reply to post by crystalmind
You know, I'd be interested in what personality type you are according to Briggs-Meyers. I've taken that test several times over the past 20 years,
and I'm still the same....my personality falls into a VERY small percentage of the population. Less than 3% of the population have my personality,
and I am an introvert by nature, but can easily fool people into believing I am an extrovert. This is only one aspect of my personality, but I
believe it does wonders in explaining how I've come to this place in my life. Let me explain....
Because of my personality, I have the innate ability to "mirror" those around me....to adapt wonderfully. It wasn't until I got older that I
started paying more attention to what "I" wanted, and less on those dominant personalities around me. This led to obvious collisions with people
I've known my whole life. The "what has happened to you?", or the "you're not the same person anymore, what's wrong with you?" entered into
the scene. Because of my level of sensitivy (like yourself), I second-guessed what I was experiencing....was I wrong? Was IT wrong to feel the way I
did? Should I go back to being what everyone else wanted me to be? Was there something wrong with me?
Ultimately, the answers only came with searching within myself. I've lost friends along the way, made others angry, gained new friends, but
ultimately I have drastically weeded out the chaff from my life. Let me tell you, it's not fun going through this! I can count on one hand how many
people truly LOVE me for who I am, not for who they want me to be or who they expect me to be. Everyone else is just superficial and "fluff" in my
life. I still enjoy HUNDREDS of acquaintences, and most everyone who knows me will describe me as being kind and generous, because I am. They
usually just want something from me, so I oblige with kindness, but I know better.
I've found that "friends" who try to tell you that there is something wrong with you because you don't do "x, y, or z", have only selfish
motives and care nothing for how you truly feel. The fact that you pull yourself away from certain activities, leaves them feeling insecure, so they
try to manipulate you into continuing to behave in the manner in which they are accustomed. You will likely migrate away from these individuals, and
find yourself aligning with people who support you a little more.
You don't have to walk around professing "who" you are, "how" you feel, or what you do or don't agree with. Just live your life, be true to who
you are, and those that love you will either adjust or move on. You really don't have to explain yourself to your friends if you don't want to.
I've found that explaining yourself only opens yourself up to be judged by them, as if they have a right to debate who you are. Just BE and be
happy! Everything else will fall into place!