What Extraversion Does to Me

NOTE: the following was written as I had rediscovered the MBTI and thought I was typed as an ESFJ. Further study, though, has led to believe 100% that I am actually an INFJ. Why the confusion? If you're really interested in knowing the answer, feel free to ask. But, I'm still keeping this blog post, because even though I am an Introvert, I do have my "Extravert" moments, so I think it's still an applicable post.

Some of you are probably familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. I first found it online in high school and at the time my results told me I was an I (for Intravert). For years I thought I was an I. It is only recently that I have discovered my E (Extravert) preference.

To explain a few things. First of all, you might notice the intentional mispelling of the words "introvert" and "extrovert." When the MBTI came out, the "o" became an "a" to separate the two words from their traditional counterparts. Traditionally, an introvert is seen as someone who is maybe shy, reserved, a "home-body," preferring solitude over socialization; an extrovert is someone who is outgoing, talkative, loves attention and being around people. But in the MBTI, the definitions are somewhat different: A dominantly "extraverted" person is charged by their outer world; and a dominantly "intraverted" person is charged by their inner world.

As a mother of small children, I have come to the realization of how much I dislike being stuck at home. I get bored, and after a couple of days of little to no interaction with the outside world, I find myself suffering from low energy and despondency.

On the other hand, I have a day like yesterday (described further below) and all of a sudden I feel extremely energized, lively, ready to tackle my chores and enjoying my life again.

You see why I have now come to identify myself as an E. An ESFJ, to be exact. And if anyone has the time or inclination, I invite you to read the description in the following link and tell me if you think it fits me: http://www.personalitypage.com/ESFJ.html

Now, after all that preamble, my day yesterday (Saturday):

It started out with me sleeping in (yay!). I got up around 8:30 when Nick got a phone call from a friend to invite Gabe last-minute to her kid's birthday party at the park. So we got Gabe up, had a quick breakfast and I took Gabe to the party at 10:00 while Nick stayed home with the baby.

The party went until noon and I brought Gabe home. Then, Nick and I changed to go to a wedding reception which started at 1:00. It was about a half-hour drive. We were all at the reception until 2:30, then we headed home again.

Once we got home, I went out and shopped for a new swimsuit, found one, and came back home.

As soon as I got home, we all changed yet again to go swim at the water park (Nick's business is part of a local business group and this was for their annual "client appreciation" party). After swimming and socializing for an hour at the water park, the whole party moved to a neighboring park where we then had a barbecue. We ate and socialized and Gabe played on the playground. We eventually left and got home around 8:00.

We got home and I felt so energized! We got the boys down to bed around 9:00 and I stayed up a while longer to do some chores because I had too much energy to go to bed. Nick played on the computer for a while (because he's an intravert and needed some solitary time after all that socializing!). I finally went to bed around 11 or 11:30 and crashed.

Nick said this morning when our alarm went off, I kept whacking at it until I finally managed to turn it off, then I fell right back to sleep (I have no memory of this). He even tried shaking me gently about a half-hour later and I could not be roused. I finally woke up on my own around 7:30. We only had an hour and a half to get ourselves all ready for church at 9:00 and guess what-- we were early! Well, early by a minute or two...But wow! Every weekend should be like this past weekend-- I feel wonderful!

So I guess the secret to having more energy and getting more done when I'm home is to spend as much time partying as possible :D