INTP Discussion Forum > Flamethrower > Scary!

Posted by: Odyssey Apr 6 2004, 05:40 AM

Background:
__For those of you who might not know (or still haven't figured out...) I'm trying to determine what my primary "identity" should be. Right now I have an opportunity(?) for a major identity shift and I'm really confused as to Who I Should Be. Yay for teenage angst *nervous chuckle*

So:
__I already know I have some charisma. People seem to enjoy greeting me and asking me "what's up", etc. I'm almost always interested in people, so I like to spend a couple minutes finding out what they're up to. Teachers seem to respect/like me highly, for instance tending to look at me a lot when lecturing, and tending to talk to me after class. I'm also habitually honest (I may say nothing, but I don't lie), which builds trust.
__And now, after my public display of piano expertise, according to what I read about charisma I seem to have even more of it in the eyes of others. One example is that people keep helping me out because they want to - it's so weird; people seem to like doing little favors for me. All I can do is grin enthusiastically and appreciatively, but that seems to be all they want. haha.
__It seems like I'm at a critical juncture where I have the opportunity to rise to become much more influential ('alpha male'/'leader' syndrome), and frankly I'm scared about the change. To me, even if it doesn't quite happen the way I imagine, it symbolically means that I'm becoming more involved in my world and leaving behind more remnants of passivity and 'sleepwalking'. It means I'll be completely sidestepping self-conceptual boxes of "INTP" and the like by becoming more extroverted, practical, and organized as the occasion demands. It means I'll be sharing my thoughts and opinions more in the expectation that they'll be heard, instead of keeping them to myself.
__I worry that I'm not 'ready' to become more influential or involved or charismatic - that I'm not good enough or knowledgeable enough to be an admired and liked 'leader'. Who am I to try to positively influence the lives and minds of others? Who am I to adopt a higher interpersonal status? According to feedback, I'm one of the most respected/acknowledged people in my grade already - particularly in terms of academics. Can I actually become admired and talked about (in a good way) as a person, and still be an introvert?

Oh dear... Thoughts welcome. And I know INTPs can think, and y'all are here because you're interested in personality, which is why I post this here

~Odyssey

Posted by: Hush Apr 6 2004, 02:47 PM

Go for it, and most of all: learn from it. Even if it wont work out that well at this point in time, just having early-on experience on such things will make it worth-while in the long run. Having leadership-qualities (learned or not), confidence and experience is the key to rise beyond heaven in job scenarios -- and the sooner you work that stage-fright out, the better.

Posted by: 10of13 Apr 7 2004, 10:54 AM

QUOTE

becoming more involved in my world and leaving behind more remnants of passivity and 'sleepwalking'. It means I'll be completely sidestepping self-conceptual boxes of "INTP" and the like by becoming more extroverted, practical, and organized as the occasion demands. It means I'll be sharing my thoughts and opinions more in the expectation that they'll be heard, instead of keeping them to myself.

I agree with Muatra by saying "Go for it"

I think that what you stated in your post and above is the difference between those INTP's that become famous and those that stay behind. Take Einstein for example; he was a well respected and very influential man becuase he did not went and hide in a corner and kept his ideas to himself; he had the abilty to put his outlandish ideas (at that time) into words people can understand. I believe when an INTP becomes actively involved in his/her environment it opens a multitude of locked doors.

<10of13>

Posted by: Odyssey Apr 11 2004, 05:48 AM

"Go for it"

O.K.

Posted by: relaxo Apr 11 2004, 02:07 PM

Do you really want to "rise to become much more influential"? On an ego trip or something?

"it symbolically means that I'm becoming more involved in my world and leaving behind more remnants of passivity and 'sleepwalking'."
translates to me - more involved in other people's business and forgetting about myself.

" It means I'll be completely sidestepping self-conceptual boxes of "INTP" and the like by becoming more extroverted, practical, and organized as the occasion demands."
If you really are an INTP, you won't be happy doing this.

"Who am I to try to positively influence the lives and minds of others? Who am I to adopt a higher interpersonal status?"
...Just one of the many who think they know what is best for everyone else.

"Can I actually become admired and talked about (in a good way) as a person"
Why do you care if people admire you or talk about you?

Take care of yourself first. Do what you want, not what others want you to do. You're here for you, not for others.

Posted by: Odyssey Apr 20 2004, 08:18 AM

Thanks for the support! and thanks for the criticisms! The latter, BTW, help clarify what I really want, so I appreciate that.

G'night! (or whatever) ~Odyssey

Posted by: jayvan001 Apr 24 2004, 12:59 AM

Odyssey,

I have to be honest when I first read your post I was reminded of me and my teenage angst years. I also began cringing at the thought of people, however, I to have been blessed and cursed with charisma/people skills. In fact most people are shocked when they find out that I’m an introvert.

I’ll explain (and I’ll use me cause I know me best):

I can walk into a room full of people or a party and be the center of attention or the life of the party and feed off of the energy and have a blast doing it. People will be drawn to me because of my wacky antics and my sense of humor and the chicks dig me, but I can only do this for so long. Maybe only a couple hours, then I have to leave and go be by myself. I also can’t do it more than maybe once or twice a month, if that, just because being around people like that is just too much for my senses. I usually meet my social quota for the week at work anyway. I generally spend most of my time avoiding people, but on occasion the extrovert in me needs a night on the town.

Keep in mind just because you are and INTP does not me that you have to lock yourself into a room and be dead to the world. The test basically told you that Introversion is your preferred function and it does not by any means say that you cannot be an extrovert either. Its just that you don’t feed off of the constant attention like and extrovert does. I look at the MBTI as kind of blue prints for a person’s make up. No INTP is going to be the same, so if you want to go out and be charismatic then go for it dude. Just don’t forget to take time for yourself to reflect upon things. Alone time is good.

Hope that helped.

Jay