Here’s How You Create Problems Out of Thin Air, By Personality Type

Ever made a situation far more complicated than it needed to be when you could easily have avoided it? We’ve all been there. Every Myers and Briggs personality type has its own special way of turning simple situations into complicated messes of epic proportions. Here’s how it plays out for your type.

INTP: You Just Overthink It

INTPs love to dive deep and analyze every possible angle of a situation or decision. This makes you the queen of analysis-paralysis, where you overthink even the simplest things. Have a three-line, straightforward email to write? Better spend three hours dissecting every word and its implications, just in case you missed something. 

Apply the same process to every aspect of your life and you’ve got yourself a never-ending cycle of not making any move at all, leading to regrets and missed opportunities.

INFP: You Expect Far Too Much

INFPs tend to have high ideals and expectations. When reality doesn't match up to the unicorns in your mind, you feel pretty disillusioned, and may struggle to accept things as they are. 

For example, suppose you start a relationship with someone who literally checks all your boxes. No one is perfect, however, so when your date inevitably falls short of your lofty ideals, you may catch cold feelings. This can lead to unnecessary stress and even make you end things prematurely, all because your partner is real but your expectations…not so much.

ISFP: You Suffer in Silence to Avoid Confrontation

ISFPs value harmony and will bend over backwards to avoid any kind of conflict or confrontation. The way you complicate your life is by not speaking up when someone crosses your boundaries or does something you don’t like. 

For example, you might let a friend pick a restaurant (that you hate) for the third time in a row and then stew in resentment instead of simply voicing your preferences. Or maybe your coworker keeps taking credit for your ideas and you never say anything to them. This kind of quiet self-sacrifice can build up and make you feel miserable because your own needs and wants are consistently sidelined—all to avoid the tiniest bit of confrontation.

ISTP: You Ignore Rules That Don’t Make Sense

Because ISTPs prioritize efficiency and practicality over everything, you instinctively disregard rules that don’t make sense to you, or which get in your way. You’re the type least likely to submit the weekly reports your boss has asked for, because you find them tedious and unnecessary.

Trouble is, your boss doesn’t feel the same way. You may end up getting into unnecessary friction with authority figures, or even fired, because you refuse to follow a rule that seems arbitrary.

INFJ: You Get Stuck in the Empathy Trap

INFJs are highly attuned to the feelings of others, to the point where they might get jumbled up with your own. You have a tendency to jump to conclusions about how someone else is feeling, when really it's what you would feel in that situation—and that can make things really complicated.

For example, if your friend seems unusually quiet, you might convince yourself they're angry at you when really they've just had a long day. This second-guessing can cause a lot of unnecessary stress. If you do the usual INFJ thing and withdraw,  your friend might feel like you're mad. Communication falls apart and problems are created where there weren't any.

INTJ: You Set the Bar Too High

INTJs are strategic thinkers who always strive for perfection in their plans and projects. You may get so caught up in the minutiae that you turn simple tasks into major headaches. Ever heard of the phrase, “good enough,” INTJ?

For example, you might spend a whole week crafting a super-detailed plan for a project, obsessing over every little thing. Meanwhile, the rest of the team was ready to get started three days ago. That's a bunch of time wasted on something that could have been done in a few hours, all because you refused to accept anything less than your best.

ISFJ: You Stick to Your Old Ways

ISFJs highly value routine and stability. This is great in some situations, but can cause avoidable problems where it’s clear the old ways are not working and you need to do things differently. 

Even a simple change in your daily routine can feel overwhelming for you. You might refuse to try a new restaurant or a different route to work because it's not the way you've always done things. This can limit your experiences and even lead to missed opportunities, as well as frustration for those around you who may be more adaptable.

ISTJ: You Dig Your Heels In

ISTJs can be very stubborn once they’ve made up their minds about something. Your reluctance to give things a second thought can prevent you from recognizing when a situation has evolved and your initial take on it isn't quite right anymore. 

For example, you might take charge of a project and flex your ISTJ superpowers to create a detailed plan with specific tasks and timelines. Once you’ve laid out this plan, you become very attached to it. If a team member suggests a new piece of information or a tool that could improve the process, you might brush it off without giving it proper consideration. Cue: a disgruntled colleague and a missed opportunity to do things better than before.

ENFP: You Act on Impulse

Fueled by their excitement and love for new experiences, ENFPs can sometimes overcomplicate their life by making impulsive decisions without really thinking things through. Or thinking at all.

For instance, you might splurge on fancy clothes, gadgets or cool experiences only to later realize you can’t cover the bills that come with those purchases. This can lead to a bit of a mess that could have been easily avoided if you’d only taken a moment to think ahead.

ENTP: You Argue for the Sake of It

ENTPs love to debate and challenge other’s ideas, often just for the fun of it. You might even play devil’s advocate sometimes, arguing against things you actually believe in and hold dear, because you get a kick out of it! 

Problem is, passionately defending a position on politics or ethics just to get a rise out of someone else can lead to heated disagreements and hurt feelings. That problem didn't exist before you waltzed in with your “clever” point. Ever heard of picking your battles, ENTP?

ESFP: You Jump Into Drama

ESFPs are super outgoing, expressive and impulsive, which can sometimes land you in drama you have no place being in. For instance, you might jump into a romantic relationship far too quickly, only to end up in a messy situation when the passion dies and reality sets in. You're also the type who says things you don’t mean in the heat of an argument, which can escalate situations rather than help to resolve them.

All of this could totally be avoided if you just held back and took a little time to cool off—look before you leap is  a very important phrase for you to remember.

ESTP: You Are More Direct Than Others Can Handle

ESTPs have a very straightforward communication style and don’t tend to bother with social niceties. This can create easily avoidable problems, as your unfiltered honesty may rub people the wrong way. 

When a friend shares a personal achievement that you don’t find particularly impressive, what's your first instinct? Do you congratulate them or say, "Eh, that's not a big deal," with zero sugarcoating or cushioning? Your bluntness can lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings, which could have been easily avoided by saying things in a more diplomatic way. 

ENFJ: You Get Too Wrapped Up In Others' Problems

ENFJs are natural caretakers and may sometimes get overly involved in other people’s problems. In fact, you can get so caught up in other people’s issues that you lose sight of your own goals, or lose perspective on when you’re crossing a line.      

Spending hours on the phone providing emotional support to a friend who's wedding planning is not a good idea when your own commitments start piling up.  While it's important to be there for others, it shouldn't be to the point where you miss important deadlines or burn out.

ENTJ: You Are Too Critical

ENTJs hold themselves and others to very high standards. You expect your loved ones to be always improving, aiming high and hitting big goals, because you want them to be the best they can be. When people aim too low or don’t measure up, you can get overly critical and even ruthless in expressing your disappointment. 

While your intentions are good, your criticisms can strain your relationships. Others may start to feel resentful if you constantly imply they are “not good enough” for you, and that could derail your relationship or project. 

ESFJ: You Are Too Reliant on Social Approval

ESFJs are highly attuned to the needs and feelings of others, and their decision-making is heavily influenced by the desire to meet social expectations and maintain harmony. This need for social approval can sometimes land you in hot water by overcommitting. 

You have a habit of saying “yes” to every request from friends, family or colleagues because you’re afraid of rejection if you don’t. It hurts your heart to think that people may not like you. So, you end up being stretched too thin, juggling too many obligations and eventually feeling overwhelmed or burnt out.

ESTJ: You Want to Control Everything

ESTJs have strong leadership qualities but can sometimes become over-controlling, micromanaging situations and people. In a relationship, you might take charge of not just your role and responsibilities but your partner’s too, thinking you can do it better. 

While this might be true, it creates unnecessary stress. Your partner may resent your constant need for control and might not feel trusted or valued. Suddenly, you've created a power imbalance in the relationship, where they feel like they're always walking on eggshells around you. Learn to delegate and trust others, ESTJ!