About Graphology

Wikipedia defines Graphology as "the study of handwriting and its connection to behavior, personal information and other human traits."

In my first year at FAST, I went to the twin cities to participate in FBISE Award Distribution Ceremony (what the award was for is a different story). I happened to meet one Mr. Mansoor through my cousin. The guy claimed that he could do my personality analysis by seeing my handwriting.

He dictated me six or seven sentences; they were very expressive statements like "I am the strongest person in the world." He then took the piece of paper and drew many lines and circle around the letters. He then told me some personality traits that I think were very accurate. In fact, much of what he told is different from what my relatives think of me. So, it wasn't possible for my cousin to tell him these things. But he did miss a few points---he didn't say anything about patriotism.

On the other hand, he said that I had very realistic goals. I asked him to explain the word "realistic", and he said, "Like you will never like to become Bill Gates because it's not realistic". I said that I would like to be even if it contradicts common sense and that his analysis was wrong. He gave me a few more sentences to write and after analyzing them he said, "No, I still think that you have very realistic goals."

Many years after that, now I think that he was right. I tend to adjust my goals a lot. I start with a very vague picture and then unconsciously analyze my performance in say 10% of the time and then adjust everything. This has become my habit - even in something as simple as walking to the university in the morning. Linking back with Mr. Mansoor's analysis, not only I think that it's almost impossible to be Bill Gates (I knew he is one in billions of people back then as well), I don't want to be. I see no point in striving for something like that.

So how does Graphology work? I asked the same question from him. He said that it's pretty straightforward and very convincing. I give you some examples:

• People usually write "I" as in first-person different than in words like "it."
  
• An "o" or a "b" represent how much "closed" you are. Some people are careless while writing and they don't close the circle in "o" or "b" properly. Others make sure that it's not possible to enter.
  
• The horizontal bar on "t" represents your goals. Some people put it way too up and some very low. Some people don't even care; their bar isn't placed on "t" properly.
  
• etc.
  

"But my personality changes," one may argue. So what? Your handwriting changes as well. "What if I write differently when I am being analyzed?" It's same as trying to tell a lie. Some people are very good at it but most of us always get caught. It reflects in your handwriting as well. But the most interesting thing is to think in the other direction: If changes in personality are reflected in handwriting, then change in handwriting might affect personality! While it might be difficult for some to digest, people are now using "handwriting" to cure diseases. Instead of medicine, a patient is given a few sentences to write in a particular way!

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Push-ups count: 1075 (till 20th Nov '04)
Average: 134 a day

جاگے ھے سوے نھہں، ایسی ھے میری بےچینی
دن بھی وھی، راتیں وھی، سانسوں میں سانسیں ھیں نھیں
(Atif Aslam, Jal)