Myers-Briggs Personality Test Paper

This project paper comes from the results of taking the Myers-Briggs Personality Test that I recently have taken. The test itself puts forth questions of how one would react or respond in certain types of situations, based on ones outlook on life and how they would deal with issues especially in a business environment. Since I have been out of the work environment for over twenty years, the results of this personality test will coincide with my life experiences and the different aspects of the four letter type that I am will reflect on those. After taking the test, which offered multiple variations of yes and no answers for each question, and it was determined that my type is ISFJ and my two letter temperament is SJ. Each of these will be broken down and discussed in this project paper. It will not only cover it from a life experience or textbook perspective but also from a biblical point of view.

The Myers-Briggs Personality Test

The purpose of the Myers-Briggs Personality test is to be able to determine a person’s perception of the world and how their views, beliefs and judgments affect them both in decisions they make in

their personal lives and business careers. As Isabel Briggs Myers stated, “It is up to each person to recognize his or her true preferences." (Myers-Briggs, 2015). After taking this test, it was determined that of the sixteen types that are represented, my type is ISFJ. When reading and researching what ISFJ meant, I was amazed at how much it related to me and how I perceive myself and those that I interact with on a regular basis.
ISFJ
ISFJ stands for Introvert Sensing Feeling Judging and each one has a percentage which I will discuss later.

My own perspectives and personality fit this to a ‘T’ because “because they prove over and over that they can be relied on for their loyalty and unstinting, high-quality work” (Heiss, 2015), and I am often taken advantage of or taken for granted as it is hard for me to say no to others when they ask for help with things. An example in my life of this would be that I sell items on EBay for friends, family and neighbors and there are many times that I do get overwhelmed with so many items and people to deal with of which I have to deal with their moods and greed of which is not me so that goes against all I believe in but yet I take on their items, because I just cannot say no which is one of the weaknesses of my personality

traits.

Introverted (34%) I do agree with this trait, as in many ways I am introverted, I am normally of the mindset that if I want something done, that I am better of doing it myself, rather than to delegate it out to others. I would also rather spend time with myself, as much of that is from being agoraphobic and never leaving my house for five years. However, I have managed to come out of that shell in the last ten years, I only feel comfortable around very few people at a time and in no way do I like having attention drawn to myself. I believe that is why I chose to continue my education in an online setting rather than a crowed classroom, as that would be a part of being “content to work quietly” (Kroeger, 2002, p. 313).
Sensing (22%) I do agree with the definition of sensing as my “perceptions of the world are realistic, grounded and present-oriented” (Kroeger, 2002, p. 313), they deal with the here and now, not what was or could be. I am the type to say what I mean and mean what I say, as if I give my word to someone I keep it no matter what tries to interfere with that and I expect the same from those around me. It is like the bible verse in Deuteronomy 23:23, “You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth” (Holy Bible KJV, 1989).
Feeling (16%) This trait I can relate to extremely well. “They do not usually express their own feelings, keeping things inside” (Personality Page, 2015). I am like that; I will only take but so much from another person as I do not care for conflict but when I reach a certain point, “they turn into firm judgments against individuals which are difficult to unseed” (Personality Page, 2015). When things like this happen in my life I always remind myself that God does not give us more than we can handle, although I do believe at times he does push those limits.
Judging (19%) I am not the type of person that does well with change. My preference is to live day to day in a “structured, ordered, accountable manner” (Kroeger, 2002, p. 313). As for an example, I am the events coordinator for the condo community where I live, and I do all the holiday decorating for both buildings, this is not something that I just throw together at the last minute I plan this up to six months in advance, it all has to be a certain way, the schedule and timetable used for this has to stay on track and I do not mind it when the neighbors help out but I do expect them to put forth the same type of effort that I do.
Temperament- SJ Of the four temperaments, based on the personality test mine falls into the SJ-Guardians category, and “Keirsey describes the SJ group's primary objective as "Security Seeking". (Personality Page, 2015), it goes on to describe this temperament as being focused internally, and “external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit into your personal value system.” (Personality Page, 2015). I see that in my life because I do have a habit of putting others before myself, I have a close knit group of friends who refer to ourselves as ‘the hens’ around this community, and not a day usually goes by that one of them always has issues whether it be with their children, grandchild or even each other, and when those issues come to surface it is my ear that they bend to talk about it, and after the psychology and life coaching classes I have had they usually need and depend on me to, “
help others become aware of their feelings” (Personality Page, 2015).
In general, I am glad that I took this test as it seemed to be overwhelming at first, it not only explained a lot about who I am and what my worldview is on different situations in my life. When I listened to the presentation by Kahlib Fischer, PhD, I could relate to his comments on what a worldview is, and I know as I have gotten older my worldview has changed from what is was twenty years ago, his first statement about what a worldview is as far as being “an intellectual, emotional, and spiritual framework by which you view reality” (Kahlib Fischer, 2012), I am not so sure about the intellectual part of it but I am an emotional and very spiritual person and I do make decisions in my life based on my worldviews, after taking the test and do a lot of reading on ‘my type’ I do see areas that I am going to work to improve on such as feeling that it is ok to be able to express my feelings more when I feel as though I am being overburdened or overwhelmed when others ask me to do things, one thing that I believe will be the hardest for me is to realize that there may be other ways of looking at or doing things than just my way. Being out of the workforce for so long, if I plan to reenter it, that is one part of my personality that I will really have to work on in order for me to be able to become a good team player. This statement really hit home for me in the readings of what my traits meant because I really do need to “remember to not be overly critical of themselves, and to give themselves some of the warmth and love which they freely dispense to others” (Personality Page, 2015).
What I particularly learned from taking this test that will make me in my case right now a better person, friend and family member is that it will be ok for me to say no to doing things when I am feeling like I am being used or taken advantage of, like tonight for example as I am writing this, a neighbor texted and wanted bring a bunch of items down for me to put on EBay for them, I stood up for myself and said no, I cannot do it at this time because you have a lot of things here already, that have not sold and I do not have the space for anymore at this moment, now normally I would just say, ok bring them on down and I would make room for them. This project also made me really take a look at my life, and it made me realize that like the definition of Hesed that Dr. Fischner gave when he stated, “that love and duty are intertwined, that you don’t just do a duty because you have to, it’s because you want to” (Kahlib Fischer, 2012). Being that I do feel guilty when I try to say no to people, I do all the things in my life and make decision that affect my life because I want to do them not because I have to. Not only do I go to school full-time, take care of my mom, serve on the HOA board here, plan all the events here, do holiday decorations, I do them because I want to because of being brought up in church and loving God the way that I do, I feel after all he did for us that it is my duty to do for others as he did for me. The most fulfilling thing that I do in life is that I volunteer in my church pantry once a month, and just knowing that I am able to bring a smile and comfort in the form of food to others is a duty and love that goes on beyond explanation. Acts 20:28 states it best, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
References
Holy Bible KJV. (1989). Grand Rapids MI: World Publishig.
Personality Page. (2015). Retrieved from Portrait of an ISFJ - Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging: http://www.personalitypage.com/html/ISFJ.html
Heiss, M. M. (2015). ISFJ. Retrieved from Humanmetrics Inc: http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality/isfj
Kahlib Fischer, P. (2012, Dec 19). Lesson 1 A Worldview Perspective on Organizational Behavior: A Biblical and Comprehensive Approach. Lynchburg, Va.
Kroeger, O. T. (2002). Type talk at work: How the 16 personality types determine you success on the job (2nd ed). New York, NY: Dell Publishing.
Myers-Briggs. (2015). MBTI basics. Retrieved from The Myers & Briggs Foundation: http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/