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Loving the new segment Francesca. Curiosity is my reason for being. Thank you for all the wonderful inspiration. Lots to explore on my week off!

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Oh - and enjoy your week off!

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Thank you for the kind words, Rebecca (I’m VERY intrigued by your Substack for obvious reasons!!!)

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I found The Four Tendencies quiz and book really helpful. It took me a while to work out that I’m a Rebel, but once I got there, a lot fell into place. Just one thing I’d add for any fellow Rebels: it’s the type that’s the opposite of Gretchen Rubin’s own, and I think the one she empathises least with. Some of her examples in the book of typical Rebel behaviour are very unflattering and not how I would ever want to behave. I learned more from other Rebels in online discussions. But that said, it was still a very useful book.

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Thanks for sharing, Anne - I’d be so interested to hear what the benefits of being a Rebel personality are incidentally, as I think I’m unclear too but sure there are many!

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Nov 11, 2022Liked by Francesca Specter

At times it can be hard to see the benefits, as much of my life is a process of negotiation with myself to get all the boring, everyday stuff done when my Rebel is saying “Shan’t!” 😄. I can’t stick to any routine for very long, don’t like feeling constrained by my own or other people’s needs, will resist any sense of being guided in a particular direction - sometimes even if it would be a positive thing to do!

That said, realising all that, thanks to Gretchen’s book, has been hugely helpful and I’ve developed tactics to keep life running at least reasonably smoothly, eg only very flexible routines and checking my instinctive resistance to requests and suggestions for selfishness or sheer cussedness before responding 😄

So what do I value about this tricky personality type? I have a very lively mind, am creative and imaginative, endlessly curious and eager to learn about all sorts of things. I think that refusing to easily accept the conventional and the routine has kept me mentally flexible as I’ve got older. I have friends ranging from late 20s to late 80s, which is a huge blessing. Being a Rebel may have helped me deal better with being single too, because I’ve not often personally felt the weight of all the societal pressures to be partnered.

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I think you've sold it to me...! The flexibility, particularly. Thanks for the insight.

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Thanks for using my quote! And also SO many recommendations! I’m going to have a busy few days getting through all this!

But also strong agree that everyone should follow @lizandmollie - I’d also recommend both their books!

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Thanks for the great insight! Oh hurrah - love that you followed @lizandmollie already, I’m a recent convert & so impressed

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