Tuesday, June 24, 2008

musing on Myers Briggs

Ever since Bea pronounced me an ENFP more than a year ago, I go through periodic obsessions with Myers Briggs Type Indicator. I'm in one right now.

I had a sudden epiphany a few weeks ago, that when I butt heads with someone or don't understand at all where they're coming from or why they're in a twist about something, it's probably because they're an SJ. It started to become a bit of a dirty word for me, and I started to assume that if I disliked someone they must be an SJ. Last week, I discovered two of my cube-mates are SJs... Eek! I'm surrounded by them! Of course, I quite like my cube-mates, so this was surprising and enlightening. It was also humbling and rather amusing that I thought my type sounded so awesome and how lucky was I to be considered one of them, and my SJ colleague jumped to my denfence: "That's not very nice," she said when she read a description of ENFP, "Sometimes procrastinates?" Like procrastination is one of the worst things someone could do.

"Oh yeah..." I replied, utterly unconcerned. "I'm a total procrastinator."

The same description said that ENFPs work best on a time with a couple of Js to keep us in line. So it's a good thing I'm surrounded by SJs at work.

11 comments:

Mad said...

Every time I take that freakin' test, I'm something different. I think it's all part of Bea's evil plot to keep us navel-gazing and riddled with self-doubt. Sure, she's all smiling and smart and friendly but are we sure she's not here to undermine us?

(Hi, Bea. Tee hee. Waves frantically.)

Defiantmuse said...

I had NO idea what you were talking about. I googled it. lol. apparently I'm an ISFP. but when I read about it I don't think it describes me much.

niobe said...

It's those Fs that baffle and sometimes annoy me. (sorry)

cinnamon gurl said...

Defiantmuse, I totally think you're an SP, and probably an F too... so that only leaves the E up for grabs (in my opinion). In fact, when I read Bea's post a while about SPs, I totally thought of you.

Mad, what's wrong with navel gazing and self-doubt? ;) I saw a proverb the other day that was something along the lines of great doubt creates great enlightenment, small doubt creates small enlightenment, and no doubt creates no enlightenment.

cinnamon gurl said...

Niobe, no need for apology. Ts baffle me too. :)

Beck said...

I wobble wildly between being an E and an I. Am I shy? Am I outgoing? WHO WILL TELL ME?

Bea said...

That's so funny. Hubby is a certifiable SJ-phobe. Me, I'm more leary of those ESTPs (but chalk that up to experience).

cinnamon gurl said...

Ooh, Bea. ESTPs - I bet high school jocks are mostly ESTPs, don't you think?

Anonymous said...

Okay, I'm gonna bite the bullet and Myers Brigg myself -- I must crack the code of this blog!

Anonymous said...

Mad, that's just because you're so complex and interesting! ;)

Aren't SJs supposed to be the most common type? It's funny that you don't see much of them online--I wonder if that's because they're all too busy off, you know, living their lives, instead of writing about them.

I have my own experiences with SJs. I try not to tar the rest of them with the same brush. Sometimes it's a struggle

Run ANC said...

Okay, now I'm going to have to take the test again, because I can't remember what I am, and what all the letters mean.