My Myers-Briggs Type Part 1- This Explains a Lot

A number of months ago (not sure if those months add to full years or not) I took a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test. It was offered as an alumni event where we'd take the test and then a career advisor would discuss the types and what our results mean.  When I initially took it, I thought it was interesting, but didn't really do much with the results. However, awhile later, I got a wild hair to look at the results again. And then led to me getting a book. And then two books. And then more books, plus reading tons of stuff (with varying levels of seriousness) on the Internet. Suffice to say, I know a lot about the MBTI now, and more specifically my type.

I typed as an Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judgement (INFJ). For people unaware of MBTI, or at least not up on all the type, this is the rarest combination of traits, with only 2-3% of the population as this type. Not going to lie, this fact alone really fueled my interested in Myers-Briggs and my type. It was nice to learn that, no, I am in fact not a loner weirdo.  While I may be rare, I am not alone. :)

I definitely was not surprised that I am an introvert. I think about parties I went to in college when I wasn't in the mood. No matter the fun around me, if I wasn't in the mood, I couldn't get the energy. My favorite thing to do at these time was ask someone to "hold my drink for a minute." And then I would go home. Such a douche move, yes, but affective. My friends wouldn't let me go home if I told them I wanted to go home.

Intuitive means I take in information looking for more meaning and relationships (instead of just 5 senses information). Feeling types make decisions based on how the affect people, instead of objective logic. Judgement people prefer to make decisions, and get things done in an ordered, planned manner (instead of waiting to take in more info and having to accomplished things all right at the end).

But when you put the letters together they start to mean different things depending on the mix. Like because I am an introvert, my letters tell me my primary cognitive function is introverted intuition, which basically means I'm all up in my head all of the time trying to interpret the meaning of things, and probably not noticing anything around me. My letters also say my auxiliary cognitive function is extroverted feeling. This basically means my interactions with the world is through feeling based decision making.

There are definitely some characteristics typical of INFJs that I really related to. Such as:

• Generally seek harmony and avoid conflict - I am a big fan of harmony. I like people to get along. I've found at work I have the uncanny knack of listening to other people argue points, understand what those points are, and then explain the situation to them both to harmonize their points. I find this very useful for moving meetings along, especially when people argue the same point, but just can't understand they agree with each other.  However, seeking harmony also means avoiding conflicts. I confess to  holding things in because I don't want to start a fight. At it's worse, the things just build up until I lash out. I have been working on trying to address issues before, but it's not easy. But being a conflict avoider also means I don't let a lot of small things get to me, because I just don't want to start a fight.

• But can stubbornly stand up for important values - A coworker of mine recently told me that I can sometimes egg things on and not drop things. I got a little offended. But then knew she was right, and I was offended because the truth hurts. But it's just that when I care about something, I really care, and I won't let other people just push that aside. I think part of it comes from just knowing I can trust my intuition no matter what other people say, and as someone who has strong convictions, I have to stand for them.

• Deeply empathetic and quickly understand other people - I have a magic power. This magic power is understanding other people, maybe even better than they do.  I can pick up on all types of communication, including many things beyond just what was said. I have this knack at figuring things out that other people don't want anyone to notice. It helps in learning secrets when I figure them out before the other person can tell me. ;^) I am also really good at being able to take what people can't really totally explain, and then sum up their feelings to them in the perfect words. It helps that I am good with words, too. On the down side, I am like an emotional sponge. If I am in a great mood, but people I care about aren't, I can absorb their moods. Like the other day at work, some of my coworkers were really stressed about a work project that I had to offer the very little help I could because I just couldn't stand them all being so tense. Plus, just offering help gave some positive vibes that helped everyone. :^) It also took all my will power not to start giving out hugs, and back rubs, whispering "it's going to be okay." Not sure how work appropriate that is. :^)

• Very private/take time to open up/tend to have small circle of close friends - I read it somewhere describing INFJs as a quick read and a closed book - i.e. we read people really fast, but are ourselves very closed off. It really doesn't seem fair. I confess this is one of the big things I am working on lately in life. I noticed that I really don't share much about myself. I am quick to talk about my pop culture stuff or work stuff, but I shy away from personal information. But being so friendly it seems sneaky to me - like you wouldn't think I was very private unless you really stop to think. And of course if I dropped some of my more private secrets, people would definitely be shocked. I think it just comes down to trust. I want to surround myself with people I feel like I can open up to and really trust. I prefer just a few close friends that I spend time with, rather than gaggles of acquaintances. 

• Highly emotional and hyper-sensitive to criticism - I have lots of emotional. This may not be super obvious, because I have excellent emotional maturity, but inside I feel, a LOT. To me, emotions are complicated and nuanced, and I not only feel them deeply, but I appreciate how feelings feel for their own sake. I think because I am so sensitive, I take criticism harshly. Even little things, or things given in a positive manner are felt deeply. I found that being very self-aware helps.  I really try to analyze myself and know my own weaknesses. That way, most criticism I receive isn't anything I didn't already know and anticipate. I've had situations where people were trying to politely give me constructive criticism, but were nervous about it, so I ended up just telling them what they were about to say.

• Tend to be perfectionists - Maybe it's to avoid criticism (perfect people can't be criticized, right?), or maybe it's because of high ideals. Whatever the cause, I confess I am a bit of a perfectionist. Well, not so much with the house cleaning, but definitely at work. I have learned to let more go - I can only do so much with my time. Granted, I am kinda fantastic so my time is more efficient, but I still can't do everything.  Still undecided if I would do everything if I could. Well, maybe everything I like at least. Or everything I could do better than other people. So, probably almost everything, except the really boring bits. ;^)

• Great at coming up with ideas and following through - On thing about intuitives is we get all these genius, "light bulb" ideas. But often the means the ideas could be like a dog seeing a squirrel, so exciting to chase until the next one comes along. However, the "J" mixed in really helps with the follow through. I find I have an almost stubborn desire to follow my ideas through, even once the fun is gone. This does however often lead me to inadvertently volunteering myself for work projects because I have the ideas. I should really stop having ideas, or at least keep them to myself.