The Packing Process of an Indecisive ISFJ

I had to laugh at myself this morning as I began packing to go home for spring break.

The average college student when preparing to go home for break, has perhaps three bags they take home. 1) A duffel full of all the remaining weather-appropriate, clean clothes they could round up, 2) A full laundry bag of dirty clothes, and 3) A backpack with some homework for the week in it. I would guestimate that the amount of time it takes to pack those three bags is about 15=2-, mostly dependent on the cleanliness of their room. The most thought that is put into what clothes to bring is "do I need tank tops and shorts, or sweaters and jeans?"

Had you been in my room this morning, that is not what you would have observed.

I plan what I wear on a day to day basis based on whether I have clinic or not, the weather forecast, how recently I have worn particular clothing items, how much I like particular clothing items, and what's clean. So you can understand why I have a hard time choosing what to pack, especially for longer vacations/stays at home. I don't know what the weather will look like in the morning (weather forecasts can change quite a bit) and I don't know what I'll *feel* like wearing.

What a terrible predicament to be in, I know. I have, however, found a solution that works for me. First step, pull up the extended weather forecast online. Next, based on the predicted highs for each day, decide which days will be short sleeves and capris, short sleeves and jeans, or 3/4 sleeves and jeans days. Then, look through entire wardrobe and sort shirts into "maybe" and "no" piles. Return the no's to their proper place and pick out the needed number of short sleeved and 3/4 length sleeved shirts from the remaining piles.

It was during these last two steps that I realized how ridiculous it looks. At one point I must have had about 7 piles of clothes scattered around the room. My family, friends, roommates, and boyfriend have all at times told me I'm crazy (in more loving terms, of course), but this is what works for me in my minor OCDness.

Normal

Over the last 3 days I have come to the conscious conclusion that I am normal. Of course, it has been forming in my subconscious for the last month, but only this week I am fully realizing how not messed up I am.

This is what group is so helpful for: coming to an understanding that I am not alone in anything I struggle with. A little bit of personality type reading has also helped to perpetuate this epiphany. I shared the Myers-Briggs test with a friend, who became very excited about it. She came up as an INFJ, which happens to be the same as Tad. I am an ISFJ. Anyway, she was sending me snippits of her personality profile, so I decided to look mine up again.

Well what should I find in my profile, but the following:

"One ISFJ trait that is easily misunderstood by those who haven't known them long is that they are often unable to either hide or articulate any distress they may be feeling. An adult ISFJ may drive a (later ashamed) friend or SO into a fit of temper over the ISFJ's unexplained moodiness, only afterwards to explain about a death in the family they 'didn't want to burden anyone with.'"

Is that not what I started going to counseling for? I read that and thought to myself "This is a part of my personality, it's *normal*" Now, is it good? No, it isn't healthy for anyone to keep things to themselves. But there are a TON of human tendencies that are unhealthy and need to be overcome. For right now it is enough, and an immense relief to realize that I'm no more messed up than anyone else on this planet.