I first found the Personality Growth website on Pintrest. It's really fun, plus they know their audience, so the INFJ answer is always at the top! We have to connect on the Internet, because we're rare and like to stay home. 😂 Recently, I went through most of the article on the site to make sure I've read them all. I made a spreadsheet to track the ones I have read. I even picked some that I wanted to blog about! I know - such a useful and existing way to pass the time! But I fit it really relaxing as I read through dozens of articles while listening to some music.
For this blog, I wanted to take some time to discuss my reactions to certain posts about my type, INFJ. I won't comment on all of them, but may do this more than once. We'll see how many I get to this evening! So, I encourage everyone to read the posts in each link, maybe read my reaction to my type, plus read about your type (and maybe those of friends of yours). And if you think this is lame, you can stop reading. I am blogging because I have been really emotionally and mentally drained lately, and I find writing relaxing, even if it's random and dumb.
| Each Myers Briggs (MBTI) Type In A Zombie Apocalypse |
I mean, why not start this off with something fun? But seriously, if I ever tell you that the zombie apocalypse is coming, you better believe me. Plus, I've seen so many zombie movies and shows, I've got a lot of important knowledge and tactics. I also promise, if you make me your leader, I will not fall apart into a blubbering idiot every time something goes bad. I'm looking at you, Rick Grimes.
I don't find it a surprise that INFJs are very analytical. Maybe it's because I'm also a genius, or I went to law school, but duh I do a lot of analysis. And if you've read many of my blogs, you know I tend to over-analyze a lot of things, which explains why they say INFJs tend to doubt their actions. I do that ALL THE TIME! I can have a perfectly pleasant interaction with someone, but afterward be all "what did that comment mean?" and "how was what I said taken?" Or I'll not do something because I will over analyze, like I will wait on starting something to see if more info comes to resolve indecisive analysis, or I may not reach out to someone because I've analyzed to death the 500 ways they may react and why.
On a different side, I think it surprises people how coldly analytical I can be. I can perfectly like people, but make a decision or advocate a position that's not what's best for people's feelings. I like to tell people, "you know how there are some people who are all cold on the outside, but once you get to know them, they are warm and fuzzy on the inside? I'm like the opposite of that." 😂😂😂
This is probably my favorite, because of the description. [My paraphrasing] "INFJs are sparkly unicorns of complexity and are super mature with very complex inner worlds ... but let's be real, they are dirty, dirty perverts." I have some amazing dirty mind skills - it's the only part of my brain that fires at 100% capacity when I've had no sleep, no caffeine, and lots of stress. Get me together with my closest friends, and the flood gates of smut open. I also sometimes let my skills peek out in less comfortable/casual environments, around the right people. Or when really stressed - I let a "your mom" joke once slip when freaking out about something and got a great reaction.
I may lump some things together.
Yes, wit is hella sexy! I like a hot guy as much as the next hot guy enthusiast. But I totally agree that someone who is intelligent and has a great sense of humor is damn sexy. I've experienced in the past where I will make an initial assessment of the attractiveness of a male, and that opinion changed based on personality. I once forgot a guy I went to junior high with was really cute because he was a huge ass hole. And I've definitely thought guys were less cute after getting to know them and know they were just really dumb (or boring). In the opposite direction, I've known guys that become more attractive because of a great personality and some smarts - personalities make face twinkle. Or something. Now, if there's some already hot dude out there who's also really smart and funny (and nice - no jerks, because gross), and is single, in his 30s, and looking for an amazing, unicorn personality girlfriend, I'm available. 😉😒
“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” -Mahatma Ghandi
I love this quote! I not strongly suggested everyone reads their quote, or maybe just all the quotes!
We already know from above that I've got the dirty humor going on. But I also agree with this. I tend to have a very wide berth for humor. I love smart humor and I love dumb puns. I also really do have a morbid sense to my humor as well. For example, there's this band I really like, and they have funny song titles, like "Bloodbath and Beyond" and "The Quickest Way to a Girl's Heart is Through Her Ribcage." It makes me giggle. I think this varied sense of humor is why I love Bo Burnham so much - he's really smart and clever with his humor, but also dirty and dumb and sometimes pushes buttons and sometimes is silly.
Let's jump to the opposite extreme! I totally agree with everything this post says! I've found it really difficult not to be sad for awhile just because the Internet and the World is sad. Plus, more directly in my life, I've been dealing a lot with people I know and care about having issues, sometimes having groups/people come to me with stress about each other. So it's been really hard dealing with that when everyone just gets cranky about their own plight, instead of seeing how people can work together.
It's also true that I don't mind being sad. That is probably good, since we've established that I like to over analyze things. So if something makes me sad, I think about it a LOT and get really sad, or just stay sad for awhile. But I also am working at reaching out to people to get things off my chest.
This article says I'm mature, because I don't mind crying all the time by myself. So I'm just going to take it and walk away.
Hey, on the bright side, I am really easy to cheer up! It's amazing how quickly I can turn my frown upside down with a fun joke or just a caring ear. I find laughing immediately after crying actually very uplifting and cathartic. #emotions
I love when thing mix different rubrics that I can cross analyze. I've read the love languages book (and I've blogged out them a couple times). I definitely agree that Quality time is a big thing for me. That's why I get really excited about planning and doing fun things with the people I care about. I find that getting great quality time, whether in a group or one-on-one can overcome my introvert tendencies - like how I didn't mind staying out until 2 a.m. with my awesome coworkers singing karaoke a couple weeks ago. I found it energizing because I got to hang with great people and do something fun. I am also usually up for pretty much any activity if it means I get to spend time with someone and enjoy their company.
The physical touch part is on the money too - refer back to my many comments about hugging. I remember in law school I had a close friend who sometimes liked to link arms when we walked. At first it really surprised me, because I would never do that myself. But I was totally comfortable with it because we were good friends and I appreciate people I am close to taking that initiative. Just because I won't initiate a lot of it, I still respond positively to those kinds of signs of affection.
I have such a complicated relationship with gifts. I totally love getting gifts, and really appreciate when people think of me to get me a gift. I do sometimes though get in my head too much about getting other people gifts because I want gifts to both mean something to the other person (to show I take an interest in who they are) and that the gift will be useful (so they don't feel burdened about keeping or tossing a gift they don't really like). Mostly I like to see gifts as it being the thought that counts, so I try to be thoughtful. When receiving gifts I really try to show my appreciation. My mom taught me when someone gives you something, you accept it and say thank you. So I like to do that, and not get too overly analytical or feel undeserving of the gift.
I find this funny because my mom's least favorite thing to hear me say as a kid was "I'm bored." I don't think I get bored very much anymore, though. I must of learned to get over that. And it is true that when I don't have anything to do, like if I'm waiting somewhere, I can wile away the hours just thinking about things, or coming up with interesting stories.
I think this is interesting, especially since I feel I've shied away from becoming anyone's boss, due to fear that I would fail miserably. But I definitely agree I would have high expectations of people, because I find that I do that a lot just with people I work alongside. I now could see myself one day, preferably a long while from now, being someone's boss. But I would have to have a strong team of people, because I don't know how my high expectations and conflict avoidance characteristics would handle some people. I am amazed at the people who handle these with skills and grace.
I also read a few of these descriptions for people I know in boss roles (since my entire org took the MBTI). And I definitely agree with these assessments. Although, I feel like every type could make a good or bad boss, depending on the situation. I think that's true of a lot of things related to personality types - no good or bad in general/overall, just pros and cons in different areas.
I absolutely LOVE this description and it is right on the money! I am truly blessed to have a wonderful best friend, where we support each other and she really cares about understanding me. I can be myself and we have great conversations! Plus lots of fun! It's funny, this reminds me of how we had that moment, similar to romantic relationships, where we said out loud for the first time that we were best friends. We made it official! It's like you want to call the other person your best friend, and you want them to say it back. But what if they don't feel the same way? But when the time is right, it just happens. 😀😂💖 Friendships are important.
Of course INFJs are a wolf. #HouseStark #WinterIsComing. And I don't mind being a unicorn either, as long as creepy wizards don't try to drink my blood.
What? Me? Geeky? Never! Oh wait - yes! Always and in all ways!
What? Me? Sarcastic? Never! Except for when people tell me that they can't tell when I am being serious because they read all of my messages as sarcasm. I've read that sarcastic people tend to be smarter, because your brain as to understand the literal meaning of the words and the intended meaning, and then interrelate them. So really, me being sarcastic to you is really just me exercising your brain.
I find the patterns in the Universe very interesting. I was mentioning to a coworker this evening how does it make me psychic that I totally dreamt last night that people were ignoring me, and then today I thought people were ignoring me. And then, this evening at home I found some posts on the site that I had missed, and this was one of them! Creepy!
I agree with this assessment. I do however have issues sometimes knowing if I am being ignored, or if I'm just in need of some attention and just being overly sensitive. It has to be really obvious if I know someone is ignoring me, rather than just thinking they are. Plus, like I said above, I really over analyze things, so I may think someone is ignoring me because I've been confused or nervous about something from a past interaction, so I won't want to bother the other person, and then they think I'm ignoring them! I'm beginning to think my life would be much easier if I used my brain less and my mouth more. But where's the fun in that?
Yes, I am a hopeless romantic. That's why I'm the Girl-Ted of my friend group. I could watch Rom Coms all the time and gossip about crushes and dates and girly things, and falling in love and watch Say Yes to the Dress for hours with my BFF and be judgy but also just love all the sweet stories and pretty dresses and happily-ever-afters.
I am seeing a pattern with a lot of these - it's all calm, cool, and collected - professional and warm - on the outside, but if you get to the inner layers of that personality artichoke, it's all sorts of unexpected, random, crazy shit in there! (Side note, I'm really a fan of my artichoke metaphor. Using that ALL THE TIME!)
The struggle is real! Read my blogs for a more in depth understanding. Hahahaha! But really, I find it very unfair that it's super easy to read other's emotions (and to have others open up to me), but my emotions make no sense and I've got to crowbar myself open sometimes. I'm a Paradox. Not to be confused with a pair of dockers, because I am not pants.
I do really like art, even if I am not artistic (like visual arts) myself. But I don't like modern art because I don't think a lot of it has skill. I think to be a great artist you need both spirit and skill. That's why I love Rodin. His sculptures are exquisite, because he had serious sculpting talent mixed with a real passion for capturing spirit in his work. I think the only super modern art that I like is photography because I think the skill and presence that used to go into paintings is now seen in photography.
Hahaha, this says that INFJ's own art "might be seen as dark or hard to understand." Hmmmm. Would I agree with this? Let's say hypothetically I wrote a book, would other people say it was dark? *Scratches chin* Hard to understand, maybe for sure because I love metaphors and allegory and symbolism. And Guillotines!
Fun fact! The guillotine is probably the most humane way to execute someone, because the force from gravity provide a clean beheading before the person can feel pain. Although it may also be possible to have a few more seconds of cognition before your brain function stops. Artistic research.
Yes! Professor X! Because if I were to ask for superpowers, I want to be able to read minds and control shit with my mind.
I think the fact that I've read a book a week this entire year, and they have been on all sorts of topics, definitely confirms this. Currently I am reading a collection of political speeches by Cicero. My friend says I need to read more "fluffy" books, since I've been moody lately. Cicero was known for being very witty. Something tells me books like "War and Peace", "The Art of War," and "The Jungle" wouldn't be on the fluffy book list either. Maybe "Little Women"? Before the sad part where that one dies?
| What Each Myers Briggs (MBTI) Type is Like As a Friend |
| What Each Personality Type is Like As An Enemy |
I enjoy reading these back to back. It's basically like I make an amazing friend that makes you feel really great, but if you push me to far I WILL DESTROY YOU! But seriously, I think both come from the ability to really read people and understand them, plus the ability to see patterns in things and make predictions about future outcomes. So it makes sense that as friends we can really help people grow and take action to bring positive things to others, plus be there in ways that makes the other people feel closely understood. But when used against someone instead of for, those insights are used to undermine someone, and the INFJ has the advantage to constantly taking in data, analyzing it, and knowing how to use it to influence others and make negative things happen. Just to reassure people, though, it takes A LOT to make an INFJ, me included, actually someones enemy. Mostly it's just you're a friend or you get shut out (or I don't know you so I may not notice you at all). You have to be a pretty terrible person for me to even want to be your enemy. I don't really like the idea of even having enemies, if it can be helped.
I saved this one for last on purpose. If you made it this far, great! As a reward, I want you to find your type and read what this post has to say. These are all things that each type needs to know for themselves. I found mine very inspiring and touching. I also went through and read other ones for the types of people that I really care about (and I know their types). So if you're reading this, and you're one of my INFJs, ENFJs, INTJs, ENTJs, ISTJs, ISFJs, ESFJs (yeah, most of the people I know really well are Js, hahahaha), know that I read these and wish for these insights to touch you the way they did me. Never forget: I feel many of these great call outs apply to the special people I know, and always remember you are special to me.
(And if you're a P, I am sorry, I probably just didn't know it! You're special too.)
