What Each Myers-Briggs Personality Type Needs To Let Go Of In Order To Grow

Saulo Mohana
Saulo Mohana

ENFP and ENTP – The fear that they’re missing out on something better.

ENFPs and ENTPs are ruled by dominant extroverted intuition – a function that picks up on a seemingly endless slew of possibilities in the user’s external environment. While this is a wonderful skill at the best of times, it’s a stunting one at worst. ENFPs and ENTPs can easily become quickly paralyzed by their own rampant perceptions – wanting to experience everything and consequently following through on nothing.

These types needs to let go of their fear that there is constantly a better idea, situation, opportunity, person or chance out there for them to pursue. When they learn to focus in on what they’ve chosen, ENFPs and ENTPs are capable of incredible feats. But first they have to learn to say goodbye to FOMO.

INFP and ISFP – Insecurity over how they are being perceived by others.

INFPs and ISFPs are ruled by their dominant introverted feeling – an introspective and highly creative function that allows them to perceive the world in a wholly unique fashion. However, before these types are able to fully express themselves, they must learn to let go of their fear of being judged by those around them.

Individuality is the IxFP’s greatest struggle but it’s also their greatest strength. And in order to allow themselves to harness the full power of this strength, both of these feeling-dominant types must learn to let go of the insecurity that others are perceiving them as illogical or irrelevant, and allow their creativity to flourish without restraint.

ENFJ and ESFJ – The burden of other people’s struggles.

ENFJs and ESFJs are ruled by their dominant extroverted feeling – a function that is deeply in tune with the emotional experiences of those around them. While this function helps both types immensely as they navigate relationships, it can also cause them to take on burdens and responsibilities that do not belong to them – as they internalize other peoples pain and see others’ problems as their own to solve.

Before ENFJs and ESFJs are able to reach their full potential, they must learn to set healthy boundaries between themselves and loved ones and understand when they need to put their own needs first. These types are able to inspire great and positive change in both themselves and those around them – but first they must learn to be their own first priority, and to let helping others stem from there.

INFJ and INTJ – The quest for perfection.

INFJs and INTJs are ruled by their dominant introverted intuition – a function that evaluates all possible courses of future action and pinpoints the best or most optimal one. While this function makes these critical types excellent visionaries, it also has the potential to trap them in a never-ending limbo of analysis, as they root through all possible options, searching for the absolute perfect solution.

In order to achieve their full potential and push their progressive ideas forward, INTJs and INFJs must learn to let go of the elusive idea of ‘perfection.’ By learning to simply put the best plan they have available to them into action, these types are capable of leading both themselves and others toward great and revolutionary forms of change.

INTP & ISTP – The desire to know everything before taking action on anything.

INTPs and ISTPs are the ultimate knowledge-seekers: they lead with introverted thinking and want to understand absolutely everything about how the world around them functions. While this tendency serves them well in many ways, it often hinders their productivity, as they’d almost always rather continue to acquire knowledge than they would put the knowledge they do have into action.

In order to grow, INTPs and ISTPs have to learn to push past their desire to know absolutely everything about a given situation before taking action on it. Some of these type’s best inventions are born through trial and error – once they finally concede to trying something before they are absolutely sure of how it will turn out.

ENTJ and ESTJ – Their singular vision of success.

ENTJs and ESTJs are ruled by their dominant extroverted thinking – a function that seeks to maintain external order at all costs. This function makes these types brilliant visionaries and revolutionary leaders – but it also occasionally prevents them from considering avenues or viewpoints that could be highly beneficial to them in the long-term.

In order to grow, Te-dominant personalities need to learn to occasionally step outside of their own visions of success and consider which alternatives may hold merit. By considering the opinions and practices of others, these types are able to formulate more holistic understandings of the situations they’re in and approach them with even greater confidence and clarity.

ESTP and ESFP – Temptation.

ESTPs and ESFPs are ruled by their dominant extroverted sensing – a function that is highly attuned to the possibilities that exist in one’s immediate environment. While this function allows Se users to take hold of new opportunities as soon as they arrive, it also keeps them highly attuned to the temptations that exist within their environment. What is immediately available to ESTPs and ESFPs is almost always more interesting than what could be available under alternate circumstances.

In order to grow, these spontaneous types must learn to balance their present-oriented nature with consideration for their underlying values and beliefs. Rather than constantly chasing whichever high is most immediately available to them, this type is capable of harnessing their auxiliary function to help them stay grounded and focused on what matters most to them in life.

ISTJ & ISFJ – The fear of the unknown.

ISTJs and ISFJs are ruled by their dominant introverted sensing – a function that places a heavy emphasis on tradition, routine and reliable, time-tested methods of getting things done. While these traits allow the ISxJ types thrive in their day-to-day lives, they can occasionally hold them back from taking chances that could positively impact their futures.

In order to grow, ISFJs and ISTJs need to balance their fondness for routine with an openness to change and new experiences. These down-to-earth types are capable of optimizing just about any new situation that comes their way – if only they can learn to accept it as it is and allow themselves to adapt to a (sometimes uncomfortable) new way of getting things done. Thought Catalog Logo Mark

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