Extrovert and Introvert numbers
During one of my FEN classes, John asked if there is a way we can identify if a person is deemed to be an extrovert or introvert. John had earlier attended the UCMHP course conducted by Dr Bernard, whom I’ve known personally for more than a decade.
A simple Google search on the word “EXTROVERT” suggest “an outgoing, socially confident person. Similarly, another simple Google search for “INTROVERT” suggest “a shy, reticent person.”
John learned from his UCMHP lessons that the numbers 1-4 represents a person with EXTROVERT traits, and the numbers 6-9 represents the INTROVERT traits. And the number 5, is both an EXTROVERT (small Earth) and INTROVERT (big Earth) traits. This info is based on UCMHP’s integration of the NLP and DiSC models, to numerology.
My purpose of posting this article is not to debate the UCMHP theories, as it’s based on the trainer’s interpretation on how the numbers are linked and associated. As Bernard is NLP-trained, his theories are grounded on his personal “model of the world” or “world view” of the numbers; and he is not wrong to assume the smaller numbers 1-4 is small and “extrovert”; and the larger number 6-9 is big and “introvert.” To put the record straight, UCMHP theories on the extrovert and the introvert association to the numbers is not wrong, as it’s based entirely on the trainer’s knowledge and experience.
The true intent of today’s article, is to provide an alternative perspective – my “world view“, that is less restrained and unbiased as I’ve always believed, and still is, that you have a choice to create your perspectives, choose your behaviours, and act on your responses to a situation. From my Elements of Numbers (EON) method, it’s not necessarily true to presume that all smaller numbers 1-4 signifies an EXTROVERT trait, and larger numbers 6-9 signifies an INTROVERT trait. To borrow from an NLP presupposition that any NLP-trained practitioner, like Bernard, would know – “the map is not the territory.” This means, we cannot take the approach we looked at a map, would be identical to everyone else. Every one of us have different destination or focus in mind when looking at a map, and would begin checking at different areas, depending on what we’re looking for. Many UCMHP students could end up confused and be restrained or constrained by the perceived, limiting theories. They might recognise the direct assumptions about people having EXTROVERT-like personality when they have certain numbers in their chart, could restrict their possibilities to effect positive mindset shifts. Finally, they could lose the confidence and competence to profile anyone beyond what they’ve learned in their UCMHP lessons. And some of them reinvested by attending my FEN classes to gain better clarities, visibilities, understanding, and insights on practical profiling techniques.
I’m aware many of the UCMHP (including LifeQuest, Visiber, and PON) students had realised the huge difference over perceived mindset and actual reality, only after attending my FEN (Five Elements Numerology) classes. They found out what they have taken earlier was just the basic ABCs of numerology and human behavioural profiling. Also, both Bernard and I have different training styles, research passions, and the quality level of sharing our knowledge to others, even though we’re both trained in NLP and DiSC models, and developed our own numerology profiling methods.
In my FEN classes, I’d usually start with the basics first, introducing small “chunks of information” that are easier to understand or correlate; before gradually progressing to the advanced topics, where I’ll share the underlying factors too. Unknowingly, I’ve applied “Gagne’s Nine Events of Instructions” and “Kolb’s Experiential Learning” techniques all these while, and only came to know about it after I became a certified professional in training and assessment, endorsed by regulatory agencies. Considerably, it has always been my approach when teaching in class, to lead students to understand the fundamentals of the ABCs; participate in case study examples, and then to the advanced level, to focus on the underlying reasons and visualisation, that ABC does not necessary means A is for Apple, B is for Boy, and C is for Car, depending on which knowledge level you are gathering from. No wonder, students like my training style and knowledge sharing. Like I jokingly told the students at my recent 8th FEN WORKSHOP session, they began the lessons at a Primary 1 level, and by the end of the 2-day class, they’d completed the Secondary or College levels.
Let’s put numerology and metaphors aside, and look at how the “small” or “big” elements come from. In Chinese Metaphysics systems like Bazi, ZiWeiDouShu and others, we learned about the Five Elements principles. We associate “small Wood” with the “YI” character, and “large Wood” as the “JIA” character. We also recognise that “JIA” tends to be more firm and extrovert-like than the “YI” which are more flexible and introvert-like due to its nature of softer, inward behaviours. Nevertheless, we cannot assume a Bazi chart with the Day Master as “JIA” signifies an “extrovert-like” personality; and when the Day Master is “YI”, the person is assumed to have “introvert-like” personalities.
I have devoted two chapters in my book “Elements of Numbers: Fast and Easy Character Profiling” about the FIVE ELEMENTS principles, it’s interactions and reactions, it’s inter-dependencies and dependencies, and most importantly, the Tai-Chi symbolic attributes. What this entails, “In every YIN, there is a YANG. In every YANG, there is a YIN.” This implies, we cannot naively assume the number 4 (small Wood) is EXTROVERT-like trait; and the number 9 (big Wood) is INTROVERT-like trait. In short, it implies, precisely like any NLP-trained practitioner would know, a person’s behaviour is a state, a process where the individual chose to act upon, based on their best interest, and that point in time. The behaviours does not interpret the personality of that individual. It means, we shouldn’t stereotype an individual as EXTROVERT or INTROVERT hastily.
Once again, do not assume naively, that smaller numbers are EXTROVERT, and larger numbers are INTROVERT. Always remember our behaviours can vary depending on our moods. Imagine this scenario, Tom suffered a sore throat and runny nose, preferred to be left alone and doesn’t want to talk to anyone to avoid spreading the flu viruses. People who don’t know his reasons, could assume Tom is an introvert. Another example, David is a hardworking, stand-up Comedian, making jokes on politics, races, and people, talks loudly in funny tones, and often using facial exaggerations addictively, in his daily shows. People could hastily assume David is an extrovert. For all we know, when the day’s job is done, David could be exhausted and might step into the “lazy” state to recuperate, or for whatever reasons. At that juncture, he’d turned down invites from casual acquaintance to meet for drinks or business proposals. Those who don’t know David well enough, could concluded he is an introvert.
Then where does all this means to you, and how can you determine if a person is an introvert or an extrovert?
I don’t have all the answers, except one – be realistic, pragmatic, and invest in yourself smartly.
Practise doing more case studies especially when you’d already invested in UCMHP, LifeQuest, or PON courses taught elsewhere. You’d soon recognised that the introvert and extrovert traits are intertwined into the behaviours of a person, just like what you’d sometimes noticed about yourself. And when that occurred to you regularly, it could happen to anyone else. Like I’ve constantly reminded my FEN students, do not always assume when certain numbers appear in the individual’s birth chart, the person would behave “like that.” Always remember, the behaviour of a person is a temporary emotional state of conscious mind. You cannot conclude that to be their personality – it’s unfair. A person can always act like an extrovert and introvert, based on their responses to situations, and what they think is best for them at that moment. It’s just like the afore-mentioned scenarios of Tom and David.
Don’t waste the time and effort knowing the ABCs, and then debate about extroverts and introverts. Or stereotyping personalities based on number patterns. There is no right or wrong as a person could change their behaviours, which you should not assumed to be their personalities.
There is more to life than spending the beneficial energies on these naïve and impractical theories. Spread out and open your mind, widen your observations and horizons, and remember, life is not always “like that” once you understand and realise that it can also be “like this.”
You have a choice to reinvest – to unlearn, relearn – and learn the more pragmatic aspects of understanding yourself; knowing there are choices you can make to improve your life journey, and live a more meaningful, happier, and contented life – even though you might not have the IDEAL birth chart. So, choose and invest smartly when the next opportunities come along.
Regards, Ron WZ Sun