bond with other INFPs

but something tells me that my job is not a good fit for an INFP.

and I’ll continue to follow it, but I think I’m going to retire it from my list. It’s nice to be reminded about those INFP qualities, because I’m now working as part of a team at a synagogue, and many of my little quirks could be a problem when it is MUCH better for them to be assets.

But as a GOAL… dunno. Anyhow, this has been fun and I may post again in future.

It occurs to me that there’s a great similarity between an introvert’s club and an anarchist’s club.

:)

_{not to be confused with a caveman’s club}

Let the bonding begin!

_{now where’d I put that Super Glue?}

which not only offers people a chance to take the M-B test, but lets you see how your type (in our case, INFP’s) interface with other folks. It’s done in a rather graphic format, which I like better than the wordy kind.

Anyway, if you are on facebook, check it out.

c’est moi

but 43things is not letting me join any invites, after I click on the link in my email I always get:

“The invitation you recieved [sic] is no longer valid.”

This was happening before I left for my trip a few weeks ago….

& wondering if you hate conflict as much as I do.

Yesterday I wrote an E-Mail Expressing Concern to a leader in our church. It needed to be done: a vote is coming up soon, & a particular issue of justice hasn’t been addressed in the church meetings. I wasn’t irate, but I’m convinced that this issue should be brought out into the open & nobody else was doing it so I had to. I worded my e-mail with care to make it clear that I’m not criticizing or blaming anyone. The leaders care about this issue too, so I’m just asking them to make their thoughts about the process public.

Now I am hoping for a response, but I’m all nervous about getting one! I even delayed opening my e-mail this morning & then breathed a sigh of relief to see that there was no answer yet.

1. notice a wrong or an injustice involving people you interact with regularly
2. feel a bit of glee along with sober determination when you realize that you need to speak up
3. craft a statement with enormous care, & feel great satisfaction when you’ve finished
4. suffer significant anxiety about receiving a response!

When a response arrives, I have even had friends open envelopes for me & let me know what the enclosed letter or note says. I am attracted to “righteous” conflict, but I hate it so much at the same time! :-/

EDIT: Just now I got an answer, & it’s thoughtful & calm & informative, just what I needed! “It is always wonderful to have people actively engaged in considering these things,” says the elder to whom I sent my message. That’s sincere, not just an attempt to make me feel OK about everything. The issues I brought up are being addressed, & there will be another vote in less than a year, which will provide a new opportunity to remedy the imbalance.

Responses like this one remind me that there are some contexts in which conflict-anxiety is a waste of energy.

I enjoyed a lot of what I did for work today, which was not what I do every day – I was at a conference where breast cancer advocates got together with researchers to hear about new research funded by a federal program that the same advocates made and continue to make possible. That’s pretty cool in and of itself.

So, I went to sessions and stayed awake in most of them… I took notes when possible because I have to write it up for our Board, etc. (there was one session, on radiology, that might as well have been in Serbo-Croatian… they really need to do something about teaching these researchers how to communicate better). The third session I heard was so gratifying that I was, at one moment, moved to tears, and, although it always scares me to get up at the mike and ask questions, I just had to congratulate some of our advocates for the fabulous work they’re doing (which brought them enthusiastic applause!).

Knowing I’m an Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving person has been helpful in this weird post-ordination stage of my life. There have been lots of local jobs for religious school administrators, for instance, but I know better than to “grit my teeth” and take one. It would play on my weaknesses and drive me bananas. Intuitively I know that, but I have taken considerable comfort in knowing I’m not just being a wimp, it really IS a bad fit.

There are plenty of other things I am good at: pastoral counseling, teaching (all ages), writing, and so on. Knowing that has been a source of major comfort.

I can function as an administrator, but if that were my primary function, I’d wither or go crazy.

Meantime, I’m writing and making art, and this weekend I’m making a foray into preaching and teaching. We’ll see.