.
“Why like a barcode? Tell me more about it.”
“Well,” he says, looking up from his screen and turning his face towards the window, “a barcode consists of white and black stripes, and all stripes are essential. Whether they are black or white, thick or thin, what you need is the unique combination of the whole. All the stripes. Even the very thin ones. Otherwise, the barcode is incorrect. It's the same with humanity. And... what comes to mind now... if you also see every person as a barcode, then, just like a barcode, every person is unique. Every barcode, every person, is a variation of the other and functional. All variations matter, both individually and as part of the whole. There is no more, no less. Color, age, gender, sex – every person is unique and an essential part of the whole.”
It leaves me speechless.
Yes, humans as barcodes. I get it.
“And that also means we have to take good care of each other,” I say, “because if you see all of humanity as a barcode, then a small damage somewhere in that barcode affects the whole.”
“Yes,” says my husband. He has already started the next article and takes a bite of his sandwich.
Looking through the lens of reflections
If, like my husband, you view the world through the lens of 'reflections and inactions,' then you think outside the box. People with this preferred perspective are generally calm by nature; 'I'll find a solution'. They often look away when you're talking to them. They are the innovators and inventors among us. They are not dreamy; they are imaginative. If you bring up a topic that interests them or if they have figured something out, they are not introverted. They investigate and connect things and thoughts while contemplating, leading to possibilities and solutions that others overlook.
How to Foster Problem-Solving Skills
Do you know someone like that in your private life or at work? Then give them the opportunity to be autonomous, to take their own space, and provide a framed assignment, also in terms of time. You will be amazed by their persistence in solving the problem and the inventiveness and efficiency of the result. And do you recognize yourself in this preferred perception? Then organize framing and guidance in your own life to be able to claim your autonomy and personal space, and thereby maintain resilience and vitality.
Source: Process Communication Model – Dreamer Personality Type. Read more about all personality types here.
