The Introvert's Aha

[qos]

During both interviews with spiritual directors the topic of my personal mythology came up, and both directors observed that those fantasies carry a lot of significance for my real life path. This was not a new idea to me, but it was nice to hear it from someone else. Both also asked me about my enneagram number (5) and my Myers-Briggs type (longtime INTJ, but recently getting INFJ results).

The *click/boink/aha* just hit me: the biggest difference between my Journeyer self (the traveler and mediator between galaxies, first imagined when I was 12 years old and developing over the next 20-odd years) and my real world self -- aside from the fact that she has an Organian as a spirit-guide/fairy-godfather -- is that she lives her life as an extrovert, and I am an introvert.

Which would be another good explanation for why I never tried to pursue a Journeys-like career path in my real life (mediation, diplomacy, politics, or performing). The reason I've been aware of is that my fantasies were so otherworldly and escapist it never occured to me that they could have anything to do with my real life.

So on some level the fantasy I was developing in such detail wasn't just a fantasy of other worlds or a heroic self, it was also self who was confident and comfortable and energized by being among and working with other people.

This still leaves unanswered the question of what wisdom and insights my Journeys hold for my right-now/real-world vocational path, but certainly adds a new element to my deliberations.

Comments

[qos.livejournal.com]

I sure feel that way sometimes!