Handwriting Examples
In our discussion of personality traits demonstrated by handwriting, it is important to understand that handwriting analysts do not determine a personality by looking at the meaning of a few traits. They add the value of this positive trait and the value of that positive trait, modified by that occasionally occurring negative trait, until they get a well-rounded picture of the individual. This is actually the most difficult aspect of analyzing handwriting. That said, lets look at some examples of traits demonstrated by handwriting and perhaps you will get some idea of how those traits are added together in a cumulative way. These are some of the fairly common traits, so even if you don't have them in your handwriting, you may know someone who does. Thus, you will be able to judge for yourself the validity of handwriting analysis, to some degree. And if you have some of these formations in your handwriting and change them, you will be able to demonstrate the benefits of graphotherapy.
Low “ t ” bars indicate low goals and thus, a low level of achievement. Short “ t ” stems reveal a low level of confidence. Short “ t ” bars indicate a lack of motivation. Adding the values of these letter formations, you can probably easily see how a student whose “ t ’s ” had all of these characteristics (as demonstrated in the example word “trip”) would be failing his classes, puzzled and unhappy over not moving on with his friends, but still unable to demonstrate any motivation. To remedy this, “ t ’s ” need to be made tall, crossed at the very top, and given a long bar. The most important of these “ t ” strokes is probably the crossing at the very top, because somehow high goals motivate us to make other positive changes. Personally, I love very long “ t ” bars because, then I can get excited enough about projects that I actually do the work.
The bowlegged “ t’s ” above indicate stubbornness, and when they are star-shaped, as in the second example, they demonstrate persistent stubbornness. When I was introduced to handwriting analysis, I made this second “ t ”, but being blind to my own behaviors, I did not see myself as stubborn. Now I knew my mother and grandmother had at times been so stubborn they made themselves look foolish, but I wasn’t like that. Still, just to be safe, I told my daughter, “If you ever see me being as stubborn as either my mom or my grandmother, let me know because I don’t want to be that way.” She looked me straight in the eye and said “Too late, Momma.” What was worse, this trait was so ingrained in my personality that I had a very difficult time transforming that letter formation.
Let’s say an individual uses capitals and small letters inappropriately. The use of small letters where capital letters should be used indicates that a person considers important things to be unimportant, so he might not think it matters very much if for example he fails sixth grade twice, or fails to keep curfew. An adult with this trait in his handwriting might come to work late, leave early, or steal from their employer in some other way. These people do not see these things as wrong because the problem is that they have poor judgment, not that that they are inherently dishonest or rebellious.
If an individual makes capital or large letters where lower case letters should be used, then this person has a tendency to blow things out of proportion and to make big deals out of minor events. A teenager with this style of writing might expect others to drop what they were doing to meet the needs of her social life. She would tend to live for the moment, and her friend’s needs and wants would probably have priority over most responsibilities, because to her, peer relationships would be more important than responsibilities. This person is not purposely irresponsible; she just places too much importance on trivial matters. In a more highly developed individual, this trait might be demonstrated by writing that is printed in all capital letters. This person also tends to blow things out of proportion, to make a big deal out of minor events. I know a man who has this style of writing. He is great at telling stories because he can make a story out of a non-event. He also, however, thinks it is important to detail to others the order of every song played, at every concert location and date, given by his favorite band, the Grateful Dead. Individuals who have this writing style may also know more sports statistics than you care to hear about, or alternately, they may write this way because they are required to in their occupation.
If a person uses both capital and small letters indiscriminately, they have no idea what is important in life and what is not important in life. They have no sense of priorities, and no idea why they fail to be successful in society. They don’t think they are being unreasonable, even though their financial and personal life is likely to be in chaos, and they may be getting into trouble with authorities.
If someone makes their personal pronoun “ I ” as a lowercase “ i ”, they have a poor self-image. This letter formation might be demonstrated by a child who is a social outcast at school. If lowercase “ i’s ” are taller than the other lowercase letters, then an “I am too as good as you are.” attitude is demonstrated. This is a defensive stance, also indicative of a poor self-image. This trait might be demonstrated by the person who does not have a college degree but works side by side with individuals who do. This trait is not as damaging as the first one mentioned, but a person who has both of these traits will be very unhappy. The best practices are to always use a capital "I" (in the U.S.) when making the personal pronoun I, and to make lower case "i's" no taller or shorter than other lower case letters.
It is quite common to see combinations of the above handwriting traits (and others indicating the same basic issues) in an individual's handwriting. Of course the more traits occurring along these lines, the more problems the individual will have with his/her life. If he/she has several such traits in his/her handwriting, the personality style is firmly entrenched, and changing only one or two letter formations will modify, but not eliminate the problem attitudes and behaviors.
The first “ L ” pictured above demonstrates what I call “one step forward, two steps backward.” A person who makes this letter formation frequently (because it is the beginning letter of their name) will undoubtedly feel they that others take advantage of them, and may have something of an inferiority complex, even if he is very competent. This person wants to be liked and goes out of his way to help those who are important to him, but ends up being used and abused by them and held responsible for their mistakes. An individual with this letter formation in their name may for instance, allow a friend to live at their house, and the friend will leave owing them $150 on the phone bill. At a more highly developed level, this person may give in to every little material desire expressed by his family and feel his primary worth is as a provider. At still a higher level of development, as demonstrated by the second " L ", this individual may be blamed for all the failures in his department even though he is bending over backwards to make sure everyone has everything they need to make things run smoothly. The best " L ” is the third pictured. It has a high degree of intuition, a practical forward-moving energy, and very little emotional baggage.
Another formation indicating that one allows themselves to be taken advantage of by others is the overhanging “ R ” or “ P ”. This person is a caretaker. He wants to be a “roof over the head of others” or an “arm around their shoulders”. Of course, if he wants to spend all of his financial or emotional resources on others, there is nothing you can do to stop him. A better way to make these letters is shown in the second set of examples.
One more stroke formation that might be found in the writing of a person who is too wrapped up in other people’s problems, is that pictured in the first “ R ” and “ k ” above. This person allows herself to become so concerned about another’s problem that she feels compelled to take action on behalf of that person. This individual is the one who is looking in the newspaper for a job for her friend, or looking for an apartment for her friend. A better way to make these letter formations would be one that permitted a little less involvement where the stem and the < touch, as demonstrated in the second examples.
You might be able to see how a combination of the last few traits would exhaust a person physically and financially and gain them little in regards to the gratitude and acceptance they would like to have from their friends. These traits don’t foster respect from others.