Introverts_Unite!
New member
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2007
- Messages
- 18
- MBTI Type
- INFJ
Do any other N’s else struggle with keeping up with the demands and expectations of the sensory world? I’m speaking especially to INFJs & INTJs with dominant introverted iNtuition and inferior extraverted Sensing, aka S(e). {see final paragraph for a metaphor of what I mean here.}
I grew up in a sensor household, majored and worked in a field dominated by sensors, and basically spent many years trying to fit into that mold until I finally saw a counselor who clued me in to type theory and revealed the secrets of the universe (or so it seemed at the time).
Initially I thought that all my “experience” helped me excel at sensor matters, but at this point in my life I look back at my patterns and feel more inept than ever. For example,
~ an ESFJ friend once gave me some long-lasting lipstick for my birthday because “we have pale lips.” I was confused until I started looking around at everyone else and saw that indeed, about 85% of people (including my male boss) had naturally rosier lips.
~ A hairdresser styled my hair to minimize my “high forehead” (I had no clue I won’t even tell you how old I was at the time)
~ I do stellar mental organization (including electronic spreadsheets, instructions, etc), but if I ever had to handle a piece of paper “just once” at work, I would be catatonic before the weekend.
~ My house is my favorite sanctuary, but it’s hard to relax because the physical clutter and unfinished maintenance projects chronically harp and taunt me (i.e., the damn J thing - you lucky P’s!).
All the while, I am constantly aware that time is racing by (hence my avatar image) and I haven’t been true to my longings and desires because so many sensory obstacles stand in the way. It’s so much harder for me to accomplish sensory tasks than most people, yet clearing those decks is a mental prerequisite for settling down to a relaxing, creative, fun life.
The metaphor I have for what this feels like is the “Claw Machine.” I’m referring to the big clear box in the store that is stuffed with toys. You drop your coins in and maneuver the Claw contraption for the prize. The Dominant (=best) Sensor equivalent is to simply reach in with your natural hand and grab one. Types with Inferior S(e), however, have to use the Claw, with no great success. In Type Dynamics, this is the same struggle that INTPs/ISTP/s have with the Feeling function, or INFP’s/ISFP’s have with accessing the Thinking function. I’m not intentionally leaving out extraverts, but because their favorite function is external, things tend to be less convoluted for them.
N’s – what sensory obstacles do you trip over, and what do you do about them?
I grew up in a sensor household, majored and worked in a field dominated by sensors, and basically spent many years trying to fit into that mold until I finally saw a counselor who clued me in to type theory and revealed the secrets of the universe (or so it seemed at the time).
Initially I thought that all my “experience” helped me excel at sensor matters, but at this point in my life I look back at my patterns and feel more inept than ever. For example,
~ an ESFJ friend once gave me some long-lasting lipstick for my birthday because “we have pale lips.” I was confused until I started looking around at everyone else and saw that indeed, about 85% of people (including my male boss) had naturally rosier lips.
~ A hairdresser styled my hair to minimize my “high forehead” (I had no clue I won’t even tell you how old I was at the time)
~ I do stellar mental organization (including electronic spreadsheets, instructions, etc), but if I ever had to handle a piece of paper “just once” at work, I would be catatonic before the weekend.
~ My house is my favorite sanctuary, but it’s hard to relax because the physical clutter and unfinished maintenance projects chronically harp and taunt me (i.e., the damn J thing - you lucky P’s!).
All the while, I am constantly aware that time is racing by (hence my avatar image) and I haven’t been true to my longings and desires because so many sensory obstacles stand in the way. It’s so much harder for me to accomplish sensory tasks than most people, yet clearing those decks is a mental prerequisite for settling down to a relaxing, creative, fun life.
The metaphor I have for what this feels like is the “Claw Machine.” I’m referring to the big clear box in the store that is stuffed with toys. You drop your coins in and maneuver the Claw contraption for the prize. The Dominant (=best) Sensor equivalent is to simply reach in with your natural hand and grab one. Types with Inferior S(e), however, have to use the Claw, with no great success. In Type Dynamics, this is the same struggle that INTPs/ISTP/s have with the Feeling function, or INFP’s/ISFP’s have with accessing the Thinking function. I’m not intentionally leaving out extraverts, but because their favorite function is external, things tend to be less convoluted for them.
N’s – what sensory obstacles do you trip over, and what do you do about them?