Are You a Thinker or a Feeler, and Other Helpful Considerations

Yesterday we began a small series on the topic of discernment. Through each of the daily posts this week, we are going to consider how we practice the art of discernment in our lives and what we can learn about our process of discernment to help us in future moments of decision in our lives. 

In yesterday’s post, I asked you to look back upon your life to see if there has been a pattern or process to your decision-making. Today, I’m going to take that a step deeper and ask you to consider aspects of your personhood and how those have historically played into your decision-making process — or how they might help you in the future. 

If you are familiar with the Myers-Briggs personality type indicator, you know that it carries four categories of indication for each person’s make-up. 

• Introvert or Extrovert
• Senser or Intuitive
• Thinker or Feeler
• Perceiver or Judger

There are loads of resources that you can find to explain each of these type indicators and to help you determine which indicators are your dominant preference. But today, I want to consider how these personality type indicators can become helpful to our process of discernment. 

Let’s take, for example, the difference between a thinker and a feeler.

For someone who is a thinker, charting out a pro-and-con list for a particular decision-point can prove immensely clarifying and helpful. A thinker will also be helped along in their decision by conducting research or appealing to those with knowledge and/or experience related to the decision-point they are considering.

Someone who is a feeler, on the other hand, might find themselves better served by noticing the emotive affect a particular decision casts upon them when they hold it inside themselves. They may also be helped by paying attention to the physical responses of their bodies when weighing one decision over another. 

By way of another example, consider introversion and extroversion.

These categories speak to how each of us gains or loses energy. An introvert becomes weary from too much external stimulation and becomes energized and filled up through “down times” of solitude — times that allow them to think, reflect, and rest in the quiet. An extrovert finds that solitary, quiet activity a bit draining, however, and becomes much more energized when around other people.

Which type are you, and how might that truth of yourself shed light on the best decision you are seeking to make? Has your personality preference type served you to discern a decision you needed to make in the past? 

Comments

[Tammy]

Hi Christianne. I am most likely a feeling introvert. I am often moved more by emotion than by facts.....and for me I am not sure that is such a good trait. Or, let's say that I am trying to retrain myself to more effectively use that trait for less detrimental decision making.

However, the introvert side of me......that is just who I am. I start feeling smothered to death if I am around people constantly. I am trying to come out of my shell though. But, that is not always easy because it is easier for me to withdraw and stay withdrawn.

I don't know much about cats, but the ones I have encountered remind me of me. I will let you know when you can come into my space, but when I am not in the mood for you to be in my space I will ignore you and go take a nap. I am really not as mean as that just sounded.....honest.

[Cheryl]

I have to think about the thinking vs feeling part...what does that tell you?! But, I'm an introvert all the way. My life was very unpleasant when I was trying to make myself into an extrovert. Major shift when I began celebrating the advantages.