Self-discovery. Everyone has contemplated their life at one time or another. Questions regarding the purpose, destiny and reason for one’s life circulate through our thoughts. Many actually embark on a physical journey to find themselves while others dive into meditation, spiritual and contemplative methods. Would it surprise you to know that many people are lost simply because they don’t understand themselves? Do you know why you react like you do to certain situations? Why some me people rub you wrong? I have personally discovered that knowing my personality type has guided me on my journey to self discovery. Here are 5 reasons why introverts should know their personality type.
1. Discover who you are…really
Alright, so how exactly do you discover who you are just by knowing your personality type? And what is a personality type? It’s a physiological term that refers to the different characteristics or qualities that we have as individuals, grouping them as they occur together consistently. Clear as mud, huh. Think of it this way. Your personality is made up of different characteristics, emotions, qualities, mood, etc. Even though all of us are unique individuals, we can be grouped into a personality type based on our core traits. For example, if you are reading this post, you are probably not one who thrives on social interaction. In fact, if you are like me, you avoid social situations like the plague. Welcome to being an Introvert…one key trait that eight of the sixteen personality types share.
I was actually asked by a friend of mine at work if I knew my personality type and he gave me a wonderful website: www.16personalities.com. You can take the test online and get your results quickly. The best part, its free! The site also gives you a detailed explanation of each type which is where the fun begins. I found out that I am an INFJ – (Introverted (big surprise), Intuitive, Feeling, and Judging) which has been said to be the rarest type or one of the rarest types (there is some contradictions here as to which type is truly the scarcest) in the world. There are even examples of well known people who share the same type which is eye opening. I share a type with Mother Theresa, Gaundi, Martin Lurther King, Hitler, and Osama Bin Laden. Seems like contradictory list until you start really understanding the traits, good and bad, of the personality. How you chose to walk the path of your personality type, and engage with the world, determines a lot of who you are as a person.
2. Dream job a flop? This might be why.
I LOVE to write. I haven’t always loved it. I associated writing with grammar and I was bored with grammar. But luckily I had a teacher who opened up a whole new world to me by explaining grammar in such a way that I understood how important it was to the written word and it’s understanding. By utilizing grammar, I am able to emphasis my writing in such a way that it is powerful, and understood. I never looked at it that way before. And what does that have to do with anything? Well, the same goes for your career. If you want to do something but you are missing the traits that will ensure your success, it won’t turn out the way you dreamed. By understanding the traits that you possess, you can either counteract the ones you don’t have, or possibly choose a different career path that you may never have considered. Let me explain what I mean in a little more detail.
Let’s say you have always wanted to be in politics because in the 6th grade you impressed a teacher so much that he told you that you’d be the first woman president. Okay yes, that did happen to me. It stuck with me. I could make a change in the world, push for ideas that would benefit my fellow countrymen and save the planet! I am fiercely protective of those who are downtrodden, taken advantage of, and suppressed. Yet, obviously, I’m not in politics, and sure am not president or anywhere near even considering the idea. Why? Because I know that I am not a person who can handle the pressures of social interaction that politics entail. Just a family reunion takes me weeks to recharge from. That doesn’t mean I have given up on making a difference. I, like my fellow personality types Martin Luther King, or Ghandi, fight for injustice, just on a much much smaller scale. I have always volunteered in my community. In vastly different areas. I donate money when I can’t volunteer my time. I listen. I communicate.
Knowing yourself can help you make career decisions. If you have issues with strict rules or boring routine, then a job in data entry may not be for you. You will be miserable, bored and unfulfilled. I like having freedom, I don’t like being micro-managed. I also need time to digest and contemplate. I need flexibility. If you can sit down, and make a list of things that drive you crazy about your current job, and then see how that aligns with your personality type, chances are, you are in a job that is directly in opposition of what you need. Since you now can see what you need in job to make you happy, you can do some research into careers that will fulfill your needs!
3. Flashcards for Realtionships.
Relationships are not easy. It takes work. But what if you could make things easier? If you are like me, and definitely my personality type, you hate confrontations. Making life more non-confrontational is a positive for me! Knowing what I need in a relationship and being able to communicate that to my partner is the path toward smooth sailing. Your partner can’t make you happy if they don’t realize what you need to be happy. Compromise, communication and openness will keep your relationship healthy.
You’ve heard the old adage, you have to learn to love yourself before you can expect someone else to love you. It’s true. You need to know yourself. Know what makes you happy and healthy and make sure you are going those things. When you have another person in your life, you then know what you need to communicate to them as well as how to listen to them to know what they need also. Relationships are give and take.
What do you need to make you happy? I know one thing I absolutely have to have is time to recharge. I need quiet time, alone time, time just to focus, read, relax. I need to limit social situations; this means I cannot go out every weekend or constantly have guests or plans. My energy is completely depleted after one night out with friends. I need time to focus on my hobbies and activities. These things help me in my recharging and gives me purpose. However, I also need quality time with my partner. I need to know that I am important, and worth my partner’s undivided attention. One of the best books you can read is The 5 Love Languages® by Gary Chapman. Take it with your partner and use it!
4. Discover your superpower
By knowing your personality type, and researching your strengths, you can actually discover what makes you special. Introvert personality types share many strengths. These strengths can be your superpower in life. When you use your strengths, it will help you make an impact in whatever endeavor you are doing, whether it’s parenting, working, communicating or having fun.
Imaginative – Introverts live in two worlds. The real one and the one inside our heads. Imaginative and creative, we can think outside of the box, and go places no one else would even dare!
Abstract thinker – You have heard the old saying can’t see for the forest for the trees? Well, the abstract thinker can see the forest. As introverts, we can take complex ideas and see how things interact in ways that wouldn’t make sense to others.
Insightful – As introverts, we see through the veil of deceit. Kind of like Superman’s x-ray vision! Okay, maybe not, but we want to get to the center of the issue bypassing manipulation and dishonesty.
Passionate – Introverts are among the most passionate people on earth. When we believe in something or have strong feelings for a cause, there is no stopping us. We will do whatever it takes to help others, to achieve our goals, and get what we desire.
Honest and Direct – Ask an introvert what they think about something, they may not tell you what you want to hear. We tend to tell you like it is, whether you are ready to hear it or not.
Reliable – We can be counted on. You need us; we are there.
Calm and Practical – Things such as the COVID-19 fiasco doesn’t have us introverts cowering in a corner. We understand the situation, and use logical thinking to respond. We are more calm than our extrovert counterparts, not letting our emotions take us to a realm of chaos in the face of tough situations.
Sensitive to Others – We have a knack for being very empathetic, and thoughtful towards others being very aware of their emotions. Just let us know how we can help!
5. Workout your weaknesses
Yes, we have weaknesses just like anyone else. To improve our lives, and ourselves, we need to work on improving our weaknesses or at least acknowledging them so that we can work around them. Here are the most common weaknesses among introverts.
Judgmental – We are very sensitive to others, but we can also be very judgmental. When someone brings up an idea, be sure you listen to them! Don’t assume their thinking is flawed (even if we are always right…)
Private / Withdrawn – “Oh you don’t want to hear about me. How about we talk about you?” We can be very closed off to others because letting people in feels like an intrusion of our privacy. Due to this, we can withdraw and make it hard for others to connect.
Sensitive – Oh how I hate criticism! I don’t care if it’s meant to be constructive. Any form of negative feedback is a hard pill for me to swallow (even though I need feedback to grow!) Sound familiar? Introverts like us, don’t like people questioning our intentions, values or principles. It feels like an attack on us personally.
Perfectionist – We are human, and nobody is perfect. Ha! That doesn’t apply to us! We want everything to turn out exactly as planned, as thought out, as pictured and we get extremely frustrated if it doesn’t.
Overload – Limits? What are those? Bring it on! Oh, Wait! Too much too much! Need I say more?
Just keep learning!
The most important thing for you to do is starting learning who you are by finding out why you act and react the way you do. You are NOT weird! You are awesome, spectacular and unique! Own it!
