Well, I decided to do my Myers-Briggs test again today (avoiding work today?), and it turns out I’m still an INFP. That personality type is described as follows,
INFPs are introspective, private, creative and highly idealistic individuals that have a constant desire to be on a meaningful path. They are driven by their values and seek peace. Empathetic and compassionate, they want to help others and humanity as a whole. INFPs are imaginitive, artistic and often have a talent for language and writing. They can also be described as easygoing, selfless, guarded, adaptable, patient and loyal.
You know, this seems right. Notice, the Myers-Briggs stuff never says anything really negative. It’s kind of like a personality horoscope in some ways, don’t you think? I mean really…are there only 16 different types of people in the world!? Anyway, I’ve always enjoyed using the tool and learning about myself through it.
I did have a counselor when I first started going through the whole process for ordination say, “You do realize that there are very few INFP pastors who are in large Churches, don’t you?” It was as if he was saying I couldn’t be the kind of pastor he saw as ideal because of personality limitations. The great thing was that he then said, “In fact, the only INFP pastor I can think of is Eugene Peterson…” I nearly wept with joy to hear the connection with a pastor I really admire! I think his original statement is a little bit suspect, because we all grow to function outside of our comfort zone personality-wise. Anyway, I’m sure he’s still somewhere in Dallas defining folks’ ministerial potential by their Myers-Briggs profile.
mattjudkins.com 
Welcome my brother INFP.
My father is a psychologist who uses the Myers-Briggs a great deal. It is a good tool to help us understand our own strengths. I’m sure he would criticize the guy who tried to discourage you.
The M-B can help us understand challenges we will face in pursuing certain things and working in certain fields, but it does not preordain failure or success.
At our church, our lead pastor, I’m sure is not an INFP. But he keeps the wheels on the place. The associate is an INFP. Administration is not his strong suit. But he is a fantastic preacher and counselor. I’m sure he will be moved soon to another church. If he is fortunate, there will be a staff administrator or other pastor who is strong where he is weak.
Gifts differ. It’s how we use them that matters.
Remember the days we spent in the lab taking personality tests…good times…hahaha. I need to retake the Myers-Briggs again and see if mine has changed. By the way, I started a blog and I added you to my blogroll just as an FYI. It’s not very exciting but I was peer pressured into it. 🙂 I hope you are doing well, tell Nanci and the kids hi…we need to catch up soon.
Krista
Oh yes…good times…or something. haha Hey, I’m so glad you have a blog, because I put you on my blogroll, officially making you the first female blogger I’ve linked to! You know I’m not a sexist, but I just don’t know too many girls who blog. Thanks for linking to me by the way; I look forward to your creepy friends reading my inner-most thoughts. 😉
John: I would have suspected you might be an INFP. So much for us only making up 1% of the world, eh?
I don’t know what my Myers-Briggs profile is. I’ve never taken the test, despite the enamoring of other people with this institution. I know who I am. Why do I need a test to pigeon-hole me? I’m not a INRP (or whatever). I’m John, and that’s enough.
John, I’m John, too.
The test doesn’t pigeon-hole. It describes. You are not averse, I assume, to knowing your height and weight are you?
The personality characteristics merely describe general tendencies. Some people find that knowing that about themselves and those they interact with helps them understand each other and interact better.
Some people don’t find such information valuable. It turns out, that, too, is a pesonality trait. 🙂
True, John (the Meunier variety). 😀
Could be. But I’ve encountered people who identify themselves as persons by their MB profile. And not by their height. And it’s disturbing to see people let a single tool of psychology become their self-definition.
Yep John (the Locusts & Honey variety), we can’t let things like this define us. Certainly there are far more than 16 personality types in the world! Our personalities are probably like fingerprints, every one unique in spite of patterns and similarities.