The phlegmatic is an introvert in the Passive life position, wholly absorbed in themselves and in their own thinking. This temperament all but excludes itself from contact with other people and from interaction. Always thinking about something, a thing in itself. Inconspicuous, quiet, unemotional. And there is a strength and a charm in that.
When he derived the four temperaments 3,000 years ago, the ancient Hippocrates maintained that in such people the dominant juice was the one called Phlegma, “mucus”. Since all the vital juices had two properties, hot/cold and dry/wet, Phlegma was cold and wet, and it made a person calm and slow — a phlegmatic. Incidentally, in the 21st century the two properties of the juices have grown into the concepts of Intro- and Extraversion and the Active or Passive life position.
As an introvert, the phlegmatic knows themselves inside out — their feelings, their sensations and their states. It is through their own sensations that he or she explores the world around them. The phlegmatic tends to take the position of an observer, noting every small thing and detail precisely, analysing the situation and not particularly trying to influence it in any way. He or she handles risks far more carefully than most of the people you know, is unlikely to go mad over career growth, and tries to choose the more reliable and safer paths, roads and decisions.
While the others are busy rushing about, pushing themselves onto people, pushing their overvalued ideas, or both at once, the phlegmatic will take a look at all this, chuckle to themselves and do what the phlegmatics themselves need and find worthwhile. That is how their Passive life position shows itself. What sets them apart is calm and consistency, the ability to work with figures and facts, composure and a very sensible approach to any undertaking.
The phlegmatic knows how to bring order to chaos, to find a system in everything and to see the essence of things more deeply and more clearly. This is that very island of stability in a sea of foolishness, irrationality and emotion, and they "keep their heads when all about them are losing theirs" and, of course, are always true to themselves. The phlegmatic sees things as they are.
If you, as a phlegmatic, are looking for a suitable country to emigrate to, then what will suit you is Australia, Germany or Austria (there is a reason Australia and Austria get mixed up at airports). These are rather phlegmatic countries, living from the position: “live in a way that does not get in my way, and if you do get in my way, our paths part here”. Rules and standards reign there, everything has to be in its proper order, and the rubbish is neatly sorted. It may be boring, but it is orderly, correct and stable!
