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

[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.

I find some of the propositions of Buddhism useful. Relating to the previous paragraph, it is potentially interesting to note that I seem to prefer Theravada to Tibetan Buddhism. I think the latter is possibly too much influenced by Bon, too much concerned with "dying right". Essentially I think that practicing to be able to deal with anything can be a distraction when taken too far. Also, OTOH I prefer things to be under my own control, but OTOH I think that we generally function more effectively when not striving too much to control everything by ourselves.

Possibly that equates to a statement that rationally I can see where your approach might be the "best defensible" but in practice I think that it is too limiting to strive too much after the theoretically attractive. If you want too much control, you may end up with the highest guaranteed minimum, but not necessarily with the best expectation--and I might prefer to strive more for the latter.

[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.