I am an ENTP, and lately, I've noticed that I have a very difficult time being completely alone. I just find it grating. I've tried reading, doing crossword puzzles, all kinds of other stuff. I just seem to always get bored, put it down, and find someone to chat with.
It's not damaging my life per se, but it can certainly make particular situations unpleasant. It's also putting a damper on the development of my Ti function, which I feel needs development to be up to snuff with my Ne.
Any other ENTPs struggle with this? Any suggestions?
I love being alone! Equally as much as I love to socialize. It just depends on how much socializing or alone time I've had. I.e., if I've been a hermit for 5 days, I'll crave the social connection, while if I've been out partying with friends or hanging out for the weekend with the boy....I am itching to go home, and be...alone. My solitude is one of my most treasured gifts to myself (this also could be more due to the fact that I'm an only child).
And, like another has said, boring or 'idiotic' people grate on my nerves. The ones where more than half of what you say, you have to explain. The topics of discussion are about X breaking up with Y, let's analyze in detail the actions of W's boyfriends and what he said (and didn't say), the great sale for Z going on, in MINUTE DETAILS the goings-on of what happened at their work...gah!! Hair pulling!! My closest friends, at least I can say, "I need to leave". They ask, 'why?', I tell them, straight up, 'This (meaning the situation)...is annoying me'. And, they know me enough to not take offense.
So, what do I do when I crave that solitude? How do I keep myself entertained? There's the obvious rosy palm & her 5 sisters (um...wait, no!). Actually, and this may seem completely weird to some people, but....I debate with myself.
Have you ever played chess with yourself? It's like that, expect I just randomly do searches on the net for philosophical schools of thought or the latest political, scientific, ethical (pick topics that interest you) issues, that has some dissent within the topic (some disagreement, thus, there doesn't have to be outright controversy), and, pick a side. Develop it. Pick out the points. Or, if you're really feeling for a challenge, pick a sound topic, that has a very clear side (that's defended)...and take the opposition.
And then...attack *each* point systematically.
And go back and forth.
This helps me:
(a) learn a topic in some depth
(b) develop that Ne+Ti combo (not in isolation, but as a combo) you keep talking about (esp. since you're playing against an opponent that knows your next move, so it's harder to set up sound arguments....which helps you learn)
(c) enjoy spending time with an awsome person - ME!
*btw, you don't have to talk out loud or anything. I usually just open up a Word doc and list each point, and then, just sit quietly, while my brain is really going miles/minute, fleshing out the arguments for each point. And, back and forth. And, sometimes, when the words have this flow, like they are worded perfectly (in my head) and are itching to get out...I write it out. It's quite entertaining to me, cuz I don't even sometimes know what I write/think as I do it (Ne), until it's out there and then... I have time to systematically go back and analyze (Ti).
Otherwise, there's always the route of getting some hobbies, and exploring those.
And, finally, it will depend greatly on your preference for extroversion. I'm around 70%, most likely.
