Personality types

Myers-Briggs: INTJ

The first job i had gave me the myers-briggs indicator, and made me laugh out loud and know that i chose the perfect career for me!  i've taken the test many times and the strength of my introversion changes, but otherwise consistent.

Prior serious trials {divorce, death of my friend Merriah, death of my parents} made me raw and MORE introverted, less able to deal with people in bulk or even in singleton scenarios.  I laughed one time when i took the test and i was as far on the 'I' scale as i could possibly be -- every single question they'd asked i'd answered as an introvert.

Curiously, this trial seems to be making me LESS introverted.  I'm sometimes raw, but often not.  And so incredibly nurtured by people -- their visits, emails, calls, chats, comments on the blog -- all celebrating the community that is mine and the support that i welcome as i walk this path.

Enneagram: 1 (Reformer) with a 9 (Peacemaker) wing

The Enneagram Personality System is less adopted in the business community, but very rich and valid collection of theories around the topic (some i like more than others!)  The most resonant aspects of the system has kept me curious and self-aware for a long time.  I used to have several books on it, but think i've pared down to one or two (currently in storage).

I am so much a Reformer, striving for idealism and perfection.... and a child of a Reformer.  Some books talk about levels of health within a type, and that an unhealthy Reformer might adopt unhealthy 4 (Individualist) behaviors while a healthy Reformer can adopt the healthiest aspects of a 7 (Enthusiast).

It makes me happy to see how much i am drawn to the behaviors of an Enthusiast in this trial.  that wouldn't be happening if i wasn't already in a good place to start with... and so i am thankful!

If you are curious, here's a link for a thumbnail sketch of the system
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enneagram_of_Personality