{ ISTJ }

Have you ever heard of the Myers-Briggs test? According to Wikipedia, the Myers-Briggs test is a "personality questionnaire designed to identify certain psychological differences according to the typological theories of Carl Gustav Jung as published in his 1921 book Psychological Types (English edition, 1923).[1] The original developers of the indicator were Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers. They began developing the indicator during World War II." The website, http://www.geocities.com/lifexplore further explains that "The Myers-Briggs system measures people in four areas...subdivided by two functions:

• How a person relates to others (either by Extraversion or Introversion)
• How a person takes in information (either by Sensing or iNtuition)
• How a person makes decisions (either by Thinking or Feeling)
• How a person orders their life (either by Judging or Perceiving) "

You can take this test here. For those of you who might be wondering (as I did) whether it is nature or nurture, according to the theory, it is nature - just the way you were wired.

I would highly recommend taking the test. Personally, it really gave me some insight into my personality. It helped me realize that there are some things about myself that I just have to accept and stop trying to change or complain about (like the fact that I am often too logical/fact-focused, making me seem cold/distant or that I am brutally honest, again, making me seem cold).

I would also recommend that your significant other take the test as well. My husband and I discovered that we are *exact* opposites. I am an ISTJ while he is an ENFP. When reading each other's profile, it made it a little easier to understand why we sometimes act the way we do. For example, when my hubby does something in a different way than I think he should. It seems to him that I want everything done my way or that he is doing everything wrong. However, one quality of an ISTJ is that they often try/analyze different ways of doing something until they find the way that they feel is easiest or more efficient. When they see that it is being done in a manner that is less effective or more intensive, they want to try to correct it in order to ensure that the most efficient method is being utilized - not just for themselves, but to save time and energy of those around them. Knowing this about myself, I have come to realize that even if it is not what I think is the "most efficient" way, sometimes I just have to let him do thing his way. And, he has learned that when I suggest another way, it's not because I think his way is "wrong," it's just not what I have experienced to be the most effective way. Does that make sense? Well, it really has helped us with our communication and understanding of one another.

What have you got to lose? It's free and may even give you a better understanding of yourself/your partner! If you do take the test, leave a comment here with your personality type, I'd love to see what it is! :D