Monday, July 30, 2018

introversion and personality type

Hello! How has your summer been? Mine has been really busy, but I think that's the norm for most people during the summer. Between all the usual household and garden care and meal planning and shopping and the making of meals; dentist appointments (I need another crown in August - waah!), lots of vet appointments, yoga classes, finding contractors for our damaged roof, replacing the central air conditioner (finally got a new one!) and for re-doing our front porch and sidewalk (this contracting stuff has been kind of a nightmare)...then Brian was on vacation for 12 days so we did some day trips and got some projects done around the house...things have been a bit crazy. But honestly, it's all good. We're getting things done, we're in good health and feel great, we're spending more time outdoors and doing things with friends and family. It's all what a summer should be.


Brian went back to work today after his 12 days of being home, so now I'm trying to get back to my usual routine. Like I was telling a blogging friend in an email, of course I love my husband, but with being an introvert - especially an INFJ - I need a lot of alone time. And when I don't get enough of it, it makes me anxious and cranky. She said she understood because she was an introvert, too - and that she thought that most bloggers probably were.

Later edit: if you're not sure what an introvert is, or even if you're one yourself, here's a good article that explains it: Signs You Are an Introvert. It does not mean you're shy. 


Are you familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator? According to Wikipedia, it "is an introspective self-report questionnaire with the purpose of indicating differing psychological preferences in how people perceive the world around them and make decisions." I learned about this - and took the test - when I was 18 and taking a Psychology class in college. Since then, I've taken the test a few more times and I always come up as an INFJ. You can take the online test here if you're curious as to what type you are.


Here's some tidbits about the INFJ personality (from 16personalities.com):

"The INFJ personality type is very rare, making up less than one percent of the population, but they nonetheless leave their mark on the world...

INFJ's tend to see helping others as their purpose in life, but while people with this personality type can be found engaging in rescue efforts and doing charity work, their real passion is to get to the heart of the issue so that people need not be rescued at all.

INFJs indeed share a unique combination of traits: though soft-spoken, they have very strong opinions and will fight tirelessly for an idea they believe in. They are decisive and strong-willed, but will rarely use that energy for personal gain – INFJs will act with creativity, imagination, conviction and sensitivity not to create advantage, but to create balance...

INFJs find it easy to make connections with others, and have a talent for warm, sensitive language, speaking in human terms, rather than with pure logic and fact. It makes sense that their friends and colleagues will come to think of them as quiet Extraverted types, but they would all do well to remember that INFJs need time alone to decompress and recharge, and to not become too alarmed when they suddenly withdraw....
Famous INFJs: Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Alanis Morrissette, Jimmy Carter, Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Goethe"

How about you - are you an introvert or extrovert? 
What's your personality type?


16 comments:

  1. Well, young-lady you have certainly given us food for thought. Extremely interesting post. I might look into taking the test.
    Here's to me time,
    Connie :)

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  2. I find her comment that most bloggers are introverts, very interesting. I am not really an introvert myself but I do have days where I just can't "people". I also get depressed if I am alone too much. Not sure what that makes me. :)

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  3. Such an interesting post, Melanie! I am an INFJ, too...and find the older I get, the more introverted I have become.

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  4. Melanie, I'm flabbergasted! I thought I was an INFJ too but hadn't taken the test in years so took it again here and found that although I'm in the rare 4% of population, I'm not in the 1% you are in.

    Instead, I'm an INFP, a Mediator. And as I read through all the pages after learning the result I kept nodding my head at every single thing. Not only that, as I read many of the comments on that result I found myself among people just like me for the first time ever. So many things make much more sense now including my fascination with philosophy, and with hating to talk on the telephone (which I had to do for decades in our family business before I retired from it), etc.

    Now I want to get my husband to take the test!

    Thank you for all the work you did in presenting this here for us, it's been fascinating.

    I hope that August will be much less eventful with house problems for you than July was,
    Dewena

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  5. Many years ago I taught Myers Briggs, and I’m definitely an ISTJ, very much ruled by logic. Taking a class or at least studying the different personality types helps one to understand why not everyone sees things as we do, and also helps make us more tolerable and understanding.

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  6. I know I'm an introvert, but took this test and it says I am a INFP-t, an introverted Mediator. Quite interesting and I'll need to read all of the info, probably more than once.

    Great photos of your home gardens and around your area.

    Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

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  7. Definitely an introvert. I'm sick of crowns. I have one side of my mouth that gives me pain and it's the side where I got crowns several years ago. The side they told me to get more crowns on is fine. I may just have teeth pulled next time.
    Brenda

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  8. Interesting. I am more of introvert. I like to be home alone and having space and time to myself. With that said I like to be out and be with people too. I am comfortable with meeting and talking to strangers I just met.
    So maybe I am a little bit of both. I just like my alone time and maybe that just comes with age and I am really an extravert with knowing so many different people and not afraid to be social. Not sure. Maybe I am an in between lol!
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  9. I loved the info in this post. I too am an introvert and feel even more so as I get older. I need a lot of alone time which I rarely get. My middle son is even more introverted than me and he really takes the time he needs to be alone and study, etc. I need to take that test.

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  10. I remember taking this test years ago when I was working. It was really helpful to understand the different personality types in our department and how we could best work with one another. I'm an introvert, too, in that that's how I renew my energy. Love my alone time! It helps to have my own study where I can go and close the door. Thankfully, my husband understands that, or I would dread retirement for us!

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  11. I have never thought about being an introvert but I think I am. I took the test and it said yes. I think I 'force' myself into social situations and then I find I need a lot of alone time after but never realized why. What an interesting post!

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  12. I'm going to have to take that quiz! When I was younger I would say I was less of an introvert but like you, if I don't get my time to decompress, I get irritable. I need my alone time. And, like you, I love my sweetie. But if I'm taking a quiet afternoon reading my book and relaxing in my favorite chair I get irritated when he just shows up at my house! Isn't that mean? I also get aggravated when I'm trying to read and someone insists on trying to have a conversation with me....I mean, it's so rare for me to sit still and take time to myself, good God let me have that time!!!!!! :)

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  13. I hadn’t heard of this test till a young lady asked me about it, declaring that we were likely the same type. I declare that she was exactly right! I’ve only taken it once, and it says I am an ENFP. The description fit me well, but I’m not completely sold these days. I often think that I’m an ambivert, as I have traits for both. I can be loud, talkative, and sociable, but only for short periods of time. Then I must retreat and recharge. I adore being alone!

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  14. My gosh. I'm so INFJ it's not funny. I've been struggling this year summer with my need for quiet. I also just read an article about Highly Sensitive people which also explains a lot about me. I wonder if a lot of INFJ's are also Highly Sensitive.

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  15. It's been a long time since I took the test so I just did.

    I'm a ENFJ-A and much of what I read sounds like me.

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  16. I remember learning about this when I took my psychology courses in college too :-) I love all your pictures! Have a great afternoon!

    blessings,
    Jill

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