I’ve just finished week 2 of my Myers-Briggs trials. This week focused on sensing.
I was really surprised to see how hard this was. I didn’t think it would be nearly as tough as the extraversion trial, but it proved to be much harder. Fortunately though, I said I would judge myself on effort, not results.
Some psychologists consider the sensing/intuitive dichotomy to be the most important of the four. I can see how that could be true. I’m not particularly one-sided here according to my MBTI results, but I found it impossible to turn off my intuition (and remember that intuition here has nothing to do with mystical insight, which I don’t have at all).
Since I wasn’t able to stop using intuition, I tried to simply use more sensing. I tried to notice details by deliberately shouting out what I saw, heard, etc (some people must have thought I was crazy). While this felt kind of weird, it had the pleasant side effect of letting me realize that I had always walked right past this great smoothie place and never noticed it. Yogi Berra was right: “You can observe a lot just by watchin.”
I happened to have a dentist appointment, and of course it was easy to focus on what I was seeing, hearing, and feeling. It was just a cleaning, but if I had gotten the drill, it would have helped the experiment.
I thought the best part of sensing would be the whole “live for the moment” thing, so I tried to make every little thing seem special. When I ate an apple, I thought, “This apple is really sweet and crunchy. I can feel the vitamins and fiber coming into my body. I won’t always be able to eat apples, so for now, this apple is all that matters.” Yes, this got tiring very quickly, because it just didn’t come naturally.
One way to look at it is that sensors are grounded in reality while intuitives have their head in the clouds. But that’s where I want my head. Reality bores me.
Another interesting experiment, but I’m glad it’s over.
I suppose sensing make you reflect on things that you normally wouldn’t?
I like your experiment … Made me think more about how I can carry out something similar.
Shamelle-TheEnhanceLife´s last blog post..Overworked & Overwhelmed? Achieving Life Balance Amidst Chaos
Hi Hunter – Having read the book, “The Power Of Now”, I realize how different I am when I “live in the moment” rather than muddle through my day. Like with you eating the apple and using your senses to evaluate the experience, I find it also helps to stay focused.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog post..A.S.K. Darren Rowse – How Does A Problogger Deal With Comments
Funny you mention ‘head in the clouds.’ Maybe that’s why I so often miss things that are “right in front of my eyes.”
Yeah I think the dentist drill may have been noticeable.
Hunter, this experiment could be your big break, writing-wise. By the way, where does “reckon” fall in between “sense” and “intuition?” I reckon you’re keeping detailed notes on your experiment so you can write a big article / story for The Times (yes, THAT Times, the one you’re thinking of…)
Matt H´s last blog post..Falun Gong
I enjoy reading your experiments. Do keep posting about them!
Initially, I had a hard time distinguishing whether I am more intuitive or feelings-based. I now realize that I tend to use more of my feelings, more sensing. It’s amazing to me that sensing can be quite difficult for you, you being more of a gut person. Sensing is such a natural thing for me.
I don’t necessarily agree that sensors are grounded in reality. If anything, I find it hard to get anchored.
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post..Can You Read My Mind?
I think it’s a great idea to test out your non-preferences. And, I really like that you said reality bores you (because I kind of think the same thing!)
Amanda Linehan´s last blog post..Lost? Find Yourself Again.
@ Shamelle, let me know if you try something similar. But don’t rush into something…it can really disrupt your life!
@ Barbara, I think maybe sensors are better at focusing, and that makes it easier to be in the moment. I find it hard to be that focused though.
@ Matt, that reminds me of the Simpsons episode where an editor tells a reporter: “I want you to overhype this story so much it makes The New York Post look like The New York Times. Or makes The New York Times look like The New York Post. I forget which one the good one is.”
@ Evelyn, the terms here don’t really match up with their common usage, or with enneagram terminology. “Sensing” is about using the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. So that’s different from what we usually refer to by sensing, where we mean a gut feeling. I used to think I was a sensor, because I was using the wrong definition!
@ Amanda, I can imagine that reality does bore you, since you’re an INFP! Yes, trying out my non-preferences did seem like an interesting idea, but it’s definitely not easy! I guess that makes sense, right? Our personalities are such a big part of us that it’s hard to deviate even a little bit!
LMAO Hunter – that must have been really weird shouting out everything you saw. It sounds like you didn’t enjoy this part of the experiment much at all.
@ Cath, I tried to keep my voice down so as not to attract much attention! Not enjoyable at all, but that’s OK, because fun isn’t the goal.