Categorizing

I love to organize. My spices are alphabetical (the only way to find things!), as are our DVDs. The CDs are sorted by category and then alphabetized within the categories. And ACDSee is an awesome way to organize all my scrapbooking stuff.

But one of my favorite things to do is to organize people, specifically me. I love finding out what categories I fit into. I know no one fits perfectly into one category, which is why there are so many tests out there. I figure, if you take into account all the tests out there, everyone has their own, unique result. For example, I'm left-brained, like many, many other people. But then when you add that I'm ISFJ (more on that in a sec), those two together put me in a smaller percentage of the population. When you add in the Career Aptitude Test I took as a freshman in college, as well as all the other fun tests on emode.com (now tickle.com), I would imagine no one else would have identical test results all the way down the line.

My friend Kimberly talked on her blog yesterday about the Meyers-Briggs test, which got me looking into mine again. I was ISTJ before I went to Turkey (Introverted (definitely), Sensing, Thinking, Judging), and when I took it again when Josh and I were engaged, I got the same results. As I read the descriptions of ISTJ personalities, it most definitely fits.

But since the birth of my girls, I've come to rely more and more on feeling, rather than pure reason. So I took a test this morning and it came up with ISFJ instead. And that definitely fits too! Here are some samples of the results:

Like most Is, ISFJs have a few, close friends. They are extremely loyal to these, and are ready to provide emotional and practical support at a moment's notice. (However, like most Fs they hate confrontation; if you get into a fight, don't expect them to jump in after you. You can count on them, however, run and get the nearest authority figure.)

While their work ethic is high on the ISFJ priority list, their families are the centers of their lives. ISFJs are extremely warm and demonstrative within the family circle--and often possessive of their loved ones, as well.

ISFJs are often unappreciated, at work, home, and play. Ironically, because they prove over and over that they can be relied on for their loyalty and unstinting, high-quality work, those around them often take them for granted--even take advantage of them. Admittedly, the problem is sometimes aggravated by the ISFJs themselves; for instance, they are notoriously bad at delegating ("If you want it done right, do it yourself"). And although they're hurt by being treated like doormats, they are often unwilling to toot their own horns about their accomplishments because they feel that although they deserve more credit than they're getting, it's somehow wrong to want any sort of reward for doing work (which is supposed to be a virtue in itself). (And as low-profile Is, their actions don't call attention to themselves as with charismatic Es.)

This is most definitely true. I worked in the supermarket bakery for 3 1/2 years before getting Employee of the Month. I asked the manager twice what I could do to improve so I could get that honor, and she was shocked both times that I hadn't already received it. I've always been the one to do the right thing (or very nearly always), but because I don't toot my own horn, it usually gets looked past.

(that being said, Josh is amazing at recognizing my work. He has never taken me for granted!)

So what's your result? Here's the test I took today. A nice quick one, in spite of all the questions :)