I was discussing this topic with my very good ISTP friend the other night. His parents were very encouraging of his ISTP tendencies. As a young child they took him to bowling alleys, car washes and any other places where he was intrigued by the mechanics. His father traveled often for work but when he was home would take him on these excursions, sometimes to the same place multiple times and patiently wait while my friend was allowed to tour behind the scenes of these places, learning how the machines worked and asking questions. As a result, my friend is very gifted with machinery. Understands them almost intrinsically and builds amazing machines on his own. Very successful entrepreneur and he's only in his mid-20s.
On the other hand are my parents. I was always the "weird" kid. When I was interested in something scientific, my mother did not want to be bothered with buying me things or taking me places to explore these interests. Many times it was met with "you won't be able to do that" or "nobody really does that as a job." I was often told that certain career paths were "not for girls." The only thing that was encouraged was reading which I took and ran. The boy I had my first crush on in 6th grade used to sit with me at lunch and we would see who could read the longest books, often books 1,000+ pages long. Nowadays that "boy" is a professor at Cal *swoon*
Anyways, it took me a long time to be comfortable with my INTJ traits (probably my 30s while I only learned about MBTI this past year. what a relief that was) and I embrace them. I realize now that my parents did not know what to do with a little girl who wanted to build lasers while everyone else's daughters wanted to go to the mall. In adulthood, I went from being a grunt at my current job to leaping over all of the employees into management within a few months to creating my own department managing and repairing all of the diagnostic equipment, which I learned how to do on my own. Always, though, there will be a part of me that can't help feeling like I missed out on realizing my full potential due to the fact that I was discouraged from exploring my childhood interests. I still have a nagging self-doubt as well. There's always a moment when a machine needs repair that I think "I can't do it. I won't be able to fix it." and I have to "swipe left" on that and handle the situation (which I always do. The company that makes one of the systems told me if I ever need a job to call them )
Sorry so long, I felt the background was important and, perhaps on a level, cathartic. I am interested to hear if what I have experienced is common. If you did experience it, I am curious to know if it is something you still struggle with although I know certain factors are generally considered INTJ traits regardless of upbringing.
On the other hand are my parents. I was always the "weird" kid. When I was interested in something scientific, my mother did not want to be bothered with buying me things or taking me places to explore these interests. Many times it was met with "you won't be able to do that" or "nobody really does that as a job." I was often told that certain career paths were "not for girls." The only thing that was encouraged was reading which I took and ran. The boy I had my first crush on in 6th grade used to sit with me at lunch and we would see who could read the longest books, often books 1,000+ pages long. Nowadays that "boy" is a professor at Cal *swoon*
Anyways, it took me a long time to be comfortable with my INTJ traits (probably my 30s while I only learned about MBTI this past year. what a relief that was) and I embrace them. I realize now that my parents did not know what to do with a little girl who wanted to build lasers while everyone else's daughters wanted to go to the mall. In adulthood, I went from being a grunt at my current job to leaping over all of the employees into management within a few months to creating my own department managing and repairing all of the diagnostic equipment, which I learned how to do on my own. Always, though, there will be a part of me that can't help feeling like I missed out on realizing my full potential due to the fact that I was discouraged from exploring my childhood interests. I still have a nagging self-doubt as well. There's always a moment when a machine needs repair that I think "I can't do it. I won't be able to fix it." and I have to "swipe left" on that and handle the situation (which I always do. The company that makes one of the systems told me if I ever need a job to call them )
Sorry so long, I felt the background was important and, perhaps on a level, cathartic. I am interested to hear if what I have experienced is common. If you did experience it, I am curious to know if it is something you still struggle with although I know certain factors are generally considered INTJ traits regardless of upbringing.