What's your MBTI?

I believe you are already familiar with the popular personality MBTI test, and the results suggest that I am a true ISFP. This result aligns well with my personality, as I enjoy small group or one-on-one conversations and I am a spontaneous person who doesn't like to make plans in advance. Surprisingly, I am surrounded by a group of friends who are "J" types, meaning they have a tendency to make daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly plans.

Once, when I went to MUJI with my roommate, she convinced me to buy a calendar notebook. I asked her how she usually plans things, and she told me that the first thing she does after getting up is write down all the things she plans to do that day, including even mundane tasks like brushing her teeth, doing laundry, and going to the grocery store. She described the satisfaction and fulfillment she gets from checking off these little boxes before going to bed.

I kept track of my daily activities in my calendar notebook for nearly 8 months. I have to admit, every night when I remembered all the blessed and happy things that happened throughout the day, it felt pretty magical and vivid. It was during these moments that I realized the significance of seemingly trivial moments. For example, finally getting my hands on the out-of-stock brownies I had been longing for, receiving a compliment from a stranger, and stumbling upon a boutique store that sells stunning hand-made accessories. These small moments had the power to bring immense happiness, far beyond what I could have imagined.

I quit this habit after returning to China from Los Angeles for various reasons. However, upon reflection, I believe it can ultimately be attributed to my tendency to not stick with things for very long. Nevertheless, as I mentioned earlier, the valuable and unforgettable moments I gained from writing those daily entries are truly extraordinary.

The habit of keeping a record of daily life is not the only difference I noticed from MBTI. Another aspect to consider is the distinction between introverted and extroverted individuals. As it is described, extroverted (E) people typically gain energy from socializing with a group of people, whereas introverted (I) people prefer more alone time for self-reflection and self-conversation. Personally, I feel more comfortable engaging in activities such as watching a movie, reading a novel, writing a blog, dancing to music, exploring new places, and ordering takeout by myself. I don't need to worry about other people's preferences, exhaust myself in order to fit into a social group, or argue with people over things that I don't even care about. This is the essence of being an "I" person like me, as we simply prefer to spend most of our time alone.

Unfortunately, despite my desire to deny it, the harsh reality is that today's world is challenging for introverted individuals. Specifically, in the workplace, if you constantly remain silent and shy, you are likely to miss out on promotion opportunities or go unnoticed, even if you are a hardworking employee. In college, if you confine yourself to lecture halls and dorms, you will miss out on the wonderful opportunity to explore endless possibilities in life. In the realm of dating, if you are too shy to express your charms, you will likely miss out on chances to expand your pool of potential matches. While I acknowledge that some of my thoughts may be biased and absolute, the truth is that extroverted individuals possess more courage and have greater opportunities to explore and experience different aspects of life.

I cannot speak for all introverted people, but my solution to this social dilemma is to push myself to be more adaptable. I will not sacrifice my precious and important alone time, which allows me to process my emotions. However, in certain necessary situations, particularly at work, I will adopt an "extroverted" and expressive persona. This version of myself will not shy away from initiating conversations, extending lunch invitations, and seeking guidance and feedback.

After completing the MBTI assessment, I now have a much clearer understanding of my strengths and weaknesses. It's important to note that there are no right or wrong personality types; however, what truly matters is having a comprehensive self-awareness and making the necessary adjustments to become a better version of oneself in different social settings.