Solaris
12-30-2007, 08:24 AM
How able are you at controlling your thoughts? For example: If a thought line is non-productive (I mean thoughts more important than "should I wear blue or green today?"); you recognize this fact; recognize that there are more productive thoughts you need to focus upon -- can you do it? What percent of the time? (I fully get that there are a few thoughts over which even the most restrained personality has no control.)
We NTs seem to been in general agreement that we have several lines of thought processing at any one time. I can shove non-productive ones away, and focus on what I need to do. There are very few instances in which I cannot control which thoughts get primary consideration. Sometimes, I am able to completely ignore a subject even (though that usually smacks me upside the head later). While there are exceptions, there is also a breaker: stress.
When I am extremely stressed, I start to lose my ability to focus and prioritize. This causes me to pressure myself to function as normal. Of course, this doesn't work because I'm stressed. I continue to pressure myself until I can't focus at all. That's when I tend to find myself on long, solitary runs, or cleaning a room with OCD-like fervor.
We NTs seem to been in general agreement that we have several lines of thought processing at any one time. I can shove non-productive ones away, and focus on what I need to do. There are very few instances in which I cannot control which thoughts get primary consideration. Sometimes, I am able to completely ignore a subject even (though that usually smacks me upside the head later). While there are exceptions, there is also a breaker: stress.
When I am extremely stressed, I start to lose my ability to focus and prioritize. This causes me to pressure myself to function as normal. Of course, this doesn't work because I'm stressed. I continue to pressure myself until I can't focus at all. That's when I tend to find myself on long, solitary runs, or cleaning a room with OCD-like fervor.