If you’ve ever heard of the Myers-Briggs test, you’ll know what those letters stand for. For those of you who don’t, it means this:
Introvert iNtuitive Feeling Judgment
There are 16 different personality types, all comprising of four letters, but certainly not the same four letters. I’m missing the E here for Extrovert for instance.
I’ve read up on this extensively. Anyone who knows me even a little bit and has read some of my posts here will know that I seek understanding more than anything. As it turns out, this is quite a common character trait for an INFJ and I am a true INFJ.
I have all the strengths and most of the weaknesses of one.
If you’re interested in what personality type you are, do the Myers-Briggs test here:
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
Sceptic that I am I’ve completed it about five times on different days, varying the answers here and there depending on my mood. The result was always the same, though.
Once I figured that one out, I read up on various sites and they pretty much all say the same. I can’t disagree with any of what I have read, either.
I don’t know if I should be surprised that INFJs are extremely rare. Last thing I read less than 1% of the population tests as INFJ. Considering there are 16 personality types that is very rare indeed.
Turns out that teaching, counselling and creative writing are ideal career paths for me and I have a strong affinity for all of them, having obviously chosen the latter to pursue (never mind my day job).
Today I read that the combination of our decisiveness and idealism often results in INFJs being able to realize their dreams. That made me smile.
If you want to understand me at all, read here:
http://www.16personalities.com/infj-personality
It’s all I will ever be able to give you by way of figuring me out. I am private and won’t allow most people to know me even a little. But this is out and available online and in books and it may give you an idea, if you are interested at all.
Knowing myself as well as I do means I recognize both strengths and weaknesses. I am not always able to overcome the latter and sometimes only hindsight serves as a reminder for me that I stood in my own way. But I am getting better at foresight all the same.
I still sometimes feel the need to apologize for who I am. I think that seems to be somewhat inherent for an introvert nature and the fact that I am easily misunderstood, because I can be a conundrum on the outside, even though I know better on the inside.
Well, you can’t see what I don’t show you. I will have to accept that I can cause certain reactions and am perceived in a way that does not reflect my true nature. But I won’t show you more of me in order to prevent misunderstandings and I won’t apologize anymore.
I am completely happy with who I am. Those of you, who do know me better, appreciate me for who I am and that is what matters most to me.
I recommend you figure out your own personality type. If you do the test honestly, it is frighteningly accurate. And learning about this gives us a better understanding of each other.
There is no such thing as a good or a bad personality type, either. We all fall on a scale somewhere, with strengths and weaknesses associated with a certain personality type. You’re simply not allowed to deceive yourself and have to keep an open mind.
Having weaknesses is part of what makes us human, admitting them is part of growing beyond our limitations.
The Delphi Oracle has the following words inscribed at the Temple of Apollo (in Greek though):
Know thyself
It’s one of the few things I’ve considered having tattooed on my body, because I find it so very important.
If we all had a better understanding of ourselves and then of each other, we could maybe work better together and not wage war so much, small personal ones or the large national ones that overshadow everything else.
When I tell you now that I will do all I can do leave this world better than I found it, you better believe it, because I have the personality type that will actually allow me to follow through with this.
And yes, I am very full of myself. Who else would I be full of? And if I weren’t full, what kind of person would I be, if I were only half full of myself.
2clouds 