A Peek Into My Cranium!
When starting any new project, and I love starting new
projects, especially a creative project, such as writing, I invariably ask myself a question like: “What should I
write about?”
Answer: “Daily Double!”
Me to myself: “Stay on task”
Answer: “Am I too task-oriented?”
Me to myself: “Oriented. What an interesting word… I wonder
what the etymology is?”
Answer: “Go Google it”
(Boot up computer to Google)
Me to myself: “Hey, I need to check my Facebook/Update
Twitter!”
(10 min later…)
Me to myself: “What was I doing again?”
Answer: “Writing blog post about being an ENFP”
Me to myself: “ Right! What to write about? Hey, right and
write, homophones!”
(Begin to think other homophones. Google is now open on my
computer, finally get back on task: blog post)
Answer: “Google is right there, use it to look up post ideas.”
Me to myself (Quoting Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory):
“Thanks brain!”
Google Answer: “Write what you know best!”
Me to myself: “What do I know best?”
Answer: “You know yourself (about personalities, MBTI), art:
music, painting, drawing and writing…
Analysis of Chaos
At this point, I think you get the idea… yes, that is how I
work (my brain works), shocking as it may seem to some of you. You may be thinking:
“How on earth do you get anything done?” That is a fair question, but an
excellent one. Two answers:
1. I have an associative mind, leaping at high
speeds to each new topic and often finding great humor between the connections.
Again, this is constant and occurs very quickly, meaning that I get back to the
first topic (my goal), relatively fast… if… and this is a big IF… no external
actions are required to continue. In my example, I started the computer and
therefore, probably would have had another 20 thoughts before getting to: “I
need to check my Facebook/Update Twitter.”
2. This is normal to me. I have always been like
this, and have developed creative ways to stay on task. If I am actively
engaged in a project (in the middle of the a task already (the specific example
above is drawn from the planning stages of a project and not during), my
thoughts tend to be more streamlined and on target, but not all of them, and it
takes conscious effort to stay on target. As naive as this sounds, I have more
recently become increasingly aware that many other people’s minds do not work
the same way, some do, but not all…. and that fascinates me!
ENFP – What Does
This Acronym Stand For?
Extroverted
Intuitive (N)
Feeling
Perceiving
This acronymic description comes from Myers-Briggs Type
Indicator (MBTI), which divides all humans into 16 distinct personality types.
This test does not truly define who you are, (ENFP’s like me, hate to be
defined…but that’s another post topic) but generalizes your approach, mental process,
and reactions to life, highlighting preferences. You may be similar to another
person with the same type (same preferences), but your experiences and genetic
makeup are unique to you and will modify those preferences accordingly.
It was only about six months ago that I took a MBTI test and
found out that I was an ENFP. This was very illuminating experience in my life,
enabling me to relate and think about myself in direct and honest fashion. Other
ENFP’s that I have interacted with on Facebook and read about online, dislike
the MBTI test, because it “put’s them in a box” or so they feel, but my love of
understanding people and my desire to become the best and most complete person
that I can, compels me to utilize the MBTI system.
System Default.
Before I jump into explaining what the letters mean for my
personality type (ENFP), I just want to further emphasize that these are my
natural preferences in how I approach the world around me in my day-to-day
life. I can choose to go against my preferences, but these are my “default
manufacturer settings” if you will.
Underlying the letters of each type are cognitive functions,
formed from the interaction of two of the letters in combinations (like
Extroverted Intuition – my primary function). For the purposes of this post, I
am going to paint in broad strokes here, and not delve into the functions. If
you would like to learn more on this topic – simply Google “ENFP Cognitive
Functions” and you will find a plethora of websites and blogs dedicated in
their entirety to this topic. How does
this all relate to this blog? To me, being an ENFP forms the basis for my
creative endeavors as an artist and if I can better understand myself, I can
embrace who I am and live a happier and more productive life!
ENFP – What Do the
Letters Mean?
Extroverted
I am an extrovert, which basically means that I am outward
focused. Yes, I am social, but more importantly, I gain energy from those
around me. I then spend that energy working on creative activities, like
blogging.
For example, I go and play board games on Wednesday nights
each week with a group of my friends who live in a neighboring town. I then
work hard on Thursday morning writing this article, using the energy that I
gained from the previous night interactions. I like to talk about ideas, and
process my feelings and thoughts about life verbally. This can be a turn-off
for some people, so I have attempted to develop a timing filter of when it is
appropriate to do this and when not (no, I have not perfected it yet, I may never
get it right, but I try anyway).
Intuitive
I am an intuitive thinker and my primary approach to the
world and new situations is through intuitive, external interaction: this means
that I am quick to spot patterns and connects between ideas—a global thinker
over details. I like to work in short burst of energy as well. This is an
abstract type feature (letter of the acronym), but that makes since, because
“intuitive people” like abstract ideas, and tend to be more theoretical than
practical or detail focused.
Feeling
I am feeling based person, but do not necessarily equate the
term “feeling” with “emotions” here. Feeling implies more than just being
strongly emotional; although, in my case, this is probably truer than I would
at this point like to admit. : ) Ok, you
got me, I’m emotional. I cry in Pixar movies, but then again, if you don’t —
you have no soul!
I usually enjoy
interacting with people, and I have a sincere desire to understand them, help
them to grow, and to have a fun time in the process. I am interested in their thoughts,
desires, life-goals and dreams. In addition, I have strongly developed principals and morals
on which I live my life, and I value harmony over clarity (people like my wife,
an INTJ, value clarity over harmony. Those whose preference is for Thinking
rather than Feeling—seek clarity in life.) This does not mean that I just go
with my feelings when making decisions. I have worked hard to be more rational
and logic based in my decision-making, so that I don’t get carried away with
myself, but my feelings do matter to me throughout the process.
Perceiving
Lastly, I am perceiver. I am constantly taking in data and
am open/eagerly seek new experiences, places, and friends. I dislike
micro-management, schedules etc… as they restrict my artistic impulses and
creative endeavors, but also understand their value in that they greatly help
me to keep up with my career responsibilities and objectives.
Opposites
For the sake of completeness, here is a diagram below of the eight
possible letters that can compose a personality type in the MBTI system. To form a personality type, you must choose one letter from each pair of opposites to create a four letter acronym, like: ENFP, INTJ, ESTP, ISFP or ESTJ etc.
VS.
Extroverted
|
Introverted
|
Intuitive (N)
|
Sensing
|
Feeling
|
Thinking
|
Perceiving
|
Judging
|
To give a quick generalized overview:
If you are not Extroverted then are Introverted and prefer
to spend time alone to gain energy to spend on interacting with others.
If you are not intuitive (N) then you are a Sensor, meaning that
you use your senses in a concrete way to explore the world or processes things.
If you are not Feeling based then you employ Thinking (I
already highlighted one the differences when talking about my Wife: Harmony vs. Clarity).
Lastly, if you are not a Perceiver like me, then you are a
Judger (no negative connotation here) – someone who is organized, analytical,
and objective.
ENFPs: General
Info
According to several websites on the ENFP personality type,
ENFP’s comprise 7-8% of the population (I am not sure if this is US population
or the world population); regardless, ENFP’s are typically female: 2:1 ratio of
female to male ENFPs.
ENFP’s are the most introverted of the extroverted personality
types, because we gain energy through interaction with others and then turn around
and spend all that energy being creative and doing quiet activities alone, which
we really love doing! Most extroverts do not like being on their own very much,
but, to an ENFP, alone time is important for number of reasons: mostly thought/emotional
processing and creative endeavors.
In some future post, I could talk about going against the
typical Male stereotype, because I have a predominantly female personality type
(sensitive, warm, enthusiastic, emotional and free spirited person — you get
the idea). But in the end, I don’t think that way of thinking is point of all this, or really that
relevant to this blog. To me, using the MBTI method has enabled me to gain a
better understanding of myself, grow as a consequent of it, and to embrace the
fact that I have a creative personality type — I am able to channel who I am
creatively and enjoy living my life doing the things I love!
Post a shout out if you are ENFP in the comments below,
because you are awesome! Have you ever taken an MBTI test? If so, what
personality type do you have in this system?
Remember to go out there and be creative!
—Charles
