I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T

I’ve always loved quizzes and personality typeology stuff. When I was a teenager my mom made me do the Myers-Briggs test, and I’ve done the Birkman and DIRT test at work. They can be down right creepy at times. A sheet of paper or a computer screen knows more about you than you do yourself. Sometimes you never really noticed you were like that until it tells you.

Last week I re-did my Myers-Briggs to see if anything had changed. I’m an ENFP; I was an ENFJ as a teenager. Let me show you what it said. I’m pretty sure you’ll see me in it.

ENFPs are warm, enthusiastic people, typically very bright and full of potential. They live in the world of possibilities, and can become very passionate and excited about things. Their enthusiasm lends them the ability to inspire and motivate others, more so than we see in other types. They can talk their way in or out of anything. They love life, seeing it as a special gift, and strive to make the most out of it.

ENFPs have an unusually broad range of skills and talents. They are good at most things which interest them. Project-oriented, they may go through several different careers during their lifetime. To onlookers, the ENFP may seem directionless and without purpose, but ENFPs are actually quite consistent, in that they have a strong sense of values which they live with throughout their lives. Everything that they do must be in line with their values. An ENFP needs to feel that they are living their lives as their true Self, walking in step with what they believe is right. They see meaning in everything, and are on a continuous quest to adapt their lives and values to achieve inner peace. They’re constantly aware and somewhat fearful of losing touch with themselves. Since emotional excitement is usually an important part of the ENFP’s life, and because they are focused on keeping “centered”, the ENFP is usually an intense individual, with highly evolved values.

This is why I found it particularly interesting this time around:

• In the last 10 months since launching this blog, many of you have told me I inspire you. I sometimes think “Anyone can be inspiring. What does it mean that I am?” But it never occurred to me that I might have a personality type that is more inclined to inspire than some than other people.
• This blog is about how I “love life, seeing it as a special gift, and strive to make the most out of it” and how I’m “on a continuous quest to adapt [my] life and values to achieve inner peace” (or whatever the protestant version of ‘inner peace’ is)

Focusing on strengths

We all have something to offer. We’re not all alike. There are things that you might be better at than I will. Why don’t you go do the test yourself and see what insight it offers. Are there things that stick out about your personality type that you capitalize on? I had never thought about this until I came across the Strengths Finder test. The big drive of this one is to know your strengths and do those things, rather than constantly trying to improve your weaknesses. This is super smart.

What are you good at? What do you love? If you do what you’re good at and what you love, you will likely naturally succeed at it. All the hours of work and dedication will seem like nothing.

Take the test and share in the comments 1) what your type is and 2) what it said about you that you realized is true.