After last week's post you would have thought I was the biggest Myers-Briggs fan ever. I'm here to tell you, "That is incorrect."
Well... I don't quite hate it that much... but...
First. The thing is so overrated.
"I finally know me! And you, too!" I'm sorry to break it... but what's so great about knowing yourself??? Seriously... we aren't called to know ourselves.
And if we are being honest... most people into Myers-Briggs aren't in it to get to know another person better. It's just another fandom. Another way we can talk about me and get away with it - and others laugh along!!!!
It's a great way to keep loving me and not the other person. By the way, we aren't even called to understand the other person before loving them. Just love.
Know what else frustrates me?
How people use MB to get away with being a jerk. Like seriously, I don't care if Myers Briggs says you are a sociopath. Get over it.
A believer of God isn't meant to be stuck in a box, but to grow. To say things like, "Well... I can't connect with people because I'm introverted. I'll just love people at home - introverts unite!" is not the way to be.
God never put a barrier said, "Love people - as long as you get your energy from them."
I'm not saying that some of us rejuvenate differently.
I'm extroverted - so? That gives me no right to force others to spend 24/7 with me.
I am a J - I like plans. But if God says wait in life... well, I'm just going to have to learn some patience.
I like facts - but sometimes I'm just not going to get them.
I am a leader - but often God is going to tell me, "Follow. Submit. Forget."
And it's going to be hard - because it's against me.
Another thing that frustrates me about MB is that I don't always get the same results - I say I'm ENTJ. But I also get ENFJ, ESTJ, ENTP, ENFP ------ and several times recently I was even an ISFP, a complete opposite from my normal ENTJ result!
Wow. Sometimes I think this whole getting-to-know-me business confuses my mind even more.
*sarcasm in*
*sarcasm is out*
Is it just me, or are you tired of trying to understand yourself?
I understand me well enough... this is me:
I don't need to know anything else about myself... Condone any more of my faults.
I don't need to be told who I shouldn't be friends with:
God told me to love everyone. He told me to love Him - pursue Him, not me. I'm supposed to grow, not become more set in my ENTJ ways.
Perfection is not being the perfect Myers Briggs type, but loving God and others despite EVERYTHING.
Sometimes I am so frustrated with that stupid thing that I never want to hear about it ever again - like it could get sued or something and I'd be happy.
Well... I don't quite hate it that much... but...
First. The thing is so overrated.
"I finally know me! And you, too!" I'm sorry to break it... but what's so great about knowing yourself??? Seriously... we aren't called to know ourselves.
And if we are being honest... most people into Myers-Briggs aren't in it to get to know another person better. It's just another fandom. Another way we can talk about me and get away with it - and others laugh along!!!!
It's a great way to keep loving me and not the other person. By the way, we aren't even called to understand the other person before loving them. Just love.
Know what else frustrates me?
How people use MB to get away with being a jerk. Like seriously, I don't care if Myers Briggs says you are a sociopath. Get over it.
God never put a barrier said, "Love people - as long as you get your energy from them."
No - our energy source must be from God.
Not ourselves, not people.
I'm not saying that some of us rejuvenate differently.
I'm saying we're allowing how we feel to determine our actions.
I'm extroverted - so? That gives me no right to force others to spend 24/7 with me.
I am a J - I like plans. But if God says wait in life... well, I'm just going to have to learn some patience.
I like facts - but sometimes I'm just not going to get them.
I am a leader - but often God is going to tell me, "Follow. Submit. Forget."
And it's going to be hard - because it's against me.
Another thing that frustrates me about MB is that I don't always get the same results - I say I'm ENTJ. But I also get ENFJ, ESTJ, ENTP, ENFP ------ and several times recently I was even an ISFP, a complete opposite from my normal ENTJ result!
Wow. Sometimes I think this whole getting-to-know-me business confuses my mind even more.
*sarcasm in*
Like.... maybe I should try a little harder to know me? Maybe I'm not taking the right test... or answering the questions correctly.... *gasps* maybe I don't know me well enough!!!!
Is it just me, or are you tired of trying to understand yourself?
I understand me well enough... this is me:
I don't need to know anything else about myself... Condone any more of my faults.
I don't need to be told who I shouldn't be friends with:
God told me to love everyone. He told me to love Him - pursue Him, not me. I'm supposed to grow, not become more set in my ENTJ ways.
Perfection is not being the perfect Myers Briggs type, but loving God and others despite EVERYTHING.
Just so you don't get me wrong... I am not saying give up your MB obsession. I mean, in my last post I confessed that I have a pinterest board devoted solely to MB.
I still like Myers Briggs. But I don't want to discuss this thing 24/7. And I'm not going to let it tell me who I am or am not. I am me - not ENTJ. I belong to God - not ENTJ tendencies. I am so much more than what Myers Briggs says I should be.
And so should you be, Myers Briggs' fan or not.
Completely agree with this post, Keturah! I was entirely skeptical of MBTI when I first heard of it, because I didn't want to be stuffed into a /type/. Thanks for a great post!
ReplyDelete"Don't follow your heart. That is horrible advice." *nodnod*
D.G. Snapper | silverphoenixwriter.blogspot.com
Thanks!! I was the same as you at first not wanting to be typed... I do confess I was pulled in though 😂 Yet my same old reservation always remained amidst the fun 🙃
DeleteAbsolutely! I agree with a lot of these sentiments, Keturah!
ReplyDeleteCatherine
So glad 🙃
DeleteI can't figure out for sure which one I am. I thought I was INFJ might be an INTP
ReplyDeleteDon't care enough to figure it out. I think it's fun, but I don't take it seriously.
People are too complex to be put in a box.
To be honest if you can’t figure it out that probably means you border too closely to both... so there’s no figuring it out ;) Like you say people can’t be put into boxes... at least living people who have something to say about it 😂
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI find it hilarious that ENTJ's "not supposed to be friends" person is the INFP ... which is also said to be your best match for marriage. So ... I dunno.
ReplyDeleteBut, yes, and this is the reason this is my low-key obsession. Sure, it's amazing, but it's a tool for understanding, not the end-all, be-all. It's as flawed as anything that mankind has created. And, honestly, I don't think I've ever taken a test properly ... cause I know what every question is ACTUALLY asking, and I don't always give my knee-gut reaction.
Oh, that’s so funny!!! I have many INFP people in my life... some of them I get a long with great. But I don’t think I could marry one 🤯 But then I think all the INFPs I know are girls... 😂😂 Maybe a guy INFP would be better? 😂🤪
DeleteThose sort of tests are hard to take properly... maybe we humans should stop making things, put an end to all flaws!! Lol 🤓🤪 Just kidding 🙃
I need to work on my post about this also! I've been partway through it (for, like, six months haha) but I just haven't had enough time to work on it lately. D: I definitely agree with many of your ideas--it's SO TRUE that many can use Myers-Briggs to excuse sin. *nods*
ReplyDeleteOh, you really need to finish it! I want to read it 😁 I’m glad you agree ;)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteUgh, so I commented without realizing I was logged into the RW account ^^^... haha... *ducks head in embarrassment*
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I love this post and I especially agree with what you said about introverts. I'm an introvert myself, but sometimes God challenges me to step out of my comfort zone and do something introverts aren't "supposed" to do. :)
I haven't ever taken the Meyers Briggs test for myself, because I once looked at the different types and saw right away which one I fit into. Taking it would have been pointless, lol! :D
Great post, Keturah, and I love your blog!! (and I know it's a bit late, but... welcome to the RW team!!)
Lila - The Red-Hooded Writer
Hahaha! The problem with multiple accounts ;)
DeleteThanks!! I kinda typed myself, too, though I have taken the test. I'm glad that you haven't let the test hold you back and define you, but have followed God's leading! And thanks, so much! I love the community :D
Yes, I totally agree! (I don't know if you could tell from my comment on your previous post but I'm not a huge fan of personality tests :P) While I am still trying to figure out who I am and where I fit in the world, I don't need a random test to tell me. I am always growing and changing, hopefully for the better, and I don't ever want to be stuck in one box. I'm not the same me as I was this time last year, and hopefully I won't be the same in a year's time.
ReplyDeleteYes, I could tell 😂🤪 I’m so with you! We don’t need tests defining and sorting us! You go! That’s awesome to keep growing, changing, bettering yourself 🙃 Love it and want to do the same 🙃
Delete*applauds* So good! Myers-Briggs is a really amazing way to try and understand yourself and other people more, but there are definitely those who put WAY too much store by it. A personality test doesn't define who you are or what your actions have to be; you still get to make choices. :p Using myself as an example, I test INTJ and I relate to a lot of classic INTJ tendencies, but I have often thought that I don’t really act INTJ, especially on the internet. I’m not clipped or rudely blunt or inapproachable; I do have a complex mind and an initially frank tone, but I intentionally curb my natural way of speaking/writing, so that I don’t come off as rude to other people. It’s not a thing where I say, “I’m INTJ. I’m going to say things that you think are rude, but it's who I am, so deal with it.” It's a thing where I say, “I’m INTJ, so some things I think aren’t a big deal are going to be a big deal to you and I’m going to do my best to treat those things with love and kindness.”
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, I'm a big Myers' Briggs fan too, but we, especially Christians, have gotta be careful where we put our identity.
Awesome post!
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbosityreviews.com
I had no idea you're INTJ! That's so neat :D And yes, yes, YES! You completely got my point... and I'm so glad to hear you say you don't allow your tendencies to rule you, but do what's right regardless! So, so good :D Thanks for sharing that :D
Deleteyeah .. . I have a really hard time understanding the rest of that stuff tbh
ReplyDelete