INTJ Traits and Happiness

[michelle1963]

Happiness.  It's been a topic of discussion on the blog of fellow INTJ ehowton many times.  ehowton is a happy man.  New INTJ acquaintance,

Comments

[ehowton]

Introspective is how I would've classified myself up through my mid-20s. Until I learned that happiness was a choice. It was that easy - like a lightswitch. Once I figured out I could be happy if I chose to be, I was.

Is it an INTJ thing?

I think that depends upon interpretation. If you hinge happiness on conventionality and acceptance, absolutely, for shedding myself of these things as INTJ are wont to do means I am no longer negatively affected by them.

Secondly, who outside of INTx can so effortlessly wholly assimilate and put into practical application new information. Information as far-reaching and complex as, "Happiness is a choice?"

[michelle1963]

Yes, as a young adult, I probably would not have described myself as happy either. Still too busy figuring things out.

[jeroentiggelman]

I would not relate my introspection to happiness or the lack thereof. If anything, I would suggest that the introspection was a factor contributing to happiness, since I was satisfied with exploring things for myself.

What I did figure out around my early twenties is how I could attract people if I wanted to. Normally I project an aura of going about my own business and I enjoy not being approached in general.

As for convention and such... I never did manage to fit in in that regard; then we are probably talking about age 6 or so, or earlier still.

I am not sure I agree with the notion "happiness is a choice", but I do believe that you can influence your experiences strongly, so insofar happiness is based on those, you have some amount of control.

[ehowton]

Exactly on introspection and its regard to approachability!

As far as happiness as a choice, while there may be far more at work than the description belies, it works as an easily understandable definition of what's at work. While I agree wholeheartedly about influencing experiences, I've often tested myself by choosing experiences I thought I may hate on purpose - then changed my own viewpoint of them to see if I could attain happiness under those circumstances.

I can rely on me a whole lot more effectively than I can rely on attempting to control external things. So by definition, I'm choosing to be happy in any situation I'm in, because I can control my own perception. At least that's my working theory. I'm very good at it, but my denotation could probably use some work :/

[jeroentiggelman]

I do not go out of my way to try things I think I will hate. However, when the need arises or when the context is right for another reason, I do do things I do not specifically expect to enjoy, and I try to find a constructive viewpoint when so doing

[ehowton]

As I am just now studying Buddhist philosophy, I am unfamiliar with the differences between the two schools of thought, though I suspect I would side with you given your example.

I do not do the things I do for control, rather to test. I am a scenario-runner, and I often place myself in situations for empirical data and nothing more.