Anonymous wrote:I've enjoyed this! I am also INFJ, and relate to most everything people say.
I've been blaming everything (like my indecisiveness and procrastination) on my upbringing, but maybe it's my personality type. (Though I guess maybe my personality type comes from my upbringing!)
I'm also indecisive, very empathetic, very sensitive to anger in others (I have to stay away from certain people.) But I was raised by a family with a strong streak of personalities which are very angry and critical (and a bit narcissistic). This is the personality of my mom, her dad, and my younger brother. My mother also raised me to be kind of codependent with her, so my personality was squelched by her unpredictable anger.
I always want to make everyone happy, and am very sensitive as to what might do that. I am not good at standing up for myself, or taking care of what I want for myself. I'm not even very good at identifying what I want (separate from what others want.)
Yet, I also have strong opinions and am persistent about things I feel are right. Strong sense of justice.
I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up (at 53.)
I was a assistant director for a non profit, but am thinking of going back to school in social work. In my old job I did a lot of event management etc, but that's not a good match for me (especially since I've been a SAHM for longer than I intended, for various reasons) Anyway, program management and event planning is too much like being a SAHM. Running everything for other people.
I am also drawn to writing/journalism. When I was younger I wanted to be a naturalist, or the Jane Goodall of dolphins. I took a job match test a long time ago, and probably should have listened (the result was librarian, social worker or forest ranger. They all sound good to me.) My worry with social work is that it would be too draining, so I'm reassured to see other INFJ social workers/psychologist/counselors on here who seem happy with the choice.
I'm married to an extreme introvert with Aspergers, which isn't easy. (I think maybe having been raised by people who couldn't express feelings, I inadvertently chose that in a spouse) I'm also very loyal to friends. I have one close circle of elementary school friends and one small circle of college friends, and in both cases feel like I'm the one holding everyone together (instigating our gatherings)
You probably understand how to partner with an Asperger's type. I can, too. It's the reading of emotions, probably.
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