The Obligatory Halloween-Themed Post- I'm Going as an ENFP This Year!

Aside from the fact that it's only 2 days until Halloween, and it's necessary for all bloggers to write a Halloween-themed post, I happen to LOVE Halloween. It is by far my favorite holiday.

What's not to like? Dressing up as someone/something else? Randomly bugging neighbors you would normally never acknowledge? Getting to peek inside of your neighbors houses? FREE

CANDY? The question of whether you will g

et a trick OR a treat? Wearing a mask so no one knows who you are? The ability to remain in character as long as you want? Making art out of vegetables? Watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" over and over again (one of the greatest movies EVER)? I mean, really, why do we only celebrate Halloween once a year?

In my family, we went BIG for Halloween. I'm fairly certain we never wore a store bought costume...ever. My mom made all of our costumes by hand, and they were almost

never something mainstream (vampire, ghost, devil, etc). My mom planned our costume at least a month in advance and to this day, my brother and I still dress up each year- even if only to pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters.

My mom knew how much work it takes to create a really great costume and she was always happy to make the most of the holiday. It take a lot of work to become someone else- if only for a day. The same is true of your personality (see how I did that....smooth transition, right?!). Our natural preferences guide our daily behaviors, but we are also forced outside of our comfort zone every day and have to use our non-preferred functions. That takes WORK.

I've been working almost exclusively outside of my preferences for a few weeks

now and I'm exhausted. As an ISTJ trying to perform like an ENFP, I find that I constantly have to remind myself that I need to do what is natural for me. Just like

wearing a Halloween costume, it's so easy to slip out of character and go back to being "you." I've been relying on two ENFP mentors along the way to remind me when I slip out of character and return to my natural ISTJ preferences. At one point last week I remarked. "This touchy-feely stuff is WORK!" I desperately want to point out when someone's feelings are unwarranted because they're responding to faulty information (like any clear ISTJ would)

but I didn't because an ENFP would never invalidate someone's feelings like that.

But just like the end of Halloween night, I've had fun but I'm ready to take off the wig and make-up and just eat some candy. It's a good exercise, though. By forcing ourselves to wear the mask of another personality type, we train ourselves to see the world through that lens. We say and do things we wouldn't normally say or do, and we see the difference in results. Just knowing there's a different path you can take can help you remember that everyone sees the world differently and no one approach is right or wrong.

The more we force ourselves to "try" a different preference, the more we become comfortable with those behaviors. Keeping with the Halloween theme- the longer you stay in character the easier it is to continue with those behaviors. I'm not saying you will ever change your type. What you will do, though, is develop an acquired taste for that non-preferred function. In other words, it's not your favorite meal, but if the chef isn't serving your favorite dish, you will be satisfied with this alternative. The more you use your opposite functions, the more comfortable, less stressed, and more adept at that function when you must use it.

So, as a little exercise in type development, try living and working in character for a day. Pick a personality type that is not your own and constantly

think to yourself- what would this personality type do? You may even spook yourself with the results (another phenomenal Halloween tie-in!).

Words of Wisdom from "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown":

"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin. " -Linus

"Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker." -Linus

Linus: "You've heard of the fury of a woman scorned, haven't you? "

Charlie Brown: "Yes, I guess I have."

Linus: "Well, that's nothing compared to the fury of a woman who has been cheated out of trick-or-treats. "