Have you ever met someone and considered whether they might literally be an alien? Or at one point have you thought that you were so different from those around you that you might be too? Well, rest assured that most of us are not actually aliens (although I have my suspicions about our 2016 Presidential Candidates).
Nonetheless, if you can relate to this than you could greatly benefit from the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Based off Carl Jung’s typological research, the MBTI assessment has identified 16 distinct personality types determined by questions that gauge how an individual perceives the world and the choices they make in their day to day life.
By taking this test not only will you increase your self awareness, but by studying the types of others you can gain insights useful in communication, business, social settings, and truly every other facet of life.
1. You’ll realize you’re not as crazy as you thought.
Before I took the MBTI I felt isolated from my those around me because I had a difficult time communicating with my peers and felt as if I was never truly understood. Come to find out, there are many other people out there like me, who have already faced the same tribulations and have learned how to overcome them. For anyone else who scored my type (INFJ), I’m sure you especially can relate to this because INFJ is the rarest of the 16 types.
2. You’ll be able to recognize more of your positive attributes.
Once you have determined your four letter type, you’ll be able to find a plethora of resources that can provide information on the attributes you most likely have, indicated solely based on your type. In my case, I realized that INFJs are more observant than most, enabling them to recognize patterns and behaviors and make decisions to help others based off of it. I had been doing that my whole life, but never gave myself enough credit.
3. You’ll find opportunities for personal growth.
Just as the MBTI can point out your positive traits, it can show you where you have room for improvement. Let’s face it, we could all use a little help sometimes in the self-awareness department. Something I have been able to leverage is my new found enlightenment about communicating. It’s in my nature to speak in a matter-of-fact tone, loudly, and with lots of hand gestures. To my dismay, that’s the kind of behavior that pisses some people off or scares them away. Try telling an Italian not to talk with their hands, I dare you.
4. Someone might not be trying to offend you, that’s just who they are.
It became very clear to me after taking this test (and becoming obsessed with it and learning about all the other types) that I hadn’t given a fair chance to a lot of the people I have encountered in life because I either underestimated them or misunderstood them. For example, something I learned is that I was being too hard on my friends and significant other for not actively making plans with me and following through with them precisely as we had intended. The truth is, some personality types are stressed out by planning and would rather just go with the flow.
5. You’ll be more receptive to the things that irritate other people.
As previously noted, just as someone can push your buttons, surely there are things you do that irritate other types. For example, being the INFJ I am, I’m naturally drawn to conspiracy theories—and I don’t just like them… I obsess over them. With all of the research I accumulate I could go on forever about the things I find. However, some people just want you to get to the damn point so they can get on with their day instead of you telling them about every crisis actor scandal. For real though, that’s creepy stuff and you should really Google it some time.
6. Understanding and expressing your emotions will become less of a hairy beast.
As a personality type that strongly prefers feeling over thinking, I am a hopeless romantic at heart… However, I never really let anyone know this. I sometimes appear to have a very logical exterior and am very business minded so letting my “feely” side come out scares me sometimes. I learned after reading about MBTI that my sympathetic, romantic mindset will most likely follow me through life and that I can’t push my feelings away. Just let it out. In the end having people understand who you truly are will make everyone’s lives easier. Your boyfriend who you assumed would think that life-size teddy bear would be lame? Maybe he secretly wanted it too.
7. What types of careers suite you.
When you receive the results from your MBTI test, oftentimes it will provide insights into the career paths most suitable for your personality type. For some this could be the necessary push in a specific direction they hadn’t considered pursing. Though in my case, it was reassuring to see that INFJ’s excel in creative professions, considering I am a graphic designer.
8. What learning styles work best for you.
Have you ever been intensely frustrated because you’re listening to someone explain something to you metaphorically you but you just can’t seem to grasp it? If that’s the case, it’s highly likely that your four letter type will have an S (the sensory type), which means that you likely are literal, like facts and details, and prefer practical applications. On the other hand, if you’re an N (the intuitive type) you’re a big picture thinker that is ok with abstract descriptions. Learning what you prefer will make it easier for you to verbalize your learning expectations and also share information with others effectively.
9. What type of person you should date.
Let me just start by saying that I can attest to this because my significant other is an ENTP and he and I look at each other like we’re aliens sometimes because we’re so different from each other but at the end of the day no one has ever made me happier. Interestingly enough, Carl Jung, the architect of typology research, was a fellow INFJ (which could explain my addiction to understanding personality types) and his wife was an ENTP. Myers Briggs really is the new “what’s your sign?”
10. You will better understand what makes your partner happy
Remember when I said that MBTI would come in handy for not annoying people? That comes into play here too. In my own relationship, our biggest hurdle is that he is an extrovert and I’m an introvert. When we’re talking, I’ve learned that it’s probably not a good idea to bring a conversation to a grinding halt with five minutes of silence to ponder the complexity of life. He has learned that sometimes I need to reflect on my feelings and gather them before I can say them out loud and that patience is key. So is compromising.
11. The best way to approach your boss and co-workers.
Just as the MBTI helps you better communicate with friends, family, and significant others, it’s a very useful tool in business. Understanding your bosses and co-worker’s personality styles, or even taking the time to understand their communication preferences, can greatly impact your professional relationship and workflow. If I’m a supervisor one day, I would want everyone to contact me about work through email so I have time to think and reflect about the best choice.
12. Motivating others will become easier.
Do you have a knack for motivating people? If not, maybe you should consider learning said person's personality type to determine what things make them tick. For instance, I’ve been a perfectionist since before I could talk and sometimes when my perfectionist vision doesn’t transcend into reality I get discouraged. Someone who understands my type would know that they should tell me “take your time, relax, and prioritize your goals”. Hearing something like that always resets me.
13. You’ll find role models you can relate to.
We all need a little guidance now and then. But what if I told you that almost every influential figure in the world has been typed? Knowing that Mahatma Gandhi, Plato, and Thomas Jefferson are all INFJs (or that researchers hypothesized they would be) narrows my focus into the people I should do research about. I’m really inspired by quotes and love being surrounded by them, and I’ve found that the ones I identify with most are that of the words of fellow INFJs.
14. Parenting could seem less complicated.
There are so many resources for parents and some-day parents that offer recommendations and observations for your type. The best way to test this was to look up the parenting style of my mom’s type (ENFJ) and see whether or not it was accurate in our relationship. In short, ENFJs are very encouraging, nurturing parents that are very open with their children. The children of ENFJs are said to understand the value of deep, thought provoking conversation, and what do you know… ENFJ parents will most likely have kids that pursue careers in art or therapy, which incase anyone was wondering are my top two career choices. That settles that.
Where you can take the test:
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