Catherine Chea

The P that I am referring to is my Myers-Briggs MBTI perceiving (P) function.

You probably had something else in mind before reading that first sentence. 😛

For those who think the Myers-Briggs personality typology is hogwash, I don’t blame you. There’s a lot of unreliable resources on the internet. It’s common that people (including myself) are mistyped when they take the test. Some descriptions are too generic and could easily apply to anyone.  As well, it is limiting and misleading to stereotype people based on their MBTI. I mean, after all, we are very unique and have different sets of values, choices and experiences.

But I think the point of MBTI is not to categorize you. Instead, it is to help you to better understand your functional preferences (whether you’re more of an introvert or an extrovert, for instance). Knowing my personality type has helped me realize where my strengths and weaknesses are.

The type descriptions can become quite deep and complex. It’s not as basic as a 4 dimension type description… there are also different temperaments and axis within each of the personality types. I still consider myself a novice when it comes to Myers-Briggs. Michael Pierce from Youtube provides some heavy explanations.   

So what’s my MBTI?

For quite some time,  I thought I was an INFJ. After reading a few articles on the difference between an INFJ and INFP, and talking to the author of Stellar Maze, I have come to the conclusion that I am an INFP.  

This discovery has really helped me. I learned that perceiving is my strength. It used to frustrate me that I cannot plan things well ahead of time (whether it is a career or what will I be doing in the next month).  I also disliked being boxed up by predictability.  Now I know that I thrive when I look for opportunities in the present, rather than creating more set plans for myself (my plans usually become too far fetched and ideal). I make the most of my time when I am learning and doing as I go. This might not work for everyone, but it works for me… and that’s because perceiving (as opposed to judging) is my preferred function.

I am happy that I have picked the right career for myself, which utilizes fully my INFP strengths. As a content developer, I get to share my insights and creativity through writing and creating other types of media. I enjoy having the flexibility and being able to deliver valuable content to people. One of the best part of this career is that I am always learning new things! 🙂