Gaia: God Pod or Life, the Universe and Everything - Psychology - MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:03:21 GMT

It should indeed, Ben, time will tell how it all works out. But in the short term, the Team says that things are on an even keel financially now as far as Gaia goes.

Thankfully, Jake, Rommel and Kelly continue on at Gaia as members so we haven't completely lost them.

Love,

Nicole

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://benjamindavidsteele.gaia.com — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:31:39 GMT

I'm a unique individual like everyone else. lol

Nicole, I was sad to hear of the loss of some of our Gaia team. This whole Gaia community feels like its in some major transformations. I hope everything works out for Gaiam. I've heard that Gaia doesn't make a profit for Gaiam, but it seems like there should be a way for Gaia to be a profitable part of the business.

Blessings,
Marmalade

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:28:31 GMT

Hi Isis,

Happily, they remain active on Gaia, and you can be sure they are being smothered in love and hugs right now, which is a consolation.

And yes, Marmalade is very very wonderful. What a joy it is to have him participate here and elsewhere in the Gaia blogosphere :)

Love and light,

Nicole

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://anneleise.gaia.com — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:41:34 GMT

Thank you Nicole for your lovely comments.,

I just followed the link. I can guess there have been wonderful associations and friendships forged on this soulful site. I'm sure Kelly Jake and Rommel will be missed.

And Marmalade, thanks for your welcome!!! I'm sure you are uniquely wonderful in your own way!

Love
Isis

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:09:03 GMT

Dear Isis,

Peacemaker, eh? Thank you for sharing so deeply. Your post moves me very much, especially in this vulnerable space we share here on Gaia today in the wake of losing Kelly, Jake and Rommel from the Gaia Team

Love and light,

Nicole

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://anneleise.gaia.com — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:03:01 GMT

"Though peak moments give us a taste of what freedom looks like, actually living free is a lifelong work"

I totally agree with this!!!! It has definitely been my experience.

Peak experiences followed by clearly seeing blockages followed by intense eruptions of baggage in my face, followed by big death/letting go/surrenders followed by integration/new beginnings for a while then the whole process starts all over again. That basically describes the past 11 years of my life!!!!

I agree it's more about stripping off the layers that are limiting, externally imposed and conditioned, and revealing the authentic natural radience of self than becoming something else, more owning who we really are.

I think it is definitely a gradual process and those peak experiences have opened me to each stage of the work.

I'm really interested Nicole in what you were saying about nature vs nurture and the personality.

My true nature which is basically very humanitarian, empathetic, perceptive, sensitive, intuitive, creative, inquisitive, visionary and systems thinking - was conditioned into very reactive, defensive, violent and disturbed through a violent childhood where my distorted emotional development from a dysfunctional home environment was labelled ADHD and I was then labelled "trouble" - so I became it. The more I became it the more they tried to beat it out of me, the more they tried to beat it out of me the more I became it....

I learned it was unsafe to be myself or have my needs met, I did not deserve love or respect and my feelings were not valid.

But I still picked up wounded animals off the road and tried to make them better, shared anything I had, fiercely protected my younger brother, wrote poetry and stories, sat for hours in nature and relished natural cycles and took responsibility for my own learning even though school was a nightmare for me....

It's taken me nearly 40 years to learn not to hate myself, even though once I moved out of that environment, my true nature and compassion expressed more and more in the way I treated others and the environment and the way I chose to use my time.

However my devoted "service orientated" work choices became yet another way to try and "prove" myself, to atone for my perceived inherent unworthiness.

Through all this I was continually recognising conditioning as not aligning with my heart and letting it go, helped along by some spiritual emergencies and epiphanies...

As for the ennagram from memory I'm a 9 :)
(Just read that post about your workshop Nicole WOW!)

I'm loving this space, thank you!

Love,
Isis

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:53:38 GMT

Ben, thanks for that affirmation. I am really excited about what I am beginning to understand in this whole area.

Hugs,

Nicole

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://benjamindavidsteele.gaia.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:47:30 GMT

Hello Isis! I read your list of INFP traits, and I thought to myself that I sure would like to be that kind of person. That person described seems like such a nice fellow.

About transformation, I would add that I don't doubt permanent transformation overall but that I see it as most often a gradual process. The peak moments are probably just outward signs, tipping points of that gradual process.

Nicole, I liked your take on personality that you just presented. It is important to differentiate personality and ego.

Blessings,
Marmalade

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:43:01 GMT

Isis, thanks for sharing this, very interesting observations indeed.

Some say it is not the personality itself that changes but that either we were living a distortion before and grow more into our true self, or that we can learn to live a distortion.

Through the enneagram work I did recently (you can see my blog on Return to the Soul if you're interested in more details here) I have come to understand personality type as something that emerges early on as a combination of nature and nurture, that can take over as an ego strategy. If the ego sees it as being less effective than another approach, it can take on another personality type, since as part of our psyche and shadow everything is available, but the challenge is to gain the freedom from letting the ego run you, whatever the strategy it has chosen to do so.

Though peak moments give us a taste of what freedom looks like, actually living free is a lifelong work.

Light and peace,

Nicole

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://anneleise.gaia.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:14:28 GMT

Hi, I'm Isis and I'm an INFP:

INFPs generally have the following traits:

Strong value systems

Warmly interested in people

Service-oriented, usually putting the needs of others above their own

Loyal and devoted to people and causes

Future-oriented

Growth-oriented; always want to be growing in a positive direction

Creative and inspirational

Flexible and laid-back, unless a ruling principle is violated

Sensitive and complex

Dislike dealing with details and routine work

Original and individualistic - "out of the mainstream"

Excellent written communication skills

Prefer to work alone, and may have problems working on teams

Value deep and authentic relationships

Want to be seen and appreciated for who they are

This is pretty accurate. I laugh as I read this in context to a comment I posted on the question of the day blog earlier!! It is almost this list in the context of a day in my life!!
I note the comment that this group seems to attract lots of similar types - as this is the first and only group I've joined on here yet!!!!
I'll post an intro soon.

Wow this thread has been really interesting and varied in the ground it's covered from personality to religion and it's potential to transform and education!!

I think this was a quote from Marmalade
"I'm sure some Christians are saved permanently. No doubt, that is what theology tells us should happen. But the experience of being saved is a complex matter. Personally, I believe that transformation can occur. Nonetheless, I think its rare and difficult."

Some of the literature - especially the more transpersonal western stuff - I've read about Kundalini equated the kundalini awakening/eruption with the holy spirit coming into the body.
From my own personal experience - and dozens of people I've corresponded with - this can be incredibly transformational and personality changing.

Some of the people I've talked to online have come from Christian backgrounds and have experienced awakening in a Christian context.

As these experiences often seem to mix peak blissful experiences with periods of intense emotional purging I think significant personality evolution probably occurs over time in at least some cases if not most.

I know from my own experience there does not seem to be a huge body of research in these areas, and I've based my opinion on what little research I've found, publications by qualified experts and biographies, stories of personal experience online, and personal conversations in forums.

Blessings
Isis

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:29:42 GMT

ROTFLOL! You slay me... helpless giggles

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://benjamindavidsteele.gaia.com — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:00:38 GMT

NFs Unite!

At Globalchatter, we INFPs would occasionally talk about taking over the world, but it never seemed to go anywhere. Maybe our problem was that we didn't have enough practical INFJs like Nicole. A slave race of SJs could also help, but unfortunately its more likely that the SJs would enslave us... at the command of mastermind ENTJs. Apparently, INFPs are only good for inspirational blathering and fluffy good intentions.

Oh well! We can't all be good at everything.

Blessings,
Marmalade

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:37:06 GMT

fascinating, elizabeth, how many NFs we have here!

hugs,

nicole

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://intuitiveknowledge.gaia.com — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:04:56 GMT

I am also an INFJ..so, yes, you are in good company :)

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:24:36 GMT

labeling can be a problem indeed. what a wild ride you had, dear kit! and yet you were so resilient. alexander, i do hear you. as a teacher of sorts, running the afterschool math and english Kumon programs for about 260 students, i am very aware of the influence i have in the lives of the children and parents i see either to recognise abilities and weaknesses and encourage and guide toward developing potential or to discourage and hamper progress.

marm, you make a good point about how being identified can at times help, and rightly point out that it's not always great. these days too many kids are being labeled and i am not sure it is a boon for all.

light and peace,

nicole

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://benjamindavidsteele.gaia.com — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:17:30 GMT

I had similar experiences in school, but maybe didn't get quite as much help as you. Because of being tested and labelled as having a learning disability, I received the help I need at a young age. Of course, labelling by itself is pointless if it doesn't lead to actually helping a child. In my case, the specialist I worked with happened to be one of the best in her field. So, most kids aren't so lucky. Children get labelled all of the time and unfortunately it doesn't guarantee acutally getting help.

I've mentioned before something my mom told me. Because of change in Federal policies, a kid who now has the same problems as I did wouldn't now get the help I did. If I was a kid now, I would've been put in a class with a bunch of kids with low IQ and psychological issues because my mom says they now lump all "problem" kids together now instead of dealing with them as individuals.

Blessings,
Marmalade

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://jeepdog.gaia.com — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:56:35 GMT

think of the worst elem. teachers you had and know the control over your ultimate educational life that they potentially had.

Alexander -

I choose not to think of the worst elementary school teachers; I consistently choose to think of and remember the best.

It begins with first grade. Legally, the teacher had to pass me to the second grade.  Yet, I had a hearing disorder where the world appeared different to me. That was rectified medically in first grade, yet I was still behind.  Despite not hearing, I was managing a "C" effort, and since I was a July baby, managing that in competition with children that were a year my senior in experience and development. She noticed this, had a conference with my father, and mentioned that legally I should be passed - but to what end? Why not give me more time to get the impairment behind me, and be on equal footing, she suggested, but this would have to be initiated by my parents.

Mrs. Anderson (long dead), thanks for the wisdom.

It continues with the second grade, in the same school, with a wonderful teacher who enrolled me in University learning experiments. Whose husband, as we made frequent trips to the University, taught me chess as we waited for the interviews/research sessions.

It continues to the 3rd grade (different school than 1st and 2nd grades). "They" thought I was dumber than a box of rocks. I probably still am. "They" had me in 2nd grade reading class, since I was that dumb. One day, the school librarian, sans a degree in education, noticed during reading time I was being escorted to 2nd grade. "Why is he being taken to second grade reading?" she inquired. "Because that's his reading level" was the curt reply from the teacher's assistant holding my dumb little hand.  I distinctly remember the smirk on the school librarian's face as she replied "you realize, of course, he has read every book in the school library, to include the four versions of encyclopedia? He's now working on the teacher's section of the library, and yesterday checked out Mein Kamph since that's the last book in that section...."

The next reading class was with Mr. Heck and the 6th grade's reading lesson. Mr. Heck was nothing short of inspirational, to include re-enacting Kipling's works and taking us to far-away places such as India (complete room makeover).

Librarian whose name I don't remember - thanks for noticing.

On it goes, with inspirational stories throughout my public education, all the way through undergraduate degrees in public school systems (unfortunately, a private institution provided my graduate work, which is sad since that point I can no longer state "I'm a product of the public school system").  Sure, there were "labels" applied throughout my educational experience - but they always served to make me stronger. They provided something for me to overcome - a goal.

Finally, I do not see it as a "responsibility" for teachers to "label." Perhaps, again, it is how we choose to view the situation....

Well, this is severely off topic. Yet, then again, is it? Perhaps this insight of my educational environment can be correlated to my admitted ENTJ type. :)

.

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://rhubarbpatch.gaia.com — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:50:47 GMT

And remember in education it is the teachers responsibility to LABEL some child as either Gifted or Remedial and ignore all in-between. It is a systemic dysfunction which has caused much grief for many. And they are not psychologists, think of the worst elem. teachers you had and know the control over your ultimate educational life that they potentially had.
I do not labels that should be applied and that inclusionary tactics are best. I know this has little to do with the topic but the premise of control over education and access to other areas can be severely disabled by the likes of others (or dislikes) how biased. Thanks for the read. Can you guess what personality type I am ? Alex

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

http://singerseeker.gaia.com — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:45:46 GMT

yes, indeed, that is one of its best uses, to help us better understand ourselves and each other. not to stick each other into tiny boxes.

love,

nicole

Re: MBTI: Jungian Personality Types

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:17:39 GMT

On the other hand, there's an old aphorism: "Know thyself."

I'm sure the scales are very useful to psychologists in helping people to better understand themselves and their motivations along with the possible root causes of any psychological valleys they may find themselves in. As one commentor has suggested, the potential for abusing the scales prejudicially seems high, but the types themselves don't appear stereotypical. As with all scales, these are not rigid classifications.

I've actually tested as both an INFP and an INFJ, which leads me to think that INFP may be a more passive temperament with INFJ an active tendency in interaction style. So, I'll take it as a reminder to stay calm when it comes time to make a judgment call and be certain I'm weighing the veracity of ideas and actions before speaking. Could actually help to prevent a lot of misunderstandings!