First post guys, I'll save the introduction for later. This has been a pressing question on my mind for some time and I just had a good insight about it. So happy to finally join a group like this : )
As an INFJ I've felt unique, different, etc. at many times in my life. Many of these times the difference I feel is in terms of intelligence. Even though I've been told consistently throughout my life that I am incredibly smart and gifted, I still feel dumb. I mean that I feel dumb in terms of articulation and decision making (mostly when speaking, but sometimes through writing as well). It's the whole problem of seeing every angle of every side to the story, every theory, it's all cohesive - it all fits together. I have to integrate every new piece of information into my greater conceptual whole - and so it takes me like a million years to "understand" certain things or to make what should be an "easy" decision. (I put understand and easy in quotations due to the alternate way by which I assume INFJ's relate to these terms as opposed to other types).
To be clear, there's no way that I am actually "dumb" or less intelligent than most people. I have a B.A. in Philosophy with honors and I'll be heading to grad school eventually. However, I feel dumb and intellectually inferior to others quite regularly. Especially when I'm talking to someone like an INTP, who easily makes decisions and can stick to the point.
Do other INFJ's feel the same as I do?
As an INFJ I've felt unique, different, etc. at many times in my life. Many of these times the difference I feel is in terms of intelligence. Even though I've been told consistently throughout my life that I am incredibly smart and gifted, I still feel dumb. I mean that I feel dumb in terms of articulation and decision making (mostly when speaking, but sometimes through writing as well). It's the whole problem of seeing every angle of every side to the story, every theory, it's all cohesive - it all fits together. I have to integrate every new piece of information into my greater conceptual whole - and so it takes me like a million years to "understand" certain things or to make what should be an "easy" decision. (I put understand and easy in quotations due to the alternate way by which I assume INFJ's relate to these terms as opposed to other types).
To be clear, there's no way that I am actually "dumb" or less intelligent than most people. I have a B.A. in Philosophy with honors and I'll be heading to grad school eventually. However, I feel dumb and intellectually inferior to others quite regularly. Especially when I'm talking to someone like an INTP, who easily makes decisions and can stick to the point.
Do other INFJ's feel the same as I do?