INFJs and Service

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by Royalite

I think that can be hard when you easily lose energy when around others.

I learned how to strike a balance. Enjoy my alone time, but seek out others when need be because if I don't, I'll end up having an awkward thought process and enter into isolation without realizing it because I don't get the "You're lonely" signal often.

I've been told I'm an old soul, and occasionally especially a friend connects and they seem to benefit from just having someone listen. But then, its exhausting to me. I wouldn't say my thought process was 'awkward' because I prefer to keep people at a distance. I'm not lonely.

To say you end up with 'awkward' thought processes because your not lonely is saying your thinking wrong. I and othes who are high on that I rating just prefer to not be in social situations. It's neither more right or wrong than those who are fueled by them.

One friend I just finally quit talking to since each and every converstation was a drain of energy, but shw was destroying herself and no amount of words was going to change it.

My idea of 'service' would be doing some typing or writing for someone who does service to people. I can't stand a room full of people. I'm also very empathic and a lot of people in close touch and I'm outta there. I think if you don't want to be with people there are ways you could help if you had a way to find them.

We are who we are. Nothing wrong with it.

[Royalite]

Originally Posted by nightbird47

I've been told I'm an old soul, and occasionally especially a friend connects and they seem to benefit from just having someone listen. But then, its exhausting to me. I wouldn't say my thought process was 'awkward' because I prefer to keep people at a distance. I'm not lonely.

To say you end up with 'awkward' thought processes because your not lonely is saying your thinking wrong. I and othes who are high on that I rating just prefer to not be in social situations. It's neither more right or wrong than those who are fueled by them.

One friend I just finally quit talking to since each and every converstation was a drain of energy, but shw was destroying herself and no amount of words was going to change it.

My idea of 'service' would be doing some typing or writing for someone who does service to people. I can't stand a room full of people. I'm also very empathic and a lot of people in close touch and I'm outta there. I think if you don't want to be with people there are ways you could help if you had a way to find them.

We are who we are. Nothing wrong with it.

Yeah, for me my thinking was awkward because I wasn't bouncing my thoughts off of others and interacting with my world. I wasn't reality testing. It would reach a point where I would start thinking things like, "Why do people hate me so much?" "People think I'm bat ish crazy!" etc etc. And it wasn't based on reality or what was actually going on in my world around me but on thoughts I would have that involved my own imagination and theories. I was just talking about myself...not an extension of others.

I like social situations and talking to people about their lives etc, etc. I get joy from being able to express myself and I like exploring other people's worlds. But, like an introvert, I only feel that strong affinity to a select few. But my joy doesn't come from servitude positions like nursing, or ministry, psych, or activism/volunteering. I thought that would be my passion and it turns out that all I really want to do at this point in my life is to learn how to verbally communicate more effectively. :/

[LoveWisdom]

Originally Posted by Royalite

I'm an INFJ according to Myer's Briggs and Jung. But I don't feel called to "serve". I'm more observant and philosophical in nature and tend to enjoy that aspect of life which is why I love forums. I learn things while here because we're discussing seemingly random stuff I wouldn't get to discuss elsewhere.

Any INFJs out there who don't feel called to serve?

I am INFJ... don't feel called to serve overall. But when I see a person kind of lost, needing help, I feel sorry for them and tend to want to help (but I actually help only if it's something I like doing).