As an ENTJ, it's easy for me to understand how Inferior Fi can play into the standard 8 narrative of the need to be strong to compensate for feelings of vulnerability, and how when I cope with my Inferior Fi issues it could produce an integrated persona closer to that of a healthy 2. Do you feel that the same is true in your case? To me, it would seem that an ENFP capable of relating to Si in a healthy way would be more like a more integrated member of any one of the head types.
Interesting. I mistyped at 5 for a while before I typed at 8.
My life's work is writing fiction and music, and putting multi-media projects together. I have always been more drawn to creative arts than physical sports as career pursuits. However, a major aspect of what I love about my work IS the physical. My work involves being on stage, which is physical, and shooting videos and photos which involves climbing through nature etc. Also, I have to work out a lot to look good on stage and in photos.
Still, creative projects are what I love most in life and where I channel most of my energy, and a few of the artists who have inspired me most have been typed on forums as 5s. The 5-ish laser-like focus and competency need is definitely present. But the themes are easily more 2-ish and 8-ish. The sci-fi/fantasy book I'm writing now, complicated as it is, has a theme mostly focused on revenge ... but also a theme about overcoming the want for power and control, and giving in to vulnerability and love. There is even a love-related sacrifice at the end.
Listening to songs that I've written throughout my life, I can find a lot of 8ish and 2ish themes, but not as many 5ish themes. There's a lot of focus on lust, triumph over adversity, power, vulnerability, revenge, anger, and giving that up for love; but there's only a vague flavor of existential type thinking. However, there is a 5ish objectivity or snark at times; and some songs about being inspired to look into myself and figure things out.
I think that the dynamic of an 8 fixation in an ENP is interesting because the control of the enviornment seems to hinge on directing the thoughts, ideas and perceptions of those around them. That would make me think that any ENP that was actually an 8 would be more likely to be an 8w7 than an 8w9, because they have the ESTPs melee quality but one that plays out on an intellectual level rather than a physical one.
Hmm.. good point. I suppose this is why people keep telling me I'm an 8w7 rather than 8w9. It may be true, and I'm still considering it. But what I'm wondering about is this: I relate more to the 8w9 descriptions of "drawing a line in the sand " than the 8w7 descriptions of people going around picking fights, constantly seeking conflict. Could I be an 8w7 who would rather avoid conflict than start a fight unnecessarily, but is not afraid of conflict, and draws a clear line in the sand?
Aside from that aspect, what you describe here is true of me: my goal-focus tends to be on more intellectual pursuits.
How would you say that the lines to 2 and 5 manifest in you? Also, are most of your pursuits physical?