A Happy INTP

[Bluey]

I first found out I was an INTP during the 8th grade and it made me really happy... it was like I was figuring out that I'm not a lunatic and they're more people out there like me.

I stumbled upon this forum where I posted a couple of times.

Recently I've been working a lot on personal development and releasing past beliefs and experiences (primary methods - Sedona Method, EFThttp://radicalturtle.com/need-a-cure-try-eft/). It's been incredibly liberating to say the least. Much of out thought patterns are molded because we are INTPs but the underlying foundations of negative thoughts is caused by past experiences where we derived meaning as to whether or not we're worthy.

Edit: took a couple of lines out, didn't mean to offend.

 

[aaaw]

I wasn't aware there was any problem with being a happy INTP. I'm happy enough. Although I do have concerns for the future of human existence - or at least the forms of human existence I value most.

 

[Cogwulf]

The real issue is that when INTPs are unhappy, we are REALLY unhappy.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

The unhappy ones tend to stick out more than the happy ones.

 

[Aramea]

After finally absorbing what "INTP" means at 46yo, it feels like I must eschew many of my lifelong dreams to sit and "think". I picture the scene in minority report with the inmates wearing their halos just vegging. I know it doesn't have to be that way, but it was my initial reaction to really digging into the dynamic of being INTP. It sucks that I will never know real passion the way some will never know real thinking.

On the bright side, I do love this forum, where ideas can be discussed without global thermonuclear war breaking out in every thread. I don't have to worry as much about offending someone with comments like "when will the 9/11 widows go away; half of them have probably remarried by now". Try that at Thanksgiving dinner . After awhile, you just stop talking too much, which is what leads to the "aloofness".

At least I can love really good music even if no one else appreciates it. This song often reflects my mood and I can actually get into his head here. Try that, ENFP :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw9It-VKcuE

 

[Fallenman]

Lol aramae, I am fond of you. I'm not coming on to you, I'm just appreciating you.

I can't say that I know what the focus of the OP's post was, but I did find a feeling of exhilaration at discovering i wasn't alone. I always thought the idea would be repulsive to us, if not most intellectuals, because in a sense it takes away from our uniqueness, which I used to fancy myself as, but it didn't have that effect at all for me. I do wonder what it would have been like to have discovered this at a younger age though. Not just the MBTI but the people too, because the description was uncanny, but the people are just eerily similar. But I don't know about all that, speculative at best.

I like to think that for the most part I am at peace with who I am. I may not be happy with all the decisions I make or the path I'm on at this given moment, but I am content with me. Just throwing my two cents in.

 

[Particle]

Yes, absolutely. Discovering the MBTI and by extension that people like us actually exist is an incredibly relieving moment. I was alright with being the "different" one in my social group. However, there were times I had to question if perhaps I was suffering from depression--I never seemed to really "feel" anything like others apparently did. As it turns out, it was probably a bit of both. At the time, I was suffering from a complete change of everything having finished with school. To further escalate the problem, my personality already predisposed me toward a difficulty in feeling things out like others do. Knowing then what I know now about the MBTI and communities like this one, however, I think that time might have been a lot easier.

As for your other point about a basis of negative thoughts, that's new to me. Is that normal for us? My mind likes to remind me of previous experiences that were embarrassing or uncomfortable quite a bit, and it gets sort of irritating. It's like a random, unexpected slap sometimes when I remember a particularly painful moment like the last time I tried dating.

 

[ubbrok]

I will never know real passion the way some will never know real thinking.

Exactly my thoughts a few years back. Then I decided I can explore passion in my own modest way. I guess my obsession about the concept of freedom almost could be seen as passion.

I forgot what the OP was about.

 

[Aramea]

Exactly my thoughts a few years back. Then I decided I can explore passion in my own modest way. I guess my obsession about the concept of freedom almost could be seen as passion.

I forgot what the OP was about.

I experience passion much differently than most people. I often liken my feelings to a space shuttle reentering the Earth's atmosphere. Most things just bounce off or burn up on re-entry. Only a few things really get into me and they are unsettling once inside. Issues with my child can really affect me emotionally and I am quite passionate about his development.

What I meant was in things like traveling to an exotic location. I have been to many wonderful places for work. I have in mind all manner of things I want to experience, but once I get there I just want to hang out at my hotel most of my time off. I look back on some places fondly, but I could have done more. I stopped traveling for work when the kid came along.

I am assimilating a lot of the MBTI information as we speak and I am gaining perspective on my strengths and weaknesses. I now need to put the knowledge to use in balancing my personality. That will be the challenging part, as I have very little support from my ESFP husband. I know how I will respond to being the only one to change .

 

[Hadoblado]

I found out I was an INTP a week ago when I sought professional help for depression. It helps me a lot knowing that I'm not the only one having these issues, as before now I thought there was actually something sick about my thought process.

Good luck Aramea with your husband