I'm hard core ENTP. I have a good deal of trouble interfacing with the world at large. I'd say my 'N' is one reason why this is the case.
It's a very 'S' world. it only stands to reason that someone with lots of 'N' is always going to have a hard time.
You've neglected to give your label, though I seem to recall you being an INTJ. I'll roll with that assumption.
If you love being a librarian but you feel you want to do more with the intellectual capacity you have, start prospecting, start exploring other avenues related to your field. Don't let anyone walk out the door without you politely scanning them for links to the next big thing. In short, polish up you 'P' and expand your horizons.
Could you write for the library system ? Perhaps 'Engaging kids in Learning at your local public library'.
Design the next Steiner School ?
*shrugs*
With some more details I might be able to glean a possible direction or seven for you.
If it's one thing that ENTPs do well, it's dig up opportunities where virtually everyone else doesn't.
And my job does use my intellect quite a bit. I may someday move to an academic librarianship job, but not for now. I do a lot of programs that are educational- and my teaching degree does help A LOT.
I have noticed that a lot of S individuals gravitate toward professions considered "good" by our society. Ns don't particularly seem to care; they do what makes them happy. I'm in the same boat you are, generally speaking. I was Ms. Achievment growing up, and now I'm a stay at home mom, part time teacher, and wannabe novelist. I'm thinking about law school, so maybe I'll get that "good" job yet.
I can imagine some NFs being total do-gooders. Not exactly the "appropriate" or "suitable" professions of being an accountant or an engineer- but still wanting to make the world a better place and right wrongs and triumph over evil.
Us NTs on the other hand are very much more concerned with our own happiness and doing what we enjoy.
Actually, speaking as an INFJ (INTJ at work), the INFJs who post on the INFJ community seem overall to be creative types- writers/English majors, actors/theater majors, some psychology majors. In other words, people who are "very concerned with their own happiness and doing what they enjoy". :)
Well, a Certain Someone was more concerned by righting wrongs and loving everyone and spreading hope and joy than with following the rules to the letter or caring what society thought.
I'm an INTJ with a good deal of S development, but when I was a student, I did notice that I made a fair amount of bizarre clerical errors when doing math problems--e.g. I'd get all the advanced calculus steps down pat, then add 2 and 2 and get 5. I usually caught these errors, but my teachers thought it was hilarious whenever one slipped through, and instead of taking points off would just write a snarky note about my inability to add.
I've noticed that people with more "lopsided" personalities--like my husband and my father, who are very iNtuitive but have no Sensing development--struggle with "common sense" issues, and can be extremely aloof. They're both Perceiving types too, which doubtless strengthens this effect. While I'm not strongly Sensing, I'm very Judging, which helps to steer me in the other direction. Contrast this with my mom, who is very Sensing and very Judging: she rarely makes errors in details, but by the same token gets so bogged down in details that it takes her a long time to finish projects
( ... )
To many people, I am an overachiever. I speak multiple languages, have two Masters degrees and am in the process of obtaining the Specialist degree for my field, work out several times a week, etc. etc. etc.
But I can imagine that the bottom line to some people will be that I am not a doctor.
Why do you care about what the bottom line is to other people? You can drive yourself nuts thinking about stuff like that. Just concern yourself with what makes you happy.
> Multiple persons have noticed my lack of common sense
The problem with "common sense" is that it's so uncommon. "Common sense" shifts with the environment. When natural Ns get together (as opposed to us Type-crazed ones), there's a different "common sense" in play. The Si instincts are very often called "common sense" because much of the environment is Si, but the products of the collective unconsciousness (which is what Ni is said to be tapping into) seem to also be often called "common sense" as well. I think "common sense" is more J than S.
> I wonder how many people are scratching their heads as to why someone as intelligent as myself did not become a doctor.Maybe they don't know what librarians do. To the casual library user, it seems like librarians just file books and answer questions from clueless people about topics like "Where's the bathroom
( ... )
I have a very slight inclination and preference towards being able to plan. So I decided upon J. But there is no doubt that it is my weakest function.
Unlike my Sensing family, I am not very concerned with making big money. I am good with money, have no debt, and have good savings. But I have other priorities in addition to making money. I don't complain about my income- but my family does.
Regarding social approval- on one hand I'm an E3, on the other hand I am quite eccentric and am proud to be different.
I'm puzzled at the assumption that becoming a doctor is the natural career choice for an intelligent person. I know a lot of quite smart people, and a couple of med students; they're disjoint sets. ;)
Some people I know assume that a brilliant person will naturally want to get their PhD and become a professor. Others think a brilliant person can do whatever the heck they want with their life. I've rarely come across the assumption that "career for smart person" = "doctor."
I'd hate being a doctor, personally. (I'm an INTP.)
I agree with what night_princess says about strength of function vs. strength of preference. (Do you know the difference between functions and orientations?)
Doctor usually means physician...but I am also including things like getting a PhD in a natural sciences field.
Biomedical science research did NOT work out for me. I HATED working in the lab. Yes, it was the lab boss who said I had "zero common sense". My depression ended when I switched majors.
And I do not know the difference between function and orientation.
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It's a very 'S' world. it only stands to reason that someone with lots of 'N' is always going to have a hard time.
You've neglected to give your label, though I seem to recall you being an INTJ. I'll roll with that assumption.
If you love being a librarian but you feel you want to do more with the intellectual capacity you have, start prospecting, start exploring other avenues related to your field. Don't let anyone walk out the door without you politely scanning them for links to the next big thing. In short, polish up you 'P' and expand your horizons.
Could you write for the library system ? Perhaps 'Engaging kids in Learning at your local public library'.
Design the next Steiner School ?
*shrugs*
With some more details I might be able to glean a possible direction or seven for you.
If it's one thing that ENTPs do well, it's dig up opportunities where virtually everyone else doesn't.
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And my job does use my intellect quite a bit. I may someday move to an academic librarianship job, but not for now. I do a lot of programs that are educational- and my teaching degree does help A LOT.
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Us NTs on the other hand are very much more concerned with our own happiness and doing what we enjoy.
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I've noticed that people with more "lopsided" personalities--like my husband and my father, who are very iNtuitive but have no Sensing development--struggle with "common sense" issues, and can be extremely aloof. They're both Perceiving types too, which doubtless strengthens this effect. While I'm not strongly Sensing, I'm very Judging, which helps to steer me in the other direction. Contrast this with my mom, who is very Sensing and very Judging: she rarely makes errors in details, but by the same token gets so bogged down in details that it takes her a long time to finish projects ( ... )
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But I can imagine that the bottom line to some people will be that I am not a doctor.
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The problem with "common sense" is that it's so uncommon. "Common sense" shifts with the environment. When natural Ns get together (as opposed to us Type-crazed ones), there's a different "common sense" in play. The Si instincts are very often called "common sense" because much of the environment is Si, but the products of the collective unconsciousness (which is what Ni is said to be tapping into) seem to also be often called "common sense" as well. I think "common sense" is more J than S.
> I wonder how many people are scratching their heads as to why someone as intelligent as myself did not become a doctor.Maybe they don't know what librarians do. To the casual library user, it seems like librarians just file books and answer questions from clueless people about topics like "Where's the bathroom ( ... )
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Unlike my Sensing family, I am not very concerned with making big money. I am good with money, have no debt, and have good savings. But I have other priorities in addition to making money. I don't complain about my income- but my family does.
Regarding social approval- on one hand I'm an E3, on the other hand I am quite eccentric and am proud to be different.
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There are different aspects to planning. I associate creating plans with N, while completing plans seems to be more J.
> there is no doubt that it is my weakest function.
Technically, J/P is an "attitude" rather than a "function". But it's a mixed-up axis anyways.
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Some people I know assume that a brilliant person will naturally want to get their PhD and become a professor. Others think a brilliant person can do whatever the heck they want with their life. I've rarely come across the assumption that "career for smart person" = "doctor."
I'd hate being a doctor, personally. (I'm an INTP.)
I agree with what night_princess says about strength of function vs. strength of preference. (Do you know the difference between functions and orientations?)
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Biomedical science research did NOT work out for me. I HATED working in the lab. Yes, it was the lab boss who said I had "zero common sense". My depression ended when I switched majors.
And I do not know the difference between function and orientation.
Reply
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