The Introverted Owls

People are complicated. Personalities are complex, to say the least. Why was there a sudden peak of interest in personality typing and testing the last couple of years? I believe that it's because when we struggle in life, we desperately want to look for a guidebook that strictly defines us and tells us what to do or who we are.  In this search, we fell into a few traps. There are many misconceptions about personality tests out there. Some people even claimed the famous Myers-Briggs test debunked from all precision whatsoever.  I think it's all about your perception of what these tests represent. Here are a few points from my personal opinion that might clear the air: Personality tests are a guide, rather than facts set in stone. If you deal with your personality test results like they are facts that cannot change, you will be disappointed. This is simply because there are many elements like upbringing, life situations, experience, and trauma that shape us and change us constan

Whether or not you're new to MBTI personality types, it's worth it to dig a little deeper and understand it more. Awareness does wonders to your life! You can check a simple breakdown of MBTI or the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument previously discussed on the blog.  Judging vs. Perceiving A common source of confusion is the difference between the  Judging (J)  or  Perceiving (P)   aspect of our personalities. Their names don't really help settle the matter because judging here is not all about forming an opinion or evaluating. Similarly, perceiving in terms of personality typing is not about awareness of something. We know where the confusion comes from! Let's break that cycle, shall we? Judging and perceiving refer to the way you prefer to deal with your outer world in a sense; your chosen preference is what people often see because it's how you choose to organize what is visible to them. They  are preferences in our personalities that are innately opposite to each ot

It's easy to assume that all extroverts are the same. When the word extrovert comes to mind, you would probably associate it with someone who is social and outgoing, someone who has no problem speaking their mind. While that's true, it might come as a surprise to learn that each extroverted personality has a specific preference when it comes to communication. This information could come in handy the next time you interact with your extroverted friends or your extroverted boss. You can check the Preferred Interaction Styles of Introverts from our last post. Similarly, there are 8 Extroverted Personalities as described in the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument (MBTI) . These personalities are divided as such based on  Sensing and INtuition; Thinking and Feeling; Judging and Perceiving personality traits. The Interaction Style Module, created by psychologist and typologist Linda Berens,  divides extroverts into two categories: 1. Get-Things-Going Interaction Style (ENFP, ES

Every introverted personality type as described by the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument (MBTI)  leans towards an interaction style or a preferred way of communication . Imagine if you understood the best way to approach your loved ones or even your colleagues based on their personality type . Imagine if people around you went the extra mile to understand your preferences . Communicating wouldn't be such a hard thing to do! This is your first step towards effective communication that will help you in every aspect of your life, personal and professional.  There are 8 Introverted Personality Types   according to Myers-Briggs revolving around Sensing and INtuition; Thinking and Feeling; Judging and Perceiving personality traits. You can check out each one in more detail  here . Linda Berens is a psychologist and typologist who developed the Interaction Styles Module . The  8 introverted personalities are divided into two groups: 1- Behind-the-Scenes Interaction Style ( INFP,

There are great Benefits to Knowing Your Personality Type . It opens doors for you that you didn't know you needed open, which signifies the beauty of self-awareness. You've probably wondered and tried to figure out at some point whether you're an introvert or an extrovert . This simple Breakdown of the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument (MBTI) shows that there are 8 Introverted Personalities and 8 Extroverted Personalities .  Usually, you'll find yourself leaning more towards one or the other. But what if it's not that easy?  You should know that none of us are 100% extroverts or 100% introverts. We all fall on a long spectrum. Even the most introverted people have their extroverted moments, and vice versa. The greatest misconception about introverts is that they're shy when in reality we just like to process things more in our heads before we speak, and we hate small talk! We look for deep and meaningful conversations. If you find yourself having s

How do you interpret the world around you? Do you focus on the reality of it or do you rely more on your imagination? Do you trust what you can see and touch or are you more inclined to believe your gut feeling? Sensing personalities (S) are observant realists; they assess situations according to the facts and they tend to be more traditional in their style of thinking. On the other hand, an intuitive personality (N)  specializes in thinking outside the box! We are observant as well, but we trust what we feel more than what we can see. Intuitive minds are not interested in small talk; we crave a deep and meaningful conversation. We are interested in what is hidden, as opposed to what is right there for everyone to see. We like to explore our endless imagination, which  opens the door for creativity and innovation. Intuitive people enjoy a few perks, no doubt, but it also means we are often misunderstood. Wanting to feel understood is a natural human need. We all want it and that

The first time I found out about  extroverts vs. introverts , it was about 4 years ago. It was way after I graduated from college. I knew that people can act differently, but it was never defined for me. Later, I learned from my life that none of us are 100% extroverted or 100% introverted. We all fall somewhere in between yet identify more with one side. For me, it depends on the people I'm with. I can get really talkative and show enthusiasm when socializing if I'm with the right people. Other times, I'll be in my head more and people would get the impression that I'm a quiet/shy person who doesn't know how to socialize.  When someone seems outgoing and friendly, they are seen as extroverts. This is not the full definition of an extroverted personality though. Yes, they are outgoing and easy to talk to, but an introvert can be those things too sometimes.  Extroversion is a personality trait that describes someone who is energized from being around people. T

I remember the day I took the Myers Briggs personality test like it was yesterday. It was completely random. I came across an article about "signs you might be an INFJ ." I was just curious as to what that was so I opened it. As I read every point, I felt overwhelmed because all of them fit my personality. I kept thinking "It's not a me thing, it's an INFJ thing!!" Somehow I've gone through my entire adult life thinking nobody will ever understand how I see things or how I feel about certain things. And I've gotten used to that idea so I mostly bottled things up deep inside. It's very rare that I open up to someone because of that very feeling and you can imagine how that affects all kinds of relationships. After I read that article, I took the online personality test  (more than once) and it was confirmed. I'm an INFJ , the rarest personality type in the world— the "counselors" who often feel misunderstood so they tend to hide

Personality type tests are quite popular online these days. We're all guilty of occasionally taking them as we stroll through social media. While some of them are designed just for the fun of it, others can literally change your life. Knowing your personality from the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument (MBTI) is one of the best things you can do for yourself. My personal experiences have taught me that and it's the reason why I'm dedicated to this blog.  Not convinced? Check out these 5 benefits to knowing your MBTI personality type : 1- Discovering Your Preferences and Answering Your "Whys" The MBTI breaks down your psychological preferences. By understanding personality types , you find out about your likes and dislikes. More importantly, you get answers to the lingering personal "Why" questions. Maybe you've always had that inner feeling sometimes that told you something is completely wrong, yet you couldn't explain why you felt this way so

Have you ever been interested to find out why each one of us acts in their own unique way? There are a lot of aspects that define who we are. Aside from the culture surrounding us or the way our parents raise us, we all have certain aspects of our personality we were already born with. Humans have forever been interested in categorizing personalities. Numerous research has already been done on the subject—the most famous system being the MBTI or the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument. It's a very fascinating topic once you start reading in it and find out where you fit in. Believe me, it's a life changer! Here's what you need to know. What Is Personality Typing? Personality Typing can be described as a structure that divides people into respective groups according to their pattern of thinking or behavior and how they are likely to act in certain situations. Typing helps define a clear system that highlights different kinds of people according to their specific personali