I don’t think I’m articulate at all, especially not in verbal speech.
As an overthinker, I just don’t put coherent thoughts and words together in my head fast
enough to be articulate when speaking.
Many introverts have this issue and are most articulate when having time to prepare to
speak…yet, there’s a lot of tip-toeing around flat-out saying introverts are smarter
than extroverts when it’s fairly clear sometimes that’s what a lot of people believe.
In many cases, the introvert intelligence vs extrovert intelligence thing is just a
good example of what I mean by how people think of being smart, in a narrow or stereotypical way.
Sometimes it works in favor of extroverts: for example, thinking and speaking at the
same time or speaking before thinking, works great for them, and makes them seem smarter
than introverts.
But I think the societal generalization really is that introverts are smarter, despite not
necessarily coming off as articulate as many extroverts do, and often not being articulate
as effortlessly as extroverts are.
And the older and more far-removed from school I get, the more I write the way I speak or
the way I think.
My speech is not always as bad as I think it is, based on some people’s feedback.
But I know for sure there are plenty of times when it is.
Personally, I believe the idea that being good at math is a stereotypical feature of
being an INTJ, is incorrect.
It makes sense because math and logic are part of the same family.
But for some INTJs, math can be too lacking in creativity, or too rules-oriented, without
the point of what they’re doing being understood and too detail-oriented, creating a lack of interest.
Most people don’t excel at something in which they lack interest.
I would say having better tech skills than the general population is more of a true stereotype
than being especially good at math is.
I also had no interest in studying the whole time I was in school—I was mostly in school
until I was 27—and that was something I hardly ever did.
It’s different when you’re free to pursue intellectual interests you choose on your
own time, without a grade and without someone basically wanting you to mirror their own
thoughts back to them on an exam or in a paper.
I’m not sure there’s a good way to measure intelligence.
Even if IQ tests really do matter, there are many other types of intelligence.
My life experience has also taught me that, in most instances, being smart as a young
person really is fairly unimportant—at least as I’ve experienced and observed it in the US.
It’s unimportant in most ways, in fact.
But I’ve found it to come in handy more in my career than anything else…
just not when it comes to getting opportunities, as I thought it would when I was younger.
Just makes my job easier, earns some level of respect and also provides an ego boost,
despite being less important than I thought it would be overall.
So, I guess I’m saying that if you’re young and don’t feel smart, don’t worry
about it—even though it’s something a typical INTJ values very much, hardly anyone
else values it the way we do, and there are many other things you could have going for
yourself that would benefit your life, more than being smart would because of that.
Being smart is also not exactly something you’re either born with or you’re not.
It’s now easier than ever to become “smart”, because there’s so much free knowledge on
the internet.
I come from a family of teachers, principals and professors, so when people learn that
about me they think that’s why I’m smart.
No, I’m smart because I read a ridiculous amount growing up, and I still like to read
and do research.
As an INTJ, you're an Intuitive Introverted type.
In a sense, your “being” is that you already know what you need without ever needing to
consider it—your subconscious mind works in overdrive, but strictly on your behalf.
Ni dominants, don’t verbalize well because they’re so focused on what’s in their head.
They’re much more articulate after they’ve thought about something for a while; however,
what comes out of the mouth is nowhere near as coherent as the thoughts in the head.
Another Ni-dom trait is being a walking contradiction.
Even if an INTJ is working at something, often they just want to get out of it.
They can procrastinate a lot.
INTJs rely on extraverted thinking (Te) which demands some visual information and planning;
math comes more naturally to people with Introverted Thinking, like INTPs.
Te is the kind of intelligence that you gain from life experiences, observations, and reading
books; it focuses on concrete facts instead of theoretical concepts.
You’ll eventually start researching your interests when you aren’t being forced to learn.
When things go sideways and you feel vulnerable, you'll engage in Introverted Feeling.
In essence: like most people, you enjoy the thought of love, trust, and camaraderie—but
you probably hate the idea of ever actually saying that, and just want to be loved rather
than to love in return, choosing to fix the problems of those you care for than to engage
in traditional romance.
For you, you will find fulfillment in understanding that when you do good things for those who
rely on or love on you, they rely on and love on you more.
Last, when bad stuff happens, you will default to extroverted sensing.
Change your scene, change your environment, and engage with a new space.
The best INTJs are well-traveled and well-rounded in their studies—but since they should explore
under stress and learn best when trying to reinforce their need to be loved, the best
INTJs also have a loyal core of friends and loved ones, and seek to improve their own
lives beyond anything that might reasonably be necessary in order to ensure the clear
path forward for those loved ones.
The INTJ is the master of paradox.
If you want to be your best self, find someone else to improve.
Put yourself in the position to improve them and you will have improved yourself more than
you thought possible.