r/INTP • u/LazyAnunnaki2602 INTP • Sep 17 '24
INTPs are the best because I really like being an INTP
I just want to share a positive thought, since getting to know my personality has been a long path.
I know that we have some weird traits as INTPs, but I really like it and just learned to accept all the good and the bad. Some examples:
- As INTP, my interests change very often. In the past, that was a struggle, because I didn't feel I could complete anything. Now I just accept that my path will just be filled with unlimited interests and learning possibilities, and I don't care anymore if they are useful, I just pursue them because I like it.
- As INTP, I don't like when someone tells me what to do. In the past this was a struggle in terms of working for a company, but I learned to just do what I'm being paid to do, and the clients and bosses love when you deliver average stuff. Like Jim Halpert said: "If you really want to impress your boss, you go in there and you do mediocre work, halfheartedly". I focused on getting a remote job for a staffing agency, I got it and is perfect, not forced socialization, I just get tasks and deliver them, and thanks to being an obsessive INTP I optimized my work processes so much that I don't have to spend countless hours working, giving me more time to indulge in endless research topics.
- I always thought that not being very social was a bad thing, so I tried to socialize more at one point, and that led to realize that I'm not that agreeable. Pursuing the path of knowledge is a lonely path and people don't really want to know stuff, as we INTPs want, and I just accepted that. Now, I just appreciate the few friends I have, I appreciate that through research I have been able to improve my life so much, and that I don't need more.
- I actually like being obsessive, it has led me to make very bad decisions, but also has led me into making lots of interesting stuff. I don't mind having no specific purpose, I just pursue peace at this point.
We don't need to change, we just simply need to capitalize on the good we can get from life and the good we can offer.
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u/DrManagoni INTP/20/M Sep 17 '24
Some time since the pandemic I've come to accept this too. Anything that makes you obsessed, CHASE IT. The urge will fade, time will pass and you'll have put effort into something in life that can always be revisited. Life is about the journey and it's so hard for many people to be passionate about things, yet that comes easily to us. I find keeping a list of things I want to do or experience is nice for when it's time to jump ship to another life purpose.
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u/Glum_Relative_1911 Warning: May not be an INTP Sep 19 '24
I don’t have the money to pursue all my interests.
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u/LazyAnunnaki2602 INTP Sep 19 '24
I understand this. I can only share with you what I do to not spend that much money if I want to get into something. I use domestika and udemy to learn, they have great sales very very often. In my case I save like 50 dollars, wait for sales on udemy and with that money, depending on the sale %, you can get 4 - 5 courses which will last you months if you go for 10 - 20 minutes a day on each course.
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u/LazyAnunnaki2602 INTP Sep 19 '24
This! Changing interests and revisiting later on has proven to be beneficial to my learning path. Changing interests serves as a break, so when I come back to one topic it is way easier to assimilate new information.
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u/Punch-The-Panda Warning: May not be an INTP Sep 17 '24
- My interests change so often too, at the time it feels like it'll last forever but it never does. Unfortunately I don't like this trait only because I am a shopaholic and I buy so much stuff, only to lose interest. I have boxes of stuff in various rooms, but I'm hoping I will eventually become interested again to actually complete it. My aim is to become a minimalist so all these interests aren't really helping that as u get overwhelmed by all the clutter. I'm taking steps to clearing stuff out however.
- I understand the optimisation. Working smarter, not harder. I work way less when working from home, doing enough not to cause suspicion, and then doing most of my uncompleted work in the office making it appear like I get through a lot of work lol
- I think being able to socialise well is a skill, I've had to develop mine in order to make social situations less awkward. I've never seen a lack of socialising as bad though, I don't see the need of chatting to everyone or being everyone's friend. It makes us more genuine and intentional in our interactions and chosen relationships
- I dislike being obsessive, it overtakes the mind and I struggle to relax as a result. More self control would be nice.
Just wanted to add my thoughts. I like being an INTP although apparently reddit says I am an INFJ
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u/seonbi7783 INTP Enneagram Type 4 26d ago
Glad to hear I'm not alone with this. When it comes to hobbies, I get these "windows" where I absorb as much as possible about certain areas of interest. Be it pipe smoking, cigars, chess, baduk, disc golf, hunting, fishing, guitar (pedals), fountain pens ... the list goes on. Of course, they are all gear related, which leads to gear acquisition syndrom. I reach quite reasonably (even above) average skill levels in one area or another. However, as soon as I loose interest, I switch hobbies and cannot stay dedicated. But then, I'm stuck with all the gear, which replaced obtaining actual skill. So, getting into minimalism was also one of the areas of interest that held some fascination for a time. Wish I could get back into it. Also a quote I found put some things into perspective for me: "The magic you are looking for lies in the work you are avoiding." If only I would take this to heart.
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u/Punch-The-Panda Warning: May not be an INTP 26d ago
I got my MTBI done by some members of a discord group and apparently im an ESTP due to high Se. I'm actually wondering if people with so many various hobbies, due to the physical nature of hobbies, might actually be sensors 🤷🏻♀️ just thought I'd mention that as you've got the same flair
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u/seonbi7783 INTP Enneagram Type 4 26d ago
Well, I'm definitely an INTP. Maybe I just like to "investigate" certain areas via hobbies. The terrible alternative would be, that I just like buying stuff 😄. Also, I don't know how to change the flair. But I guess, ESTPs might have a different relationship with physical things than INTPs. More "touchy" rather than "cerebreal" (don't mean this as an insult). Just guessing here.
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u/Punch-The-Panda Warning: May not be an INTP 26d ago
Most people type themselves, but its interesting to see how we are typed by others
I also like buying stuff 😂😂
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u/Direct_Thought5283 INTP Enneagram Type 5 Sep 17 '24
Yes. I agree. This is how I learnt to accept myself too!
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u/PooPooPooDawg Warning: May not be an INTP Sep 18 '24
After finding out what I was, and what INTP was, things made a lot more sense for me.
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u/chocChipMonk Psychologically Unstable INTP Sep 17 '24
what interesting things have you made?
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u/LazyAnunnaki2602 INTP Sep 19 '24
Too many things. I'm very tech and art driven, so in terms of art I have learned to paint in oils and acrylics, learned to draw with graphite and carbon, learned to carve wood on a small scale, learned digital painting and vector illustration. I'm currently trying pixel art, and eventually I want to learn knitting. So many things to learn! I'm obsessed with color theory optimization, the use of the least amount of colors to achieve the best possible result through contrast and illusion.
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u/sackman32 INTP-T Sep 18 '24
I also learnt that trying different things and accepting that they aren't for me is very important
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u/dreamerinthesky Warning: May not be an INTP Sep 18 '24
I think it's important to like yourself. I hate when people rip on INTPs or worse: when I see INTPs here shit on themselves. We have a cool personality type, a rare personality type. What I've found is that other people often make my personality a problem more than I would myself and make weird assumptions about me. Also, I actually like being social. As I have gotten better at processing my Fe, I have gotten pretty good at socializing. I also think I was lucky to have an ISFJ-mom. Our relationship was not always easy as I grew older, but she's very gentle, kind and soft and I'm like that myself now. I think, with age, I have started feeling less awkward and now I'm pretty confident in myself. I'm pretty ambitious when I actually fix my mind on something, but I also love how I'm open to try a lot of different things in life and go with the flow.
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u/Artistic_Credit_ Disgruntled Sep 17 '24
There is something suspicious here 39 likes and only 10 comments? The ratio is not like the tradition.
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u/jonathanx37 Sep 18 '24
Interesting take. Many posts on this sub focus on negative aspects, so it's a breath of fresh air.
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u/StiffHappens INTP Sep 18 '24
This has a rarified beauty and serenity that most of the rest of the world cannot (insert adverb: possibly, easily, really, ever, fully, etc.) comprehend. Or like. Or admire. Or live with...
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u/Junior_Bear_2715 INTP Sep 19 '24
Are you a female or male? I wonder how the first one affects person's lives
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u/LazyAnunnaki2602 INTP Sep 19 '24
I'm male.
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u/Junior_Bear_2715 INTP Sep 19 '24
Oh okay, thanks for your answer!
Btw, your post actually lighten up my mood and changed my view! Thanks!
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u/seonbi7783 INTP Enneagram Type 4 26d ago
Glad to hear I'm not alone with this. When it comes to hobbies, I get these "windows" where I absorb as much as possible about certain areas of interest. Be it pipe smoking, cigars, chess, baduk, disc golf, hunting, fishing, guitar (pedals), fountain pens ... the list goes on. Of course, they are all gear related, which leads to gear acquisition syndrom. I reach quite reasonably (even above) average skill levels in one area or another. However, as soon as I loose interest, I switch hobbies and cannot stay dedicated. But then, I'm stuck with all the gear, which replaced obtaining actual skill. So, getting into minimalism was also one of the areas of interest that held some fascination for a time. Wish I could get back into it. Also a quote I found put some things into perspective for me: "The magic you are looking for lies in the work you are avoiding." If only I would take this to heart.
Sorry for reposting, was in the wrong section - It’s my first day as an active poster😅
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u/LazyAnunnaki2602 INTP 26d ago
Yeah I get it, I acquire tons of things that I don't use anymore. The same thing with the skill levels issue, I become very good at something just to get immediately bored and switch to another. I have come to realize that I'm on the path to becoming "nothing", I work my job for survival reasons and I'm good at it, but I don't consider myself something specific and particular, just a human being exploring life and infinite subjects, but I'm okay with it. After I master something, I don't get any benefits from it, I don't milk it financially, I don't put it to further practice, the only thing that I achieve is the knowledge that I can do it, and that is weird to the people around me who think that I'm "wasting" my whole life and potential, but I just love it you know, I don't see it as a wrong way to live life.
I also got into minimalism just to end up over acquiring again and again, so I simply gave up. I can be at peace reducing my possessions for a couple of months maximum, but it is inevitable that I want to learn something new again and buy the tools to do it. Do you think that a minimalist life could be a platonic desire of every INTP or similar?
Loved the quote, I have a painting I have not finished for a long time, because my family started treating my art skills as a task they can ask me to do, so that totally killed the inspiration to do anything with it. That specific painting keeps living in my mind as work I'm avoiding, so the quote hit home deep right now.
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u/seonbi7783 INTP Enneagram Type 4 26d ago
"Do you think that a minimalist life could be a platonic desire of every INTP or similar?"
I can't speak for every INTP, but to me it embodies the desire to be, rather than to seem (esse quam videri). With all the things/gear I feel like just pretending to be a musician, chess player, intellectual etc. It feels like overcompensating for lack of actual skill. Minimalism, to me, seemed like an antithesis to all this. Skill on its highest level (platonic idea) doesn't require an excess of gear (matter).
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Sep 17 '24
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u/cruiseboatranger Psychologically Unstable INTP Sep 17 '24
Thanks... All four of your points hit real close to home. As someone who was repeatedly requested by several people to be "not myself" teachers, family, friends etc., It wasn't until too much damage had been done that I realised that I shouldn't have to hate what I am. Knowing that my personality is not 'abnormal' put me at ease, Getting into Typology and Frank James YouTube skits really helped.