The guide to understanding me

The Nurturer

As an ISFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you takes things in via your five senses in a literal, concrete fashion. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit into your personal value system.

ISFJs live in a world that is concrete and kind. They are truly warm and kind-hearted, and want to believe the best of people. They value harmony and cooperation, and are likely to be very sensitive to other people's feelings. People value the ISFJ for their consideration and awareness, and their ability to bring out the best in others by their firm desire to believe the best.

ISFJs have a rich inner world that is not usually obvious to observers. They constantly take in information about people and situations that is personally important to them, and store it away. This tremendous store of information is usually startlingly accurate, because the ISFJ has an exceptional memory about things that are important to their value systems. It would not be uncommon for the ISFJ to remember a particular facial expression or conversation in precise detail years after the event occured, if the situation made an impression on the ISFJ.

ISFJs have a very clear idea of the way things should be, which they strive to attain. They value security and kindness, and respect traditions and laws. They tend to believe that existing systems are there because they work. Therefore, they're not likely to buy into doing things in a new way, unless they're shown in a concrete way why its better than the established method.

ISFJs learn best by doing, rather than by reading about something in a book, or applying theory. For this reason, they are not likely to be found in fields which require a lot of conceptual analysis or theory. They value practical application. Traditional methods of higher education, which require a lot of theorizing and abstraction, are likely to be a chore for the ISFJ. The ISFJ learns a task best by being shown its practical application. Once the task is learned, and its practical importance is understood, the ISFJ will faithfully and tirelessly carry through the task to completion. The ISFJ is extremely dependable.

The ISFJ has an extremely well-developed sense of space, function, and aesthetic appeal. For that reason, they're likely to have beautifully furnished, functional homes. They make extremely good interior decorators. This special ability, combined with their sensitivity to other's feelings and desires, makes them very likely to be great gift-givers - finding the right gift which will be truly appreciated by the recipient.

More so than other types, ISFJs are extremely aware of their own internal feelings, as well as other people's feelings. They do not usually express their own feelings, keeping things inside. If they are negative feelings, they may build up inside the ISFJ until they turn into firm judgments against individuals which are difficult to unseed, once set. Many ISFJs learn to express themselves, and find outlets for their powerful emotions.
Just as the ISFJ is not likely to express their feelings, they are also not likely to let on that they know how others are feeling. However, they will speak up when they feel another individual really needs help, and in such cases they can truly help others become aware of their feelings.

The ISFJ feels a strong sense of responsibility and duty. They take their responsibilities very seriously, and can be counted on to follow through. For this reason, people naturally tend to rely on them. The ISFJ has a difficult time saying "no" when asked to do something, and may become over-burdened. In such cases, the ISFJ does not usually express their difficulties to others, because they intensely dislike conflict, and because they tend to place other people's needs over their own. The ISFJ needs to learn to identify, value, and express their own needs, if they wish to avoid becoming over-worked and taken for granted.

ISFJs need positive feedback from others. In the absence of positive feedback, or in the face of criticism, the ISFJ gets discouraged, and may even become depressed. When down on themselves or under great stress, the ISFJ begins to imagine all of the things that might go critically wrong in their life. They have strong feelings of inadequacy, and become convinced that "everything is all wrong", or "I can't do anything right".

The ISFJ is warm, generous, and dependable. They have many special gifts to offer, in their sensitivity to others, and their strong ability to keep things running smoothly. They need to remember to not be overly critical of themselves, and to give themselves some of the warmth and love which they freely dispense to others.

Understanding you, Stephanie
People like you are quiet, gentle, and caring. When people first meet you you may seem reserved and cool. But once you get to know and care about someone, you are warm and very loyal. You tend to be cautious about jumping into social activities and may resist trying new experiences. Instead, you like spending time with one or two close, trusted friends or spending time alone, enjoying the things that really interest you. You are considerate, respectful, and sensitive, and usually find tension or conflict between people very uncomfortable. Since you have strong beliefs about right and wrong and try to always treat other people kindly, you may be easily hurt or offended by the insensitivity or callousness of others.

You are also unpretentious and down-to-earth. You speak clearly and literally, and want others to be equally explicit in explaining directions or stating their expectations of you. You tend to be selective about things like food and clothing, are usually tidy and organized, and prefer to be dressed appropriately for all occasions. You're also careful with your money and possessions. You are probably blessed with an excellent memory for details, especially facts about people, but may find it hard to read between the lines or deal with a lot of abstractions. Since you like to make a decision and stick with it, you are often annoyed when plans are changed suddenly. You're not a big risk taker and are happiest with a predictable daily routine. While you want to please the people close to you, you are rarely willing to compromise on really important issues.

Note: Based on our assessment, your personality type is "ISFJ."

Your Strengths and Blindspots
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. The key to finding the best path for all people is by using their natural strengths and becoming aware of their natural blindspots.

Your strengths may include:
Thoroughly researching information and collecting relevant facts.
Making thoughtful decisions based on practical considerations.
Conducting organized, well-planned out research.
Impressing people that you are a hard-working, ethical, conscientious, person.
Being a good listener and not dominating the conversation.

Your blindspots may include:
Being too humble, and not presenting your accomplishments in the best light.
Appearing to be less enthusiastic than you may really be.
Not being open to explore possibilities that don't fit your current plan.
Not anticipating how present decisions may affect you in the future.
Lacking objectivity when making important decisions.

For a career to be satisfying for you, it should:
Allow you to use your talent for being accurate and remembering facts and details.
Let you work on tangible projects that help other people in some way.
Let you work behind the scenes, and not require lots of public interaction.
Is done in a stable, calm, and predictable environment.
Make good use of your conscientiousness and sound common sense.
Have clearly stated expectations and goals.
Let you focus your energy on one project at a time.
Give you plenty of time and space to do your work uninterrupted.

Your Preferred Learning Style:While ALL individuals are unique, people of the same type often learn best in similar ways. The following summarizes what you need in order to maximize learning.
Allow you plenty of time to reflect and prepare thoroughly.
Give you the option of working alone or with small groups.
Provide a predictable structure, clear expectations, and explicit instructions.
Cite real examples and stress the practical application of learning.
Provide a friendly, supportive, tension-free learning environment.
Reward you for accuracy, thoroughness, and conscientiousness.