I have this problem (which will become ironic with further explanation) where I have a minor obsession with personality type tests. Psychological and sociological breakdown of personal and interpersonal actions, reactions, developments - what have you, I am enthralled with it. Mostly with my own, but I've learned the value in learning about other people's too; it helps make sense out of them. Without getting into the specifics of why they are that way, it explains habits and tendencies. The irony lies in the fact that mine say that my type likes to delve into self-betterment and self-discovery...hence why I love personality tests. It's a vicious cycle.
So it's not really something one would call a problem necessarily...unless you were the type to aim high on the self-discovery and awareness chart. Whatever that chart is. But I was collecting all these kind of funny statements from different tests that said I was this that and the other type, and post them. The other thing many of those types say, is a deep need to be authentic and understood. So where I find a problem with this is, it's making things too simple, and in the way of loose openness, it detracts from authenticity.
If I want to be understood, even by people in my life who are supposed to be the closest people in my life, do I draw them a roadmap? Make a small, hand-bound dictionary or encyclopedia? Maybe it'd make for a really nice Venn diagram! Even though I find it fascinating, I'd probably just find myself frustrated, didn't you read my blog?! No, probably you didn't. Because normal interactions don't typically involve a decided bullet-pointed list of each party's characteristics and outlook.
And it's me selling myself short; putting myself in a personality tested box. Yes, they eerily describe me, but I am more than they can describe by having me answer 30 multiple choice questions. It's not fair for me to think that's all someone would need to understand me. Or any person, for that matter. It helps, a ton - I stand firm on that, but there's more.
I hope I can grow away from the seemingly incessant need to explain myself, but hold tight to the need to express my thoughts, ideas, ideals, and opinions. That's the part of a person that should be open for explicit explanation. You can figure out for yourself how I tick, I like to think it's worth it.
