What’s Inspiring Us – 07
As we prepare to enter into a new year, how are you prioritizing your mental fitness and well-being? What areas, if any, do you seek to grow more in and do you have a good understanding of what steps are needed to get there? In short – how well do you know yourself? Enter the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or MBTI, which is one of the more popular models for studying key personality traits and behavior. The system was developed in the 1920s by mother-daughter duo Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers, using dichotomies (e.g. introversion/extroversion, thinking/feeling) to identify individual attributes. There are a total of 16 MBTI types, and you can use an assessment such as 16Personalities to glean yours. While not directly related to mental health per se, it provides a helpful framework for understanding your triggers and responses.
Here is a simplified breakdown of the different categories covered by the MBTI:
- I vs. E: Introversion or extroversion
- N vs. S: Intuition or sensing
- F vs. T: Feeling or thinking
- J vs. P: Judging or perceiving
Using the assessment
Before diving in further – keep in mind that personality typing should be a learning tool, not necessarily used to predict behavior or action. It is, however, an accessible resource and an enlightening exercise. Let’s use Evelyn’s (our Marketing/Growth Manager) MBTI as an example.
I – Introverted
Evelyn tends towards introversion than extroversion, and describes it this way: “While I can ‘turn it on’ when engaging with crowds, I draw more of my energy from introspective activities such as journaling or crafting. Growing up, I mostly kept to myself because I was incredibly shy, but I have Taekwondo to thank for breaking me out of my shell!”
S – Observant
“I’m the person who sees a penny on the ground or notices when the grammar or spelling is incorrect (a helpful skill in the field of marketing),” says Evelyn. Observers are known to have an eye for detail and are excellent at execution, but can sometimes struggle with seeing the big picture.
F – Feeling
Though introverted, ISFJs have a social nature in that they are the first to remember people’s birthdays, what they like to be gifted, and find joy through supporting others to build secure and happy lives.
J – Judging
Evelyn likes to think of this as the planning versus spontaneous trait; while she scored relatively down the middle for the other categories, she was a strong J (i.e. 75%). The ISFJ personality type errs on the side of being meticulous to a fault and takes responsibility seriously.
What does this have to do with my mental health?
Again, without going so far as to be deterministic, your Myers-Briggs personality type can be used to better comprehend your responses to situations – take grief, for instance – and interactions with others. Knowing when and where to draw boundaries is always good practice. To continue with the ISFJ example, Evelyn often finds it helpful to block out some downtime following a conference or event to decompress and regain mental energy. On the flipside, after laying out detailed plans for everything from work to meeting with a friend, taking a spontaneous drive can be a refreshing activity that offers a mental reset in its own way.
Learning the MBTI of colleagues and even family and friends is a great way to approach communication and engagement. (As a funny story, Evelyn asked her parents to take the 16Personalities assessment and they both scored ISFJ as well! The apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree.) When we recognize the motivators and tendencies of the people around us, we can also better respect their boundaries and emotional responses.
Do you know your Myers-Briggs personality type? What is your biggest takeaway from understanding more about your disposition? Are there any adjustments to your current routine that you think will be beneficial to your mental fitness? Share with Savor Lining on LinkedIn.
Given our work, the Savor Lining team thinks a lot about mental fitness, psychology, and wellness subjects. In no particular order, we’ll be sharing some of the resources that have inspired us. These include but aren’t limited to:
- Books
- Online resources
- Apps we’ve personally used and found helpful
- Thought leaders and figures we follow
- Non-profit or charitable organizations doing exceptional work
We invite you to stay curious and learn something new today!