Personality Change
I have taken all kinds of psychology tests lately, thanks to this still relatively new world (to me) of blogging. I’ve been directed to quizzes that have told me that I’m an ISTJ, an Espresso, Yoda, Chamomile, and Japanese food. For a long time now (about 4 years) I have believed that I am an ISTJ. At the least, I am the “TJ” in that equation. I never really got what the “S” stood for, and I’m borderline I/E. In one personality test that I took (a real one, done by a psychiatrist) I tested as an EXTREME “T.”
Well, that has all changed. I took the real-deal Myers-Briggs a few weeks ago. According to it, I am an ISFP. That was news to me! I know that I have learned to be more compassionate and merciful than I ever have been in my life. But I would not describe myself as “feeler” as opposed to a “thinker.” I still believe that I make most of my decisions based on what my logical, thinking mind sees. I can see where the “P” comes from, though. Although I anally plan out my trips, my schedule, my to-do list and all, I love to be laid back about weekends, and I am a horrible procrastinator. I welcome interruptions to the mundane that is many of my days. And so, I am a “P.” An ISFP, to be exact!
January 31st, 2006 at 2:01 pm
It might makre more sense if I knew what all those letters stand for. Since I don’t, I think you’re just in tghe middle of a MLC.
February 1st, 2006 at 9:17 pm
*L* At Chewy’s Mom!
When I took the “official” Myers-Briggs, it was when I was preggers with #3. I was completely honest on it–as honest as I could be. And yet, my answers were still based more on who I thought I was and who I thought I wanted to be, rather than squarely on the reality of who God created me to be.
Hence, my “official” profile came back ENTJ–but very balanced, close to middle E, T and J.
Over the past several years, as God has taken away some of the “safe” things in my life and allowed my sin to be brighter before my eyes, and shown me my daily need for His grace–He has also allowed me to see more of who He created me to be. (To His glory!)
I’m strongly an I. In fact, most missionaries I know are energetic, outgoing, other-oriented I’s. Thinking of my closest missionary friends, all of them were I’s–except one, who I only knew was an E because she told me so. (And that was one of her overseas struggles–how she recharged with others, yet with the language barrier she was more isolated.)
I’m strongly an N–the only one that hasn’t changed as I accept myself more as who I am, not who I think I should be.
For the last two. . . I’m not 100% sure I’m an FP. I’m definitely more P than J, but have some J tendencies. But F? I’ve thought about it a lot, and the profiles that mix the characteristics together still don’t clarify things. . .
I believe a lot of Christians either are more, or think they are more T and J than they really are. Because they want to use the Bible and what God says as an absolute standard. They shy away from “situational” ethics and the like. They want to be logical. And so they perceive a greater value, a greater “rightness” in the way of living and thinking in the TJ characteristics. And so they see themselves more strongly in those ways–regardless of their personality or who they are as God created them.
Hmmmm. . . Didn’t mean to go on and on. . . But this is fascinating stuff to me and I believe God can use it to help us understand who we are, how we can glorify Him, and how we are in need of Christ and the Gospel of grace daily.
February 1st, 2006 at 9:26 pm
TG, I knew I liked you!!
I can DEFINITELY see where I have moved from T to F in my parenting and in my relationship with my DH. And even with others. God has taught me mercy through some difficult times–it has been a huge learning process that has changed how I act and how I react toward others.
And now I’m curious…how does your DH test out on the Myers-Briggs? Are y’all a lot alike, or opposites??