I/ENTPs and Mental Paralysis

[Jennifer]

1.Do any of you ever feel as though you don't (or possibly, won't ever) understand anything to the extent that you'd like? Please note that when I say 'anything', I'm referring to big Q questions on the level of morality, tolerance, piety, justice, reality, etc.

We will never be able to understand it all completely to the extent I would like. I thought I could when i was very young but realized how fruitless it was, eventually.

One problem is that we don't know what we don't know -- hence, a gray area.

Second, it's too complex and involves some seeming paradox in parts of the system.

Third, there always has to be some grounding assumptions... and no matter what logic is used after that fact, the assumptions that have to be made (even about what sort of discourse is productive) means that the rational effigy raised will potentially have clay feet.

2. Does the ability to see so many different (and often contradictory) sides of a given issue ever leave you feeling paralyzed? If so, how do you overcome it when asked to place "premature" judgment upon something?

Yes, all the time. It took me a very LONG time in life to make decisions and draw conclusions in the face of this paralyzation -- it became more about "What do you want to do?" rather than "What conclusions can you 100% support and thus do?"

There's also the issue of competing needs -- one answer is rational but it undermines relationships that I have learned to value, the other answer might maintain the relationships but undermine my understanding of the issue. And then we also come down to giving up an elegant but unrealistic solution in order to implement something less desirable that still accomplishes much of the goal.

Deciding which of these is more important in a given context is a personal values choice... or at least demands a new way of recrunching the data.

How do I overcome it? I just make the best decision I can, tell myself I have to live with the results, and reserve the option to change course in mid-stream if necessary or if more info comes to light.

This last bit is the most important; I am not making a "permanent" decision, I am just making a temporary one and can change it whenever I want, which relieves anxiety.

Also, with experience comes confidence, and with confidence in one's own power/efficacy comes the ability to plunge ahead even if not ALL information is known or understood.

3. Is "mental paralysis" more prevalent in younger I/ENTPs, or does it withstand the test of time?

I think it's far more prevalent when young, until you get some life experience under your belt and learn the reality of engaging a tangible fallible imperfect world. More successful NTPs will learn how to navigate real life as they gain more experience... or withdraw from it.

[entropie]

1. Do any of you ever feel as though you don't (or possibly, won't ever) understand anything to the extent that you'd like? Please note that when I say 'anything', I'm referring to big Q questions on the level of morality, tolerance, piety, justice, reality, etc.

On the level of morality, tolerance, piety and justice, I dont think so no. But concerning reality: yes


2. Does the ability to see so many different (and often contradictory) sides of a given issue ever leave you feeling paralyzed? If so, how do you overcome it when asked to place "premature" judgment upon something?

Well first of all, I barely see things in things that contradict each other, they can be antithetic but they are nevertheless in a relation, if I see em.

2nd I dont often see many different views on a thing at once, illumination comes with time. Given MBTI for example I am now fitted with several mental constructs you can approach the topic with or the topic can influence you. That's frustrating yes and my attempts to vent about that in threads didnt meet much acceptance.

Ultimately I consider it as a form of wisdom to be able to tell someone different PoVs on a given situation, but without leaving him confused, rather than to give him a new idea.

What I accept for myself as the truth, I dont know really. I dont think that I am about to take one side, I will rather try and stay in the middle. But when push would come to show, I am sure I would try my best and be a good person in the general sense, tho I would know there are different ways to understand the term "good person"

3. Is "mental paralysis" more prevalent in younger I/ENTPs, or does it withstand the test of time?

I would say yes and no, depends on your life. I have seen mature entps who are ultimately depressed, while I myself went through it when I was young.

Its something like a closed chapter to me nowadays and I dont think I can ever get into that state again, cause I have found my truth in it.

But there are still alot of discoveries lieing ahead and I dont know if one of them can corrupt me again, I cant say for sure. What I tho can say for sure, self-reflection and contemplation about life will be my saviour till the day I die.

[Bubbles]

Mm, as an INFP, I can actually relate to a lot of these issues. Having infinite possibilities and therefore having issues deciding on which are the most ethical, productive, etc, is very paralyzing to me. I'm finding the answers on this thread pretty interesting, honestly.

[entropie]

Want a Scotch too ?

[avolkiteshvara]

Realizing I can't know it all have really just affected............how I handle what I don't know.

I pay less attention to what I do know and kind of focus my intuition on the stuff I don't.

I don't know if that makes any sense.

[entropie]

sounds like the badass tautology, which is life to me

[cattywample]

I'm sorry for taking such a long vacation from this thread– summer finals/projects were eating up all of my time. Thanks to everyone who responded, though! As soon as I get home from my hike today I'll read over all of your answers.

As for the confusion over 'Mental Paralysis'....

Originally Posted by Matthew_Z

By mental paralysis, do you mean a state induced by excessive thought to the point that making judgments is rendered impossible?

I do.

...I probably should have known better than to use my own homegrown terms.

[Tiny Army]

Originally Posted by cattywample

[size="3"][font="Times New Roman"]
1. Do any of you ever feel as though you don't (or possibly, won't ever) understand anything to the extent that you'd like? Please note that when I say 'anything', I'm referring to big Q questions on the level of morality, tolerance, piety, justice, reality, etc.

I do sometimes feel this way but I always put it down to a lack of effort on my part.

Originally Posted by cattywample

[2. Does the ability to see so many different (and often contradictory) sides of a given issue ever leave you feeling paralyzed? If so, how do you overcome it when asked to place "premature" judgment upon something?

If I have to make a decision based on the information. I cannot make a decision until all sides of an argument are explored. Sometimes I will delay making a decision until I can consolidate the best aspects of each argument into one more efficient argument. This can take forever.

Originally Posted by cattywample

[3. Is "mental paralysis" more prevalent in younger I/ENTPs, or does it withstand the test of time?

I don't know. I'm still young. Doesn't seem like there is an end in sight, though.