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Yesterday my workout consisted of taking it easy. I’m still playing it safe when it comes to my leg and when I have a longer or harder workout day (Thursday), I either do something easy or nothing at all on the day following.
It’s amazing how my definition of a “hard workout” day has changed. Everything is relative.
I opted to take Zoe on a walk again.
The wind was out of control here today.
You really can’t tell it from the picture but it was quite a blustery day! I ended up getting a total of about 45 minutes in before heading indoors to get away from the wind and to get warm.
On the way to the Marine Corps Marathon Wes and I were getting pretty stir crazy in the car and decided we would take the famous Jung, Briggs, Myers personality test.
I was driving so Wes read the questions off to me and then we would answer them.
We obviously knew that we were very different, but hadn’t take the test in a long time.
The final verdict:
I was a ISFJ and Wes came back as a INTJ.
Here is a closer look at the common descriptions of the two:
ISFJ
We were cracking up as we were reading mine because a lot of it was spot on.
I don’t agree with it all, but it seems pretty accurate I would say. We found one description that described an ISFJ as “The Nurturer.”
I am an overall quiet person, I do enjoy having close friends but I would prefer a few over a lot. I am very very emotionally driven. This has it is advantages and disadvantages but I make a lost of decisions based on emotions and I have to be careful with that. I place very high value on family and my relationships, and I of course love to plan things way too much. I often put others feelings before my own and often am way to hard on myself.
INTJ
Wes on the other hand was the exact opposite.
After we researched it he was considered “The Scientist” which I found very fitting since he is in medical school.
Wes is a very reserved guy. He keeps to himself but he is always thinking of the future. In everything he does he has a plan and he thinks of every possible outcome before he makes a decision. He has a harder time with affection than I do, but I wouldn’t call him by any means “not physically affectionate” as this describes. One of the descriptions we read was that INTJ’s can come off “cold” even though they are not meaning to that is just how they are.
After looking at this I realized a couple of things:
1. Knowing some of this can help us have a better relationship. I know how Wes is and even though there are some things I’d love to change about him (as he would about me) it is just who we are to an extent.
They key though is that just because you have a certain personality doesn’t mean you can’t compromise to work with someone else. In a lot of ways having opposite personalities helps us because in a lot of the places that I am weak Wes is very strong and able to pick up the slack, and vise versa. However, we both have to realize that there has to be compromise to make any relationship work and we should just use “well that’s just how I am” as an excuse.
2. I wanted to know how our personalities could play into who we are as runners. How do these personality traits shape how we enjoy training.
Me:
Follows the Rules – While this does apply to me in real life, I think it helps me understand why I like training plans so much. I love having a set workout for the day, however, this also is bad for me when it causes me to not listen to my body because I am so focused on getting that days workout in.
Emotionally Driven – Running has a lot of emotion with it. I am passionate about my goals and I want to achieve them for me, but when I don’t or I fall short I can be extremely hard on myself. I have always had to work on “cutting myself a break.”
Wes:
Perfectionist – In some ways I do think Wes can be a perfectionist and in other ways I don’t see it, but I do know when it comes to running he is. He has a goal and he focuses on it and he doesn’t let go. He wants to run a sub-2:30 and 2 days after his marathon he was already planning out how he was going to get faster.
Prefers Being Alone – Again, in some ways I see this. When it comes to running some of the joy that it bring is the fact that he can be in his own world, in his own head, and he can really relax. He always is open to having me or one of his friends run with him, but at the end of the day running is a way for Wes to relax and be by himself.
This is a bit of a different post I know, but I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I don’t believe that YOUR personality type DEFINES who you are. Yes, it can tell you how you tend to be but I think improvements and modifications can be made. Just like in our relationship where there has to be compromise, when it comes to running knowing these things shows me where my shortfalls can be and the things I can change to help me become a better runner.
Have you ever taken a personality test? What did you end up being?
OH…I am so curious about that test…I may have hubby and I take it…although, after reading what WES is I feel I would end up there too…a lot of those characteristics sound like me. Good, bad or otherwise. ha!
Haha each personality has good and bad traits! I just think it’s cool to see and understand each other a little but more!
Last time I did one was more than 20 years ago and I was an INTJ … not sure I would still be. Lisa laughs at me – she is much less willing to step out at this point, whereas I will now talk to anyone, tend to be randomly social, and am more then one who knows a bunch of the other ‘band parents’ and chats them up. Yet I am STILL ‘the scientist’ (literally as well as figuratively, background in physics and statistics, do statistics and metrology for Corning) … have no problem eating alone in a restaurant of any type, no problem with quiet (Lisa hates silence) and so on.
It is important to know these things – because there are always things that are complementary … but other things clash between people! 🙂
The wind was crazy this week, eh? Today is nice, too bad my half-marathon on a high, exposed hill is tomorrow in what is supposed to be 30, snow showers and wind. Yay 🙁
Haha you all sound like Wes and I! He could sit in compete silence forever and it drives me nuts! I’m a talker with people I know but I’m a large room I tend to shy away and keep to myself. Though being in the business world for 6 years has helped me become a little more extroverted on some areas.
I’m so glad you wrote about this! I LOVE the Myers-Briggs Test, and I really think it helps people understand each other and get along better! I’ve tested probably 5-6 times, and I always come out an ISTJ, although I think I really am an ISFJ. The test really helped my mom and I work out some issues when I was in High School and she thought that I hated her because after a really stressful day I just wanted to be in my room by myself, rather than talking to her a ton. Our MBTI type is also one of the first things we tell each other when we get new teams at work (which happens every 2-3 months). Kevin is an ISTJ, too! Many people say opposites attract, but it works for us!
My thoughts on those tests is that they place people in quadrants, whereas in reality we all exist on a continuum. Sure you get a % of each, but each question is binary, and very often lacking in the context to provide you a way to make an absolute choice. In other words, my job often involves ‘things’, and therefore my decision making process for >50% of my life revolves around that … but dealing with people in more general social situations is different. That said, I just tested INTJ again 🙂
I agree with that! I just find it interesting to look at. I do think knowing what you tend to be helps though in relationships. I know how my husband thinks and I understand where he is coming from even if it is not what I would do.
That is neat that you all are the exact same things! I don’t really think “opposites” or “being the same” really matters in a relationship I think it is just knowing how the other is and adjusting that. My husband and I are different, but in some ways we are the same and I am glad of that. I don’t think I would be good with someone that wants to go party every night because that just isn’t me, I love that we both enjoy sitting at home on a friday night and enjoying low key time, for an example.
I just think these things are so much fun to look at!
I took the Myers-Briggs for a class a few years ago but if I remember correctly I was ESTJ! It was such an interesting thing to know and start applying to all my relationships… especially since I was living with six other girls at the time! We had a blast talking about what we each were and learned so much about each other and what made each of us tick!
Wow six other girls?! That would be craziness but I could really see how this could come in handy!
INFJ…the rarest one! I took this years ago and just went and took it again…yep, the same. I agree with pretty much all of mine.
The rarest one!? That is awesome!! It is amazing how spot on they are!
We use to do these types of test often at work and if I am an ISFJ which surprised me because I always thought I was more extroverted than introverted but I do enjoy my alone time sitting in a quiet place just thinking or reading. I agree with these types of tests helping with relationships and we should remember the golden rule isn’t always “Treat others as you would like to be treated” but rather treat others as they would like to be treated.
I am definitely an introvert but I have found that when it comes to work I am an extrovert. I think in certain situations it comes out because that is how I have learned it.
I love that golden rule! If you think about it – it is SO true! We need to know how those we love like to be treated and what works for them, not necessarily what WE want!
Can’t help but interject. Even though you are an introvert, INFJ and ISFJ have extroverted feeling. This means you say what you feel about things and this often comes across as an extroverted type. I know way tooooo much about this!!! 🙂
This is interesting, Kristy! 95% of those who guess my type at work say I’m an extrovert, but I know that I’m really an introvert, so this is all the more reason why I think I’m really an ISFJ (even though I test ISTJ!).
Ummm…. I LOVE this test! I am an INFP. Funny that all the consistent bloggers here are “j” for their last letter! “J” is great at follow through! I feel like those with “n” in their type may enjoy running those long distances as it gives us the chance to introspect. My husband is an ISFJ. He totally keeps me on task! LOL. I love INFJ and ISFJ types! Sweet and hard working!
I am ISTJ and based on what I have read about this personality type it makes sense! I know I am an introvert and I don’t like expressing my own feelings…which is funny because I am a therapist so i help other people talk about their feelings and can easily empathize with others. I am also definitely a rule follower, planner, and like to be organized!
Oh I am a big rule follower and planner! I try to break it all the time and it is so so so hard!
In the same context, someone came up with a Star Wars character MBTI chart … http://www.geekinheels.com/2013/10/23/star-wars-mbti-chart.html