Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies & the Opera Carmen

Book

I loved Gretchen Rubin's latest book The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People's Lives Better, Too). I listened to the audiobook version - it is fascinating!

Expectations

The Four Tendencies provides a framework to identify in ourselves - and others - how we are inclined to respond to expectations. The tendencies are Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, and Rebel.

La La La

Recently, I attended a production of Carmen with three friends - a Questioner, an Obliger, and an Upholder. Like most comedic saps, I am a Rebel. Carmen is the popular opera about a soldier's obsession with fiery and fickle (not to mention sort of slutty) femme fatale Carmen - and his ultimate downfall.   

A Night at the Opera

These were our comments at the second intermission - following the end of Act III, Scene One.The character (Don Jose) has been seduced by "Gypsy" woman Carmen, attacks his superior officer, deserts his military regiment, hooks up with smugglers, dumps his childhood sweetheart and "nice" woman Micaela, and ignores his dying mother's constant attempts to guilt him.

HA! 4 Different Takes

Questioner: "Why is Don Jose being such a damn fool? Doesn't he see that his sexual obsession will lead to tragedy?"Obliger: "I think that Don Jose is just trying to please the woman he loves."Upholder: "I'm really disappointed in the soldier."Rebel: "Man, I have the hots for the sexy matador Escamillo. He's irresistible!"

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To find out whether you're an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel - Take the QUIZ.   It's fun!READ Gretchen Rubin's latest book, The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People's Lives Better, Too