I'm not your type (more than you ever wanted to know about my personality)

Interesting and thanks for sharing. I've considered taking the test before (or tests as it may be) but have not taken the time. My motivation would be to understand myself more deeply. I also have a strong need to compartmentalize my thoughts and think that knowing my type would help. I took the test and discovered that I am an INFP, or Healer. I think that I experience times of extroversion, but am an introvert at the core. Thanks for the insight, experience and your book/link list. I hope to look further into several of the resources.

The problem I have with these kind os tests is that most of the times I have traits from different personalities... It was no different now, I could be a ISFJ, a INFJ, a INTJ or a ISTJ. :)

I love Myers-Briggs. My dad who is a psychologist had me do the kids's test when I was 10. I was ENFJ. I did it again at 25, just before having my girls and I was still ENFJ! JF did it too and we read lots on relationship between our types and it helped us tremendously to understand each other and ourselves. It will be interested to have the girls tested later on...

I love all this personality type stuff. I'm an INFJ, and the descriptions are pretty much spot on. Made my family all do tests, too. ;) My youngest is very much like me, while my husband and older daughter are very similar to each other. Fascinating stuff.

And yep, I blogged about it a while back, too: http://seejamieblog.com/2010/06/personality-types-and-profiles/

This is very interesting. I am going to have to look into this. I took a personality test but it was many years ago and I wasn't interested in it then so I don't even remember.

I have always felt like I don't really fit in anywhere (I tend to do things that aren't "mainstream" and have ideas for other things that I want to do that aren't mainstream...things similar to you like homeschool and homebirthing and such- although I long to fit in with others I find I don't much. I am not willing to give up the way I want to do things to fit in. So I wonder what this means, personality test wise. I am going to look into it.

Interesting. I am a ISFJ, describes me almost to a tee. Might need to look at the rest of the family.

As an ISTJ, I understand. What fascinates me is how my score doesn't change. I have taken the MB and similar tests throughout my life, I am always an ISTJ despite how I believe I have mellowed or adapted. It seems to show that our true personality is rather resilient.

I've been into personality typing since college, but my interest since recently becoming a mom has been personality types under stress. My types in MBTI (infp) and Enneagram (4) are described as iconoclastic and nonconformist, but ironically under stress become critical or controlling. I find it really helpful when I see this in myself to remember that I am in an inherently stressful phase of life, give myself grace and turn away from unhealthy stress responses, and confirm the creative, generative potential of my personality.

I find this stuff fascinating, too, and I love Penelope Trunk's blog, and she talks about this stuff a LOT. I remember taking it a long time ago, and the only part of the 4 letters I remember was a solid "I", which I knew before I even took the test. I'm actually surprised that you are aren't an "I", simply because it seems from your blog that you guys plan a lot of down-time, and rest throughout the day/week. I sort of assumed you were.

My father-in-law, who is an entrepreneur, made all this kids (and then me, when my husband and I were engaged!) take a personality test and I remember being floored by the answers. In reading the list and comments from the other websites you gathered, I wonder if my husband is exactly that match. Perhaps 1 letter off, but no more. He is a manager who does very well in his line of work, and has had aspirations for 10+ years to become a police officer. Even when he was younger (in high school, taking a personality test with his dad) one of the top jobs listed for him was a policeman.

At times I find it hard to balance these types of testing with what is actually called upon me for ministry in the church. To explain, if I'm a solid introvert (and I've become even more introverted since having kids--they take most of my intentional energy for a lot of hours in the day!), how much should I healthfully engage in within our church family (and going along with that--what types of spiritual gifts am I more prone to, and how to help with needs, etc.), and what is me using that as an excuse? What is a sacrifice and giving of my time and energy, and what is wrong and out-balanced? It is something I have been thinking about and trying to re-hash for at least 2 years. Reading the book "Quiet" about introverts this past year was very helpful, I still feel this tug between "too much" and "not enough". Sarah M

I just did two different tests and got the same result - ISFJ. Now to dig into that for some growth! And...to get the husband to take it...now that will be interesting as we already see ourselves as that "polar opposite" couple that everyone wonders how they will make it! Ha! The polar opposite couple who is very much in love and going strong...12 years and counting. Thanks for this post. Very cool! One I'm going to come back and re-read!

I LOVE personality tests and fully embrace my MB score because it is VERY accurate for me. Of course we are all more complex than these 4 facets of our personalities, but I truly feel I am "the counselor" (INFJ). I am almost your exact opposite!

I certainly feel that learning about your personality (and thinking about, and actively shaping) can be very helpful. It can be helpful for others to understand how I am different from them (and for me to understand how they are different from me!) so that I can see them as individuals more readily (rather than assuming they feel as I do). Understanding my own perspective is key for me to learn how to view others with acceptance, love, and understanding. I also think that it can be important to some to feel that they are part of something or that they have a way to describe how they feel or experience the world.

Those are super neat resources! Thanks!

This is so fascinating because my husband and I just started diving into the whole personality theory world. For me it was also extremely freeing to know that I wasn't just weird or even damaged. When I realized that I am what I am and God actually made me that way, I could start to move out of the realm of rejecting myself. My husband was skeptical at first and called it something close to astrology. One night when I was reading about my personality type (which is INFP, the exact opposite of yours) he said, "why does this even matter to you?" I answered that it's because knowing why I do and feel a certain way frees me and I no longer feel "dafook" (Hebrew for "knocked" or "crazy"). When he saw that it was doing something positive in me, he was more positive and even took the test (he is ENTP). Ever since we have been really talking about personalities and how they are presented in our relationship and our relationships with our kids. We went on to try to figure out their personality types and that has also been freeing. Now we even understand why we as a family are really unorganized. :-) BTW, my MIL is the same personality type as you and we have had some tough times (understandably because we are the exact opposite)but now I can understand better where she is coming from. Oh, there is so much more and I would love to go on and on but I need to get a shower. :-)

Cheers to being unique regardless of our personality profile, and sharing that in community. You've offered some great introspection here Renee, thank you for offering that. Signed, INFP/J (on the line)...;)

Thanks for writing about this, Renee. I'm interested, though I haven't taken the time to do one of these tests yet. I know that I'm very introverted, and I have read a book about being introverted, which was very eye-opening, and I also listened to Susan Cain's TED Talk. It was very validating. A while back I read Discovering Your Child's Learning Style, and I took that test. I have been meaning to do it again and write about it, but there's so much information to write about, I haven't found the time! Anyway, this will give me more to ponder and write about! Thanks for the resources. I'll let you know what I find out.

According to tests I am ISFJ though haven't ever done a test that I feel exactly captures who I really am. Personality tests didn't help me understand myself so much as understand others who I simply thought were flawed:) These types of tests helped me to recognize more clearly the strengths and weaknesses in us all - and to be a little less judgy about traits in other people that tend to drive me crazy (being late, being messy or disorganized, etc.).

In our home we 'laugh' (sometimes so I don't cry;)) almost daily about the personality differences here- two of the kids take more after me while my middle daughter is so much like her dad. Maintaining a sense of humour about these things can help offset the frustration of living in close quarters with people SO different from each other.

My personality is your exact opposite, INFP, and I can tell you from reading your post that we have a LOT in common. You help me understand my mom, who is your type, in ways I have not, and also to see that maybe she and I have a lot more in common than I think. I'm thankful to you for that!

I also use my personality typing to know and accept myself better, which is not always easy for an INFP (being so rare in our world) to do. But that is the greatest gift of this introspection. I think both of our personalities must really like to understand things deeply, even while we dislike being "pigeonholed". But like you, if something makes sense to me and I understand it, I will be loyal to it (or a person) and willing to follow its rules. Otherwise, watch out because I will rebel!

Also, INFPs are not always as nurturing as you might thing from reading online, Renee! We desperately need our alone time and that's hard with young children. We all have to find ways to work with our personality and our families.

I just took the test, and came back as an ISTJ. I read the description on another site that you mentioned, and the description seems pretty accurate.
I find it funny that it is the #1 personality trait of men. I'm not surprised by that either. For one thing, my husband often wants to talk at great length about the details of a day, and I find that tiring, which I think is opposite of most husband/wife relationships! I am also the budgeter and planner of the family. I like to keep track of bills, retirement accounts and vacation planning.
My passions, however, are my family/homeschool/simple living/home management/homekeeping/local, environmentally responsible food choices/living by God's rules; doing the right thing/and living in a way that is right for our family and not culturally popular. I don't think that many men would list those as their passions, so I won't feel odd that I scored "like a man" Interesting stuff!

I find this info so helpful. After reading your post, I reread the descriptions for my teen, my husband and myself [I'm an ISTJ]. I needed the reminders. I also used the Kidzmet for my 8YO & 11YO; it laid out stuff I knew but it really helped me to read the words and not just have that gut feeling about them. These tests have really helped me get a clearer understanding of myself and really helps me understand my teen who is the total opposite of me.

This post turned into my family and I taking personality tests and discussing them this evening! A lot of "lightbulb" moments of learning about ourselves and each other! It really helps me as an INFJ to see there are a lot of strengths in being an introvert and idealist. Great post!

I'm an ISTJ...just over the line into I, but it's there. And I am off the scale J. haha Although, I think that's mellowed over the years. Honestly, though you know it's going "bad" when you see the traits you lean towards while taking the test, I have to say I've embraced my ISTJ. You know... the STJ part of your type perfectly explains why you aren't a women's conference sort of girl as you mentioned in a post not too long ago. Love the T part of my personality...keeps me from a lot of ups and downs! Enjoy the ESTJ!

I love personality tests, and like you, I find them to be a validation that it is ok to be myself and that what other people may see as weaknesses, are actually strengths, or just natural differences.

Have you tried the DISC analysis? I did one through a work mentoring program and it helped me to see what my natural style was and how I was having to adjust in order to accommodate the people around me. It helped me see how unbalanced my life was.

This was great..the only personality test I ever took was 20+ years ago when I was about 20..I only remember the outcome: I was a choleric/sanguine. So I just took this test and came up ISFJ. I was a little surprised.

I'm coming to the personality test party a little late (just now catching up on my blog reading), but I'm so glad you wrote about this and included some references.

I recently took a personality test and I'm an INTJ, the "mastermind", which helps to explain why this stay at home mama to 7 tries to find a better system in even the mundane things like laundry. :) I was a little surprised at how strongly I scored as an introvert, since I really do like to be with people, but it does explain why I'm so exhausted after being around a lot of people all at one time. The other thing I found interesting was how few people are fellow INTJ's, especially other women. I think I understand now why I've always felt more comfortable in conversation circles with my husband and his friends rather than with many of the wives.

I am an INFJ.  As a kid, I always did was expected of me simply because I was supposed to.  I don't have kids yet, but I have spent the last 9 years as an art teacher. Teaching has been incredibly difficult for me as I am not good at maintaining the boundaries that I set.  Managing 24 middle school boys in an art room is disasterous for me.  I would like to learn how to use my stregnths to parent with appropriate boundaries, and perhaps even consider going back into the classroom--and enjoy it.  

Don't know if you're on here anymore, but from one ESTJ to another--thank you! You probably know how it is, so you understand my need to find others like me. It was so good hearing about how you act and feel because I could relate. If you get this, contact me! I'd love to hear more about your research of all the personality typing tests you've done, if you're still interested in anymore, of course.