ISFJ-T … The Defender

According to this online test, my role is sentinel, and my strategy is constant improvement. Not sure what sentinel means, maybe I’ll figure it out as I live on. Many of these sentences are from the site results page, I didn’t come up with these phrases myself. Just FYI.

55% Introverted, 55% Observant, 62% Feeling, 74% Judging, 80% Turbulent

“ISFJs are true altruists, meeting kindness with kindness-in-excess and engaging the work and people they believe in with enthusiasm and generosity.” via

ISFJ personalities (especially Turbulent ones) are often meticulous to the point of perfectionism (Yes.), and though they procrastinate (Yes.), they can always be relied on to get the job done on time. ISFJs take their responsibilities personally, consistently going above and beyond, doing everything they can to exceed expectations and delight others, at work and at home (growing up I would have called this people-pleasing).

ISFJs need to know when to say no and stand up for themselves if they are to maintain their confidence and enthusiasm. Yes. Unless it is something I am fiercely passionate about, I can be a bit of a doormat when it comes to saying no. I used to never say it, but have finally learned the value of self-care, prioritizing my family, etc.

Strengths: supportive, reliable, imaginative, enthusiastic, loyal, hard-working.

Weaknesses: humble and shy, take things too personally, repress their feelings, overload themselves.

A little scary how accurately descriptive I think these are. As I’ve gotten older I realize how important it is to know details like this about yourself, and about the people around you. Knowing my husband’s strengths and weaknesses helps me love him better.

As a recovering perfectionist (work in progress, friends), my strategy is constant improvement. In a spiritual realm, these are aspects of myself I wrestle with. Salvation does not come by my works, but by grace alone. I will never be perfect on this earth, that is a goal I will never reach, but praise the Lord that the level of perfection that truly matters has already been satisfied for me in Jesus Christ. Constant improvement? It sounds like a hard-working, diligent kind of sentiment right? In my case, it oftentimes means that I struggle to give myself grace, thinking there’s no room to be lazy or slip up.

But, supportive, imaginative, enthusiastic? Very much me.

Do you know your Myer’s Briggs personality results? Does knowing them help you?

Take the test here, if you want.