INFJ - what?!?!

I needed something to read so I headed down to the local library after scouting goodreads.com for a good rated book. I ended up grabbing this one.

I am now currently reading the book Introvert Power and am about half way through the book. So far, I am mixed about the book. Parts of it is too-research-y, text book style; yet there are good parts of information that is very interesting and relative.

There was sections that my mouth would drop open and I was like, "That's so me!" "Me too!"

Pretty soon I'm going to get to the part where the book teaches me how to use my inter power and I feel not so weird. lol =oD


Being interested in if I was "truly" an introvert or more introverted as I believe myself to be, I decided to go take a test. I went to a test on the Psychology Today magazine website HERE <-- click on the link so you can try it too! =o)

My results......

Snapshot Report

Sociability

28

According to your results you appear to be the type of person who doesn't socialize often. You likely have a limited social network, and possibly aren't really interested in extending it beyond a few close and intimate friendships. Having an active social life apparently isn't the most important thing to you. Chances are that when the opportunity arises to socialize among a large group of people, you'll likely turn it down if possible. This doesn't necessarily mean you don't enjoy socializing or being around people. Rather, you generally prefer spending time with smaller groups of friends. Individuals who score similarly to you typically aren't conversation-starters, especially with people they aren't familiar with. In addition, they aren't known to be exceptionally outgoing, unless among close friends.

My thoughts about my results:

I'd say that is pretty true. Large group setting can give me anxiety, especially if I know no one there and then I secretly feel sorry for the person, if there is a person I know. I tend to attach myself to them in fear of looking completely like a rejected idiot by myself. Striking up a conversation with a stranger is completely out of the question and would rather run 3 miles or do calculus for 8 hours. And with this no-wanting-to-socialize trait in me, I tend to come off aloof or stuck up. The few people who truly get to know me, know I'm completely the opposite and a very loving and caring person. But the chances of truly getting to know me can be pretty slim. 

So then I thought, you know, I should maybe take another "test" just in case,  to double check. =o)

So from reading the "research", back story on the introvert personality in the Introvert Power book, there was quite a bit of talk about Jung and this test created, using 4 letters to describe each personality.

So I headed over to take that test. HERE <-- again, the link so you can have fun too! =o)

My results......

Humanmetrics Jung Typology Test™

Your Type

INFJ

Introvert(78%)  iNtuitive(25%)  Feeling(25%)  Judging(44%)

• You have strong preference of Introversion over Extraversion (78%)
• You have moderate preference of Intuition over Sensing (25%)
• You have moderate preference of Feeling over Thinking (25%)
• You have moderate preference of Judging over Perceiving (44%)

My thoughts about my results:

Okay...........so what exactly is an INFJ?!???? lol 

Had to look that up to find out. =o)   SITE LINK HERE

The first site that popped up when I naturally Googled it, stated as follows.....I highlighted sections that I felt hit the nail on the head for me - a total fit. =o)

Portrait of an INFJ - Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
(Introverted Intuition with Extraverted Feeling)

The Protector

As an INFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in primarily via intuition. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit with your personal value system.

INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types.

INFJs place great importance on having things orderly and systematic in their outer world. They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, INFJs put a tremendous amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions. This is something of a conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy desk.

INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at, and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.

But the INFJ is as genuinely warm as they are complex. INFJs hold a special place in the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special gifts and depth of caring. INFJs are concerned for people's feelings, and try to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone. They are very sensitive to conflict, and cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress.

Because the INFJ has such strong intuitive capabilities, they trust their own instincts above all else. This may result in an INFJ stubborness and tendency to ignore other people's opinions. They believe that they're right. On the other hand, INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential. INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves - there's always something else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them. They believe in constant growth, and don't often take time to revel in their accomplishments. They have strong value systems, and need to live their lives in accordance with what they feel is right. In deference to the Feeling aspect of their personalities, INFJs are in some ways gentle and easy going. Conversely, they have very high expectations of themselves, and frequently of their families. They don't believe in compromising their ideals.

INFJ is a natural nurturer; patient, devoted and protective. They make loving parents and usually have strong bonds with their offspring. They have high expectations of their children, and push them to be the best that they can be. This can sometimes manifest itself in the INFJ being hard-nosed and stubborn. But generally, children of an INFJ get devoted and sincere parental guidance, combined with deep caring.

In the workplace, the INFJ usually shows up in areas where they can be creative and somewhat independent. They have a natural affinity for art, and many excel in the sciences, where they make use of their intuition. INFJs can also be found in service-oriented professions. They are not good at dealing with minutia or very detailed tasks. The INFJ will either avoid such things, or else go to the other extreme and become enveloped in the details to the extent that they can no longer see the big picture. An INFJ who has gone the route of becoming meticulous about details may be highly critical of other individuals who are not.

The INFJ individual is gifted in ways that other types are not. Life is not necessarily easy for the INFJ, but they are capable of great depth of feeling and personal achievement.

Jungian functional preference ordering:

Dominant: Introverted Intuition

Auxiliary: Extraverted Feeling

Tertiary: Introverted Thinking

Inferior: Extraverted Sensing

So a few things I like to expand on in regarding to the yellow highlighted sections:

* Identify the best system for getting things done.... lol The hubby would laugh about this. I seem to constantly try different things, in hopes to make things easier, become less work, more orderly, etc. Aka: my meal planning, my monthly budget worksheet, chore chart, etc. =oD

* May not be as organized...... my office at home can contest to this, being 5 months behind on filing paid bills. =oP lol I try to be organized but that doesn't always happen. 

* Hold a special place in their heart..... this is so true. There are a handful of AWESOME people I look up to and treasure. Many of them inspire me. I have a few aunts on my mom's side who fit this category, a few cousins I am close to, my sissy, my mom, my grandma, team AWESOME members, my in-laws, hubby & children.

* Sensitive to conflict..... this is true. =o/  If I can avoid conflict I will, almost at all costs. Only on certain situations where I have no choice or have a leaning friend to help me, I will deal with it. Otherwise, I'm a flight kinda gal. And then there are conflict situations that I am completely against, drive me bunkers and gets me upset in almost a bat of an eye, just because I disagree with the conflict and have most-likely taken the conflict personally. A very highly explosive situation.....

*Trust their own instincts...come off stubborn........ yeah I can come off stubborn....a lot...... lol  there has been so many situations I got "this feeling", didn't follow it and things went south because of it. I have learned the hard way. lol 

* Perfectionist, doubts...... I constantly doubt myself and I know it's not a good thing. While I write my novel, I fight the thoughts that the story line is perceived as stupid or boring. My characters are dull or my writing in general is juvenile. Then when taking pictures, I feel that I'm not good enough, or that my picture ideas are dumb. Now, I certainly don't want people to tell me "oh how wonderful I am" because that is certainly not the case and if you truly know me, you would know this. I want ME to feel good about myself - ME alone, NOT needing to be reassured.  Having people tell you are great so you feel better - that's not a good feeling either. =o/

* High expectations on myself & family.... I do have high expectations of myself. If I don't raise the bar, then why would I go higher or improve myself? I won't. I don't want to just be average. I want to achieve great things. Likewise with my family and the ones I love dearly, I find myself doing the same thing. And when family members fall short of these assumed expectations, I get disappointed. I guess I look at it: I would do it for them, why wouldn't they do it for me?  As for my kids, I do expect them to give 100% in everything they do, try the best they can, and reach for their dreams. I want the best for my girls and I know from personal experiences, great things come from hard work.

So people know now me, are probably saying, "Yup, that's so her." =oD hee hee And maybe there is something small that you didn't know about this Irish gal. =o) Maybe now knowing this and you see me sitting quietly by myself, you may have an idea why.

It was very enlightening and can't wait to continue reading the book and learning new things!

Enjoy this wonderful sunny day Michiganders!