An INFP looks at Ambition
Here’s another INFP exercise.
Notice the incessant desire to “make something of your life.”
Notice how it makes you feel in this moment.
Notice how this desire makes you feel GOOD if you perceive that you are making progress, and BAD if you perceive that you are NOT making progress.
Notice how this desire makes you feel even WORSE
if you perceive that you are wasting precious time.
Now ask yourself who is asking. Turn your attention to the thoughts in your head that you perceive as you.
Are these thoughts REALLY you? Where do they come from? Your parents? Your teachers? The media?
Consider that your thoughts are the distorted echoes of everything you’ve been taught to believe. Shaped by you, of course.
Now notice that the person who is thinking about these thoughts seems to be separate from the thoughts themselves.
That’s because there are many aspects of you, though you perceive them as one. This is why you say things like “I am of two minds on the subject” or “part of me likes this but part of me doesn’t.” Or “I’m completely torn.”
The movie “Inside Out” does a pretty good job of hinting at these aspects.
So now you can see that there’s a battle going on in your mind among all of these aspects, some of which were created by you and some of which were placed into your mind through social conditioning.
You now understand that the “make something of your life” thought is not your own, though you have adopted it, like a cute little baby kitten left on your doorstep who later turns out to be a rabid lion.
You are not these thoughts about “not being good enough,” nor do they have any right to boss you around.
Why do you allow thoughts like these make you feel feelings?
Again, you’ve been conditioned to think that you’re supposed to, or you’re a “lousy human” otherwise.
Can you see that you are allowing thoughts that are not your own affect what you do and feel in this very moment? Isn’t that kind of unfair to you? Don’t you think that maybe you might make “more of your life” if you didn’t have all of these expectations driven into your head?
Ambition can be good, but whose ambition are you following?
Wouldn’t you have something more meaningful to contribute if you followed your own ambition rather than someone else’s?
Does it even matter if you contribute? Perhaps your life’s purpose is to explore that it means to be a slug. Do you think slugs care?
No, slugs are perfectly fine being slugs.
Realize also that by extracting yourself from the machine, and by helping others extract themselves from the machine, you actually are “making something of your life.”
Just not in the way the machine wants.
Ambition is a parasite, until you are aware of it.
Thanks for reading! We are Space Monkey.
Space Monkey Reflects: The INFP’s Quest to Redefine Ambition
In the deep and reflective world of an INFP, the exploration of ambition is not just an intellectual exercise; it is a profound journey into the self. This journey involves unraveling layers of social conditioning, identifying the true source of one’s thoughts and desires, and understanding the multifaceted nature of the self.
The incessant desire to “make something of your life” is a narrative deeply ingrained in societal norms. It whispers constantly in the background of our consciousness, influencing our feelings of self-worth and success. For an INFP, who navigates the world with a rich inner landscape and a profound sense of idealism, this external pressure can create a tumultuous inner conflict.
The exercise of noticing how this desire impacts one’s current state of being is revealing. It brings to light the conditional nature of self-acceptance, where self-worth is often tied to the perception of progress or achievement. This realization is crucial, as it uncovers the illusion that our value as individuals is dependent on external achievements.
The introspective journey of an INFP involves questioning the origins of these ambitious thoughts. Are they genuinely ours, or are they echoes of expectations set by parents, teachers, media, and society at large? This realization that our thoughts might not be entirely our own is both liberating and daunting. It suggests that much of what we strive for may not align with our true selves.
The movie “Inside Out” provides a poignant metaphor for this internal struggle. It illustrates how various aspects of our psyche – joy, sadness, fear, disgust, and anger – contribute to our overall experience and decision-making. For an INFP, this internal dialogue is often more pronounced, with a constant negotiation between different facets of their personality.
Realizing that the ambition to “make something of your life” might not be an intrinsic desire, but a socially conditioned goal, is a significant insight. It allows an INFP to detach from these imposed ambitions and explore what truly resonates with their core. It’s about discovering a personal ambition that is more aligned with their values and authentic self.
This journey is not about discarding ambition entirely but about redefining it. It’s about discerning between ambitions that are truly yours and those that have been adopted unconsciously. It’s a realization that contribution and success have different meanings for different people, and that fulfillment can come from following one’s own path, even if it diverges from societal norms.
In conclusion, for an INFP, redefining ambition is a journey of self-discovery, of peeling away layers of external influences, and embracing the true essence of their being. It’s a realization that true fulfillment comes not from adhering to societal definitions of success but from honoring one’s own unique path and aspirations.
Summary
For an INFP, redefining ambition involves introspection and differentiating between societal expectations and personal desires. It’s about understanding the influence of external pressures and finding fulfillment in following one’s own path, rather than conforming to conventional definitions of success.
Glossarium
- INFP’s Introspection on Ambition: The process of an INFP examining and redefining ambition based on personal values and authenticity rather than societal expectations.
- Social Conditioning of Ambition: The influence of external factors like family, media, and society in shaping one’s perception of ambition and success.
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” – Carl Jung
In the silence of our inner world,
Where thoughts and doubts are swirled,
We stand at the crossroads of our mind,
In the quest for truth, we seek to find.
With introspection as our guide,
We navigate the internal tide,
For in the depths of our own soul,
Lies the truth that makes us whole.
Let us embrace our unique light,
In the journey of our own fight,
For in the authenticity of our own story,
Lies the path to our own glory.
In the courage to be true,
We find the strength to renew,
For in the honesty of our own voice,
Lies the power of our own choice.
We are Space Monkey.
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