Beyond the Label: Using the MBTI as a Tool for Self-Discovery & Growth
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Have you ever wondered why you feel drained after too much socializing, while your partner seems to get energy from it? Or why your colleague needs every detail mapped out before starting a project, while you’re inspired by the big-picture vision?
These differences aren’t random. Read ahead to find out:
A Quick History of the test
Major Types of personality
Discover Your Preliminary Preferences
How MBTI can help you?
They’re often rooted in our innate personality preferences. For decades, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) has been a fascinating lens through which to understand these patterns. But it’s often misunderstood.
As a therapist, I don’t use the MBTI to put people in boxes. I use it to open doors, to self-awareness, compassion, and meaningful growth. Let’s explore how this framework can be a powerful tool in your personal development journey.
A Quick History: More Than a Corporate Quiz
Many think of the MBTI as a modern corporate tool, but its roots are deeply psychological. It was developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers, who were inspired by the pioneering work of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung.
Their goal wasn’t to categorize people but to make Jung’s theory of psychological types accessible and useful for everyday life. They wanted to help people understand themselves better so they could find their unique path to a fulfilling life.
The Core Idea: It’s About Preference, Not Ability
The most important principle to remember is this: the MBTI measures your innate preferences, not your skills, intelligence, or worth. Think of it like being right or left-handed. You can use both hands, but one feels more natural and effortless. Your personality type is your mental "handedness."
The framework is built on four pairs of preferences:
· Energy Direction: Extraversion (E) vs. Introversion (I)
o Where do you get your energy? From the outer world of people and activities (E) or your inner world of thoughts and reflections (I)?
· Information Gathering: Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)
o Do you focus on the present, concrete facts and details (S) or on future possibilities and patterns (N)?
· Decision Making: Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)
o Do you make decisions based on logic and objectivity (T) or based on values and how decisions affect people (F)?
· Lifestyle Approach: Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)
o Do you prefer a planned, decided, and organized approach to life (J) or a flexible, spontaneous, and adaptable one (P)?
Your combination of these preferences gives you your four-letter type (e.g., INFJ, ESTP).
Let's Get Interactive: Discover Your Preliminary Preferences
Grab a pen and paper! Don't overthink it; just go with your gut reaction for each question below.
1. The Recharge Test:After a long, busy week, what is your idea of recharging?
· A. (E) Going out with a group of friends to a lively event.
· B. (I) A quiet night in with a book, movie, or one or two close friends.
Your Letter: ____
2. The Information Test:When learning a new skill, what’s more important to you first?
· A. (S) The concrete, step-by-step instructions and practical facts.
· B. (N) Understanding the overall concept and how you could use it innovatively.
Your Letter: ____
3. The Decision Test:When making a tough choice, what is your guiding force?
· A. (T) Consistency, logic, and objective analysis. "Is this the most logical option?"
· B. (F) Personal values, harmony, and empathy. "How will this affect everyone involved?"
Your Letter: ____
4. The Planning Test:How do you approach a deadline?
· A. (J) I create a plan and work steadily to finish well ahead of time.
· B. (P) I work best under pressure and find motivation as the deadline approaches.
Your Letter: ____
Now, combine your four letters. What is your code? (e.g., ENFJ, ISTP).
Remember, this is a starting point for reflection, not a definitive diagnosis. The true value comes from exploring what this might mean for you.
How This Awareness Fuels Therapy and Growth
Understanding your type isn’t an endpoint; it’s a starting point for deeper work. In therapy, we can use this insight to:
· Navigate Relationships: Why do you clash with certain people? Often, it's a clash of styles, not character. Understanding type fosters compassion and improves communication.
· Manage Anxiety and Stress: Your type influences what drains you and what replenishes you. An Introvert (I) might need to schedule quiet time to avoid social burnout, while a Perceiver (P) might need structure to manage deadline-related anxiety.
· Build Self-Compassion: So often, we judge ourselves for not being "different." Recognizing that your preferences are innate can help you stop fighting your nature and start working with it.
· Identify Blind Spots: As the Johari Window model shows, we all have blind spots, things others see about us that we cannot see. Your type can reveal potential areas for growth.
"There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self."
— Benjamin Franklin
There are things about ourselves which we do not know, but that others can see. This is the fertile ground for therapy.
A Final Thought from Jung
The goal of this exploration is not to label yourself forever. It’s to begin a conversation with yourself. As Carl Jung himself reminds us:
"Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."
Your type is a map for that journey inward. If you’re curious about what your MBTI means for your life and relationships, I invite you to take the next step. Together, we can explore your type in depth and uncover strategies for growth, resilience, and fulfillment.
Are you ready to explore what your type means for you?
https://www.pakeezahmentalhealth.com/intake-form
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only. A proper MBTI® assessment should be administered and interpreted by a certified professional
