taking things seriously - sidebar to 'mind filter'

[Tenacious B]

So it seems many of us INTJ's tend to stay pretty calm and rational in tense situations.

In my case I tend to never take things very seriously. I do this in two main ways: discount my situation as being "fake" compared to a similar situation, as in it is just a simulation in my case, or to think of the situation itself (not my personal one) as not very important.

For instance, I remained quite calm during my recent thesis defense, a time where it is easy to become agitated. To me it is just school, not even the real world, nothing to get riled up about. I apply this to all schooling, not just my own. (example of the second way)

For example, sometimes I see my actions to be somewhat juvenile in nature. Going back to the topic of school, I would see my research as "less" than that of others in my field. "I'm just doing this little exercise, I'm not a real expert." This is basically self degradation.

I'm wondering if this is a trait of the INTJ, if others have it, and if it could be an underlying cause of INTJ calmness. I have read about INTJs, while appearing supremely confident on the outside, actually can harbor some insecurities, which could explain this notion in my case.


Sorry if this has been covered or if I'm suggesting things that are considered common knowledge, I'm a n00b when it comes to personality studies.

[Zilal]

I don't think I remain calm for any particular reason... it just isn't natural for me to get excited or panicky. I suppose I could try, but that would be silly.

[Haphazard]

I don't usually get excited, but I can get panicky, but it's usually because I don't try to calm myself down. I know I can calm myself down, but I don't.

Sometimes I feel the physical signs of panic but I'm not really feeling the panic in my head. Sometimes I act it out but it's not really there. Most of the times there's anxiety there but the physical feeling is so much worse. A lot of times I get more preoccupied with the physical feelings and don't put too much thought on the actual thoughts or anything that's causing it.

I realized that when I say panicky, I mean in physical situations, things that I know can harm me -- sports, injections, etc. fill me with dread, but when it's something like a presentation or a performance I don't get panicky. Physically, I'm extremely sensitive, but otherwise, I'm not.

[Antares]

Well, composure was one of things I've always strived for, and with practice, my composure and calmness is impeccable. I remember in gym class, we had to support our bodies on our elbows and toes on a mat. Everyone fell before me due to pain or exhaustion, but I supported myself unfazed and composed. The only other person in the room was shaking and sweating while I was still and unexpressive. Those around me were astounded "She's not even shaking! There's no expressions at all!" I retorted, with a perfectly straight face and a balanced voice (under extreme pressure and pain) "It's called composure and endurance, amigo." I don't really know the source of my calmness; it just comes to me. I feel disgusting if I go out of my way to seem giddy or excited.

As for not taking things seriously, I take the things that would affect myself or others in a tangible way, like getting points hacked on a project seriously, but other things, like the tidiness of my room (which my mom kept harping on about), I could give less. I left my piano open because I would play it in twenty minutes time; I saw no reason to close it. I left my books on the piano because I would use it, but my mother just couldn't stand the sight of it and ordered me to put it away. Naturally, I told her I would do no such thing because it really doesn't harm anything and saves me the trouble of getting them out again. Her personal tastes and pet peeves matter not to me, because she's speaking completely from her F side. If she wants it neat; she does it herself. It doesn't bother me and I have no business in pleasing her eyes too.

[Vivid]

I stay calm in dangerous situations, but then I blow when little things happen ( the phone ringing, being late... ). Thinking types are more prone to this, but it doesn't mean they're immune to feeling emotions. I bottle mine up, for one.

[istheather]

I usually stay calm in dangerous or stressful situations. However its kind of funny sometimes its the little things that happen that cause me to loose my cool.

[DeadSpace]

Completely calm in dangerous situations, only time all threads snap to focus without effort.
Irrational arguments is about the only time i can lose my cool, getting caught up in circular logic, repeated questions, same ones just rephrased. Justifications, rationalizations...it's like long drawn out torture that gets nowhere.

[tazmaniantigres]

I tend to stay pretty calm. Mostly it's because i don't find much to get agitated about. It does bother me, though, when people around me get riled up over what amounts to small, unimportant things.