personality

One thing you should know about me is that I love personality tests. I think it's fascinating to understand what makes you tick, and I think it's vital in interacting with other people. Now, I don't think taking a personality test automatically tells you who you are and what you need and what makes you happy. But I do think they're fun because they get you thinking about those things.

Awhile ago at a work training we spent a portion of the morning doing a little Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator test and discussing how different personalities can interact positively at work. I had done a full-blown Meyers-Briggs test freshman year, but it spoke to me more this time.

With Meyers-Briggs there are four sections:

• Energy Focus: Extroversion / Introversion
• Information Learning: Sensing / Intuition
• Decisions: Thinking / Feeling
• Lifestyle: Judging / Perceiving 

You may fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum in these categories or you may be farther to one side. It's important to note that each of these things will apply to us at times, but there is generally a favored trait for each category. We aren't one-dimensional people. It's valuable to learn about how you think and take the time to observe yourself. 

Extroverts turn more outward to the world of action, people and things, while introverts turn more to the inner world of ideas and privacy. 

People who learn through sensing pay more attention to detail, personal experience, and the five senses. Those who learn through intuition tend to look at patterns and the "big picture." 

Thinking people use logic and objective information. Feeling people make decisions based on feelings, judgment, subjective information and person-centered concerns. 

Let's note first that "Judging" does not imply that you are judgmental of other people. This division is kind of like planning/spontaneity. Judging people like a planned and organized approach to life, they like to make decisions but they may struggle with changing plans. Perceiving people like to be flexible and spontaneous; they may have trouble making decisions or finishing projects.

You put these all together and that gives you your personality type. I think it's so interesting how we are constantly evolving. Freshman year I came out as an ENFJ, right now I would probably classify myself as an ISFP. 

This is the description of my current dominant personality type:  

ISFP

Observant, loyal HELPERS; reflective, realistic, empathetic, patient with details. Shunning disagreements, they are gentle, reserved and modest. Having introverted FEELING as their strongest mental process, they are at their best when responding to the needs of others. They value:

- Personal loyalty; a close, loyal friend

- Finding delight in the moment

- Seeing what needs doing to improve the moment

- Freedom from organizational constraints

- Working individually

- Peacemaking behind the scenes

- Attentiveness to feelings

- Harmonious, cooperative work settings

- Spontaneous, hands-on exploration

- Gentle, respectful interactions

- Deeply help personal beliefs

- Reserved reflective behavior

- Practical, useful skills and know-how

- Having their work life be fully consistent with deeply held values

- Showing and receiving appreciation

When you know yourself and consider how other people work I think everything just makes more sense. 

Finally, from Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery:

"There's such a lot of different Annes in me. I sometimes think that is why I'm such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn't be half so interesting."

We all have different people inside us. No one is the same all the time, and that is part of the fun of living and interacting with other people. We each have many layers and the top layer is constantly changing.