MBTI and Gift Giving

I had the opportunity to lead a debriefing of the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) on Monday afternoon. As such, the MBTI has been on my mind pretty much non-stop for the past few weeks.

 

For most people, if they’ve ever even taken the MBTI, the MBTI is just a set of four letters that don’t mean much. Most people quickly forget their letters and move on. For me, though, the MBTI took root when I discovered that it could be used to foster spiritual growth. From that point forward, the MBTI has been central to my understanding of myself and those around me.

 

So just what is the MBTI? It’s a type inventory that helps explain four aspects of personality:

 

1)     Your personal energy source. Do you gain energy from the outside world of people (EXTRAVERSION), or do you gain energy from the inside world of thoughts and ideas (INTROVERSION)?

2)     How you subconsciously perceive information. Do you take in information primarily using your five senses, thus focusing on right now (SENSING), or do you take in information with insight and imagination, thus connecting past, present, and future (INTUITION)?

3)     How you consciously make decisions. Do you make decisions based on impartial facts and raw data (THINKING), or do you make decisions based on how they will affect people and relationships (FEELING)?

4)     How the world sees you. Does the world see you perceiving information (PERCEIVING), or does the world see you making decisions about that information (JUDGING)?

MBTI theory says that each of us has a preference for one of the two ways that each aspect is expressed. Put together, these preferences create 16 personality types that each have unique characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses.

 

That being said, one of the things that I found while doing research for Monday’s presentation was an MBTI guide to gift giving. Since Christmas is fast around the corner and not everyone has done his/her shopping, I thought I’d share a summary of that gift giving guide in case it helps you 😊.

 

ST types: These MBTI types tend to be practical and logical. When you're buying for any of these types, look for gifts that they'd find practical and useful. Often these types like gadgets - but useful ones. 

 

SF types: These MBTI types tend to be practical and sympathetic. They're people-focused people but with a focus on immediate, tangible help for others. When you're buying gifts for SFs, look for gifts that combine the practical and the personal. Often these types appreciate knowing that you remembered a special interest of theirs. For SFs, it really is the thought that counts!

 

NF types: When buying gifts for one of these MBTI types, look for gifts that are unique and personal. NFs often appreciate gifts that reflect who they are and what they value. For NFs, it definitely doesn't have to be practical to be valued!

 

NT types: When buying for NT personality types, look for gifts that are unique and thought-provoking. They'll often appreciate gifts that are innovative in design or creation. Whatever the gift, it should stimulate their intellect!

 

Is this a fail-proof guide to gift-giving? No. But is it good to consider? Yes. Because each of us is different. And it’s always good to remember that…even if we don’t know someone’s MBTI type.

 

God: Thank you for making us different. And thank you for giving us tools like the MBTI to help us understand ourselves better. Give us the wisdom to know who we are and help us to honor the differences in our lives. Amen.

 

By the way, if you’d like to discuss your type and understand yourself a little better, just let me know. I’m happy to explore this further with you.