I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then

Originally written September 21, 2016

A couple of months ago, a friend of mine posted her results from a personality test that claims to give you a "'freakishly accurate' description of who you are and why you do things the way you do." It seems to be a simplified version of the Myers-Briggs test.

Of course, I was intrigued, being that I spend most of my time trying to figure out why I do things the way I do - or why I do them at all. Also, I like taking quizzes (Buzzfeed addiction).

So I went ahead and took it. It's not very long, and will maybe take you around 10-15 minutes if you're really putting thought into it - although, I believe with these sorts of things you shouldn't think too much and just go with your first instinct.

And my results? A.C.C.U.R.A.T.E.

The test labeled me an ENFP (Extraversion, Intuition, Feeling, Perceiving) Personality, which they've dubbed as "The Campaigner" (other famous Campaigners include Robert Downey Jr, Robin Williams, plus the fictional Michael Scott, Phil Dunphy, Carrie Bradshaw and Willy Wonka - I mean ...).

ENFP in itself doesn't really mean much to me, or probably you. However, they go ahead and give you a change to read more about what this means in relation to: strengths & weaknesses, romantic relationship, friendships, parenthood, career paths, and workplace habits.

I won't copy and paste my entire description, but I will give you the most spot on highlights. If you really want to read the entire thing, it's here: The Campaigner

First, my profile starts off with this quote:

"It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for – and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing. It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool – for love – for your dreams – for the adventure of being alive." Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Holy smokes, this speaks to MY SOUL. I love it. I want it tattooed on my heart. Yes. So, safe to say I was hooked from the beginning. But that's not all! 

From the Intro/Overview

• "They are often the life of the party, but unlike Explorers, they are less interested in the sheer excitement and pleasure of the moment than they are in enjoying the social and emotional connections they make with others." 
• "ENFPs are fiercely independent, and much more than stability and security, they crave creativity and freedom."
• "ENFPs will spend a lot of time exploring social relationships, feelings and ideas before they find something that really rings true. But when they finally do find their place in the world, their imagination, empathy and courage are likely to produce incredible results."

From Strengths & Weaknesses

• "Excellent Communicators – It's a good thing that ENFPs have such strong people skills, or they'd never express these ideas. ENFPs enjoy both small talk and deep, meaningful conversations, which are just two sides of the same coin for them, and are adept at steering conversations towards their desired subjects in ways that feel completely natural and unforced."
• "Curious – When it comes to new ideas, ENFPs aren't interested in brooding – they want to go out and experience things, and don't hesitate to step out of their comfort zones to do so. ENFPs are imaginative and open-minded, seeing all things as part of a big, mysterious puzzle called life."
• "Find it Difficult to Focus"
• "Overthink Things – ENFPs don't take things at face value – they look for underlying motives in even the simplest things. It's not uncommon for ENFPs to lose a bit of sleep asking themselves why someone did what they did, what it might mean, and what to do about it."
• "Get Stressed Easily" 
• "Independent to a Fault" 

From Romantic Relationships

• "ENFPs may be reluctant to open up and commit, and it can take years for a partner to navigate their bewildering depth and intensity, falsely believing that ENFPs' enthusiasm and apparent openness means that they wear everything on their sleeves. The reality is that ENFPs' spontaneity, the seeming inconsistency and erraticism the untrained eye sees, isn't a product of flightiness or lack of depth, but the opposite – it is a drive to express ideas about a mystical, all-encompassing energy, in the confines of a physical world, and underlying it all is the uniting principle of love, expressed in many different ways, but unshakable and infinite at its core"

From Friendships

• "As with other relationships, ENFPs view their friendships as opportunities to experience another angle of the universe, and tend to imbue potential friendships with that weighty and idealistic quality."
• "ENFPs put their whole hearts into their friendships, and it can come as a shock for them to find that their friends aren't the flawless Titans that they believed them to be. Whether it's simple social fatigue or a focus on the physical and the practical instead of the mystical, people with the ENFP personality type can find themselves disappointed by what they see as a lack of substance beneath the surface."

Parenthood - Skipping, because, well.

From Career Paths and Workplace Habits

• "Can't I fly helicopters AND be an oceanographer who writes songs and cooks?” It's a big world out there – perhaps even a little too big."
• "If there's a challenge ENFPs face when selecting a career, it isn't that they lack talent or options or drive, it's that there are so many things out there that are just cool."
• "Where ENFPs do not shine is in systems of strict regimentation and hierarchy"
• "Many more career options satisfy these needs, and not just the scientific ones – writing, journalism, acting and TV reporting all give ENFPs a chance to explore something new every day and stir the pot a little while they're at it."

From the Conclusion

• "Few personality types are as creative and charismatic as ENFPs. Known for their idealism and enthusiasm, ENFPs are good at dealing with unexpected challenges and brightening the lives of those around them. ENFPs' imagination is invaluable in many areas, including their own personal growth."
• "Yet ENFPs can be easily tripped up in areas where idealism and kindness are more of a liability than an asset. Whether it is finding (or keeping) a partner, staying calm under pressure, reaching dazzling heights on the career ladder or making difficult decisions, ENFPs need to put in a conscious effort to develop their weaker traits and additional skills."

So. Wow. That's a lot of information. I could add more onto each and every single bullet point, but I'm sure you have things to do. Of course, there were some statements within the profile that I didn't relate to - it's not 100% reading me - I'm affected by different things every day, and a single quiz can't define me. However, it was a good read and gave me a lot of things to think about.

Now, what are you waiting for?

Take the test here: 16 Personalities

Let me know what you get, and if you think it's accurate! I want to know!