Slightly Selfish Mental Self Care for Introverted Thinkers and Introverted Feelers
This blog is derived from the Introverted cognitive functions, Ni and Ti, of the MBTI personality typology.
I know,
You came here for a break.
A moment where you:
Can live a day without your memories haunting you,
Can easily resist engaging in information addiction when you stumble upon something you can't figure out.
Can go one day without wondering where to mentally file the cognitions and abstractions that you feel you have no explanation or category for,
Can genuinely say, "I don't know," without it robbing you of your ability to take action in the present moment,
Can go to bed at night without evaluating the accuracy and precision of your actions.
You simply are doing too much to live!
I was told as if a quick snap of my fingers would cease my brain from consistently humming,
What is it about this situation that I'm missing?
TLDR: Discover what it means to be an Introverted Thinker or Feeler and learn actionable advice for those struggling with the darker sides of introversion, as well as how to show some love to an introverted loved one.
What Does It Mean to be an Introverted Feeler?
Introverted Feeling, as a primary cognitive function, carries a thirst for connection between the seen and unseen, the said and unsaid, the complex and the mundane. Symbols, metaphors, and hidden meanings become the primary lens through which one experiences life.
Because the feeling of nature is always tapped into the state of sensing the harmony or disharmony within the environment, introverted feelers can be exceptional at checking the temperature of their environment and adapting to their environment based on their deduction, all within a few seconds without ever speaking a word.
Introverted Feeling evaluates what is authentic or inauthentic through feeling harmony or disharmony with one's experiences. These experiences may be provoked by the inner world of thoughts and the outer world of people, things, and events.
What Does It Mean to be an Introverted Thinker?
Whereas Introverted Feeling is concerned with the interconnectedness of experiences. Introverted Thinking takes a scientific and objective approach to extracting experiences' content and context.
Introverted Thinkers are adept at building systems internally and testing variables based on their deductions. Introverted Thinkers can be surprisingly objective, quickly running through the observable facts to evaluate a situation, removing subjective feelings and emotions entirely.
Introverted Thinking is all about having an understanding of how the world works. It's associated with ensuring that data and information are accurate. Those who use it as a primary cognitive function tend to be talented at problem-solving and like knowing the reasoning behind things.
When Introverted Thinking and Introverted Feeling Turns Disadvantageous
Some might say,
Stop Overthinking!
.
When I was younger, I was aware of these processes going on in my mind, and I used to pray for freedom,
Freedom to experience life with an ease that I saw others take on so quickly;
Experiencing ( Sensing ) their way through their lives,
Without the mental back-end I had to unload and figure out each night.
Stop Overthinking! may work for 70% of the world who are sensors, but what about the 30% who have introverted cognitive processes?
Mental Self-Care Tips for Introverted Thinkers and Introverted Feelers
Abstract Facts Don't Replace The Information Gained From Sensing
Sometimes the answers are found by analyzing information that can only be found from sensing your environment.
Whereas the sensor types may need to learn to pause and discern, introverts must be encouraged to try a different ACTION instead of entertaining another THOUGHT.
Set Boundaries Around The Amount of Time You Spend In The Deep Reserches of Your Mind
30 minutes, 1 hour, One day.
Decide when you will engage in information addiction, then leave it alone to clear up with mental energy.
Genuinely Realize You Aren't Always The Problem
It can be way too easy for us, who see possibilities and shades of gray everywhere, to insert ourselves into the explanation of actions of others or the uncontrollable.
We want to identify the disharmony and reinstate harmony immediately, and most times, we believe we are the ones who need to take responsibility for that.
This leads me to my next point...
Remember You Don't Have To Respond to Everything You Peep
Tiny Buddha published a quote that said,
It's better to learn to sit with an unclear picture than carry around an inaccurate one.
When we make it our duty to fill in the blanks of inaccurate projections others have, we miss the opportunity to develop the mental skill needed to regulate in the face of uncertainty.
Ways to Offer Support Tailormade for Your Introverted Thinker and Introverted Feeler
Don’t hesitate to show us you thought as deeply about us as we probably do for you, even if it was just for a moment
Tell us Something Positive We Have Never Noticed About Ourselves.
Write Us A Letter Using Intentional And Precise Words
Be cautious of your actions and words in our presence, as we will probably have a harder time letting go of negative memories we feel we have no answer for.
Please talk with us, not at us. There is no need to fill silences with small talk. Be quiet with us!
Be A Listening Ear to our Recent Fascinations, and kindly tell us when you have had enough.
Invite Us Into An Experience, and show us what we can experience impulsively without preparation, strategy, or judgement!
Offer abstract concepts for us to dive into. Bonus points if these concepts serve a purpose that is greater than ourselves.
Please share this post with the introverts in your life and encourage them to create a mental self-care practice tailored to their needs.
With Understanding,
dd