What Defines You?

[LunarMoon]

While preparing packages for my small business I reflected on the fact that I almost entirely define myself based on my occupation, accomplishments, and socioeconomical status, and couldn't help thinking about how unsavory that would be for someone who centered their identity around their relationship to others, their country of origin, their sex, or something less tangible. I'd imagine that an INFP or even an INTJ wouldn't define herself entirely based upon her work for instance but I wouldn't put it past most NTs to associate themselves with their competencies and abilities. Parallel to that, most SJs that I know of seem to think of themselves in relationship to their family and friends. So the question is: what do you, as whichever type you are, define yourself by?

 

[Amethyst]

I define myself by my accomplishments and how far I am from accomplishing something that I find to be significant. I've lost most social connections, and for the most part it hasn't really affected me. I had doubts thinking I was the crazy immature one who broke all ties with them and that I need to improve myself because I'm not to my own standards in behavior, but with much thought and consultation I believe it to be their fault, which makes things so much better because then I can just move on without them trying to put guilt trips on me.

 

[Jaguar]

While preparing packages for my small business I reflected on the fact that I almost entirely define myself based on my occupation, accomplishments, and socioeconomical status. [...] but I wouldn't put it past most NTs to associate themselves with their competencies...

Your occupation is outside yourself.
Your accomplishments are outside yourself.
Your socioeconomic status is outside yourself.

What the hell do you stand for? Who are you?

This isn't about MBTI type. It's about consciousness.
As long as you keep looking outside, you never have to look inside.

If a dog shits on the newspaper rather than the carpet, has he defined himself?
He's "competent."

Gee, great dog.

 

[miss fortune]

by what's missing

 

[gromit]

I don't really like defining myself.

 

[miss fortune]

^ hence those Xs

 

[soft]

i think the quality of my relationships with friends/family define me. tbh, i would be happy accomplishing nothing for the rest of my life, as long as i had my closest friends with me the whole time.

also, my desire for a deep intimate relationship. right now that's the only thing i really feel is missing from my life. it seriously depresses me though, so i guess it's important to me.

 

[gromit]

^ hence those Xs

EXACTLY. ALthough I'll think about this and try to see if I can actually come up with a real answer to the question...

 

[Little_Sticks]

...
So the question is: what do you, as whichever type you are, define yourself by?

I define myself by my ability to positively influence the world as I see it. I want things to work well and I want people to be as happy as possible and be as trustful of others as possible. If I only seem to negatively influence the world in my eyes, I start to question what value I have as a human being, and when I seem to positively influence the world in my eyes, I feel 'successful', useful, and competent.

Nice thread

 

[Kaveri]

I define myself by my personality type and astrological sign. Kidding. I define myself by my thoughts, emotions, characteristics, plans, ideas... mostly by my ideas of who I want to become or what I love. xD

But if someone asks who I am or what I'm like, I will tell my sex, my age and my occupation.