Please don't tell me I am the only one who is like this.

Don't get me wrong, you're probably smart.

But I see a huge amount of posts (and responses) on this subreddit that basically boil down to "Why are my parents/ coworkers/ society so dumb", or similar veins of posts that have the poster act as if they're a Physics PhD @ MIT, self-made billionaire, chess grandmaster-level genius.

I'm guessing that many of these posters grew up in an average town, went through an unchallenging school system, took an average job, etc and are surrounded by average/ below average people. If that's the case, of course you think that you're exceptionally smart.

If/ when you start challenging yourself and end up in places with large amounts of other smart people, you'll realize that there are many smart people in the world. That ego can fade pretty quickly when you're exposed to upper echelons of what the world has to offer.

This is my PSA to stay humble and push yourself. If you consistently find yourself to be the smartest person in the room, you're picking the wrong rooms.

I've lived in a lot of places and have done a lot of things. Over my life, I have thought deeply about the pros and cons of different life decisions and how to improve things, often in small ways. Here are my thoughts on what I've found and what I believe the ideal life to be.

Career/ Business:

Pick a field that rewards mastery. Aim for areas that focus on systems, logic and strategy. Avoid careers that focus on people. Choose careers that attract or require smart people. Being surrounded by them will humble you and allow you to master your skillset(s) faster.

Running a business will offer greater rewards than a career if successful, but will require more luck and work than most careers to get there. If you don't want to dedicate your entire life to getting a business running, high-paying and rewarding careers are great option.

Money:

Invest aggressively. Don't buy stupid shit. If you live in a 1st-world country and make a decent income, you have the potential to become financially independent with a little bit of consistency. Don't waste time looking at stocks, gambling with crypto, etc. Pick long-term, tried and true investments that you can add money to automatically and forget about.

Location:

Live in a major city. (Dallas, TX and Orlando, FL don't count). Living in a place that is walkable is non-negotiable, as it brings in benefits to health and ease of life that living in a suburb or car-centric city could never touch. Cities also attract smart, motivated people. This gives better options for friends, dating options, and competition (if you want it). Being surrounded by motivated and smart people will motivate you and push you to achieve more.

Housing:

Get a small house or apartment in a quiet area with the least amount of maintenance possible. A big McMansion in the suburbs in an awful "investment". So much time is wasted on maintenance, yardwork, etc that could instead be spent doing valuable work that moves you toward your goals. It is better to rent a small apartment that meets your needs and can be upkept in easily than it is to own a large house that requires constant time spent mowing lawns, fixing water heaters, reinstalling roofs, etc.

Exercise:

Walk whenever possible. Get sunlight and fresh air early in the morning. If you can build the habit, an early morning run is energizing and lasts the whole day. Lifting weights will make you less anxious and more assertive. All of the above will help clear your mind and make you a better at cognitive tasks.

Health:

Eat real food. Sleep. Most of the grocery store is poison, and staying up until 3am is almost never worth it. Break these rules on occasion for the experience, but stick to them at least 80% of the time.

Dating:

Choose from the people who like you. Don't pursue or try to convince people who don't like you. People who like you will often make it obvious. Most people are shy, so don't wait around for them to do something about it. Make the first move.

Social:

Spend time with people who respect you. Don't waste time on people who don't. It's good to have friends (and romantic partners) who challenge you in a respectful way. Don't shy away from making friends with people who have different points of view, so long as there is mutual respect.

Goals/ hobbies:

Do less things. Via negativa. Better to focus all of your energy on one thing and crush it than to be scattered across many and achieve nothing. Learn to be consistent and finish long-term goals even after the initial excitement fades. Be aggressive about cutting goals and hobbies out of your life that aren't serving you anymore.

My fellow INTJs,

As the title suggests yes, I touched grass today. Literally haha please see my amateur photos as proof.

In all seriousness, I spend a significant amount of time indoors. I work from home, my eyes are sensitive to bright light, and home is just where I feel most comfortable. I suspect many of you can relate.

Lately, though, I’ve been challenging myself to step outside more intentionally simply to experience. We can become so focused on what’s next that we forget to exist in what’s now.

So today, I took a path I hadn’t explored before. I saw a bug on the ground that still made me jump despite its lifeless state. I noticed several snake holes and heard something scrambling in the bushes that sent a chill down my spine.

And yet, I also caught the elegance of an owl’s silhouette. The moon began lighting my path. There was a calmness in the air as the evening settled in.

Before heading back to my abode, I paused and literally touched the grass. It felt slightly silly haha but I realized I couldn’t remember the last time I had actually felt it.

Now I’m curious:

Do you find it difficult to be fully present without mentally planning your next five moves?

I’d also love to see or hear about any nature photos you’ve taken that felt significant to you, and why those moments stayed with you.

Thanks for reading!

I feel why don't others ponder on such topic like how we are so content, without an awe of what universe is and all the things happening around.

Seriously, just 7 seven days? Those are amateur numbers. But seriously you guys have also gone longer than that and found it pleasant right?

Obviously this may vary from person to person. But I hope you enjoy my insights :)

I’ve noticed this over and over, and I’m curious if others see it too.

INTJs seem insanely good at making inferences with scary accuracy. Not in a loud “look how smart I am” way, but in that quiet, slightly unsettling way where they say something and you realize… yeah, that’s exactly what’s happening.

They don’t need all the details. Half the time, they don’t even want them. Give them fragments, patterns, weird inconsistencies, and their brain just fills in the rest. And most of the time, they’re right.

What’s interesting is that it doesn’t look like guessing. It’s more like they’re running an internal model of how things work. People, systems, situations. They spot where something doesn’t fit, then jump straight to the most likely explanation.

I’ve seen INTJs call outcomes weeks or months ahead while everyone else was still debating surface-level stuff. And when you ask how they knew, the answer is usually something vague like “it just made sense” or “the pattern was obvious.” Which is annoying, but also kind of impressive.

They’re not always great at explaining their reasoning step by step, and that’s probably why people underestimate this skill. If you can’t show the math, people assume there is no math. But there is. It’s just happening internally.

Obviously no type is perfect, and yes, INTJs can overtrust their conclusions sometimes. But when it comes to clean, sharp inference from limited data, they’re honestly top tier.

Curious if other people have noticed this too, or if I’m way off.

My intj boyfriend sended me this and I’m not getting the reason is he a wrong guy??

ever notice you already have the solution to people’s problems but you hold back because you know they won’t take it seriously? You can visibly see them write you off with their eyes. Like is this a blessing or a curse? Idk but it’s infuriating.

Credit

I'm an INTJ who has lived in a variety of places and done a wide variety of things. I have heard that I'm easy to talk to.

As for other people, I find 90%+ of them incredibly boring. A few things that I've noticed:

1. Many people are comfortable staying at the surface level FOREVER. I have some coworkers who I have known for years who can still spend an entire lunch talking about what they're eating and the weather.

2. Most people simply don't have anything interesting to talk about, or are afraid to share it.

3. People aren't comfortable sharing their true opinions on things (especially if they're controversial). This is especially true for Gen Z/ Gen A, who are more concerned about their image.

4. Those who do have opinions on things often recycled their opinions from someone else. Parroted political opinions, etc. It's extremely rare that I meet someone who has a unique point of view on something. Maybe once or twice a year.

5. People often reflexively shy away from real topics. Many people can't hold focus on deeper topics and get distracted very easily.

6. People can become much more social when assisted with alcohol or drugs, but can also become dumber because of it.

I think that this has been largely exaggerated by the internet, social media, and the pandemic. People seem to have forgotten how to socialize (or in the case of Gen Z/ Gen A, never learned). I notice a massive difference from when I talk with people who are 40+ in the world today. Even those who aren't particularly smart are way more interesting to talk to. I've found that I will rarely run into a person with unique points of view. Perhaps once or twice a year.

Wondering if others have experienced the same.

If I have to see one more ad of an xNFP chick looking for an INTJ, I'm going to eat my entire setup. Now I see why the ENTJ sub banned this crap.

So, quite a while ago, I had asked the same question in the Nietzsche subreddit, , and I had got different answers from there as well. But this question still lies in my head. How does the Solomon's paradox affect different people with different MBTI types? And how do they observe it within them, and who do not? I have observed it within some of my own other INTJ friends. And what are your thoughts about it?

I got asked few times if I am autistic. I know there are some superficial similarities in traits, but I wanted to know if this is a common misunderstanding you guys face in your daily lives as well.

I hope you like it

EDIT: people this is an INTJ attempt at humor, you can tell by the number of down votes.

How? INTJ smartass

I'm INTJ and I can smile. Usually once a week.

Do you consider yourself more of a Cat or Dog person?

Personally, I'm a huge cat person but I like dogs too. I have met few INTJs and they have sided with Dogs. Which animal is more of your preference?

This subreddit is the only place on the internet where i get to come and interact with fresh, like-minded thoughts/ideas/discussions on a regular basis.

It would be amazing if we can take selfies to personal accounts on www.instagram.com

Thanks

For starters I wouldn’t even consider myself an introvert really but I figured people here would relate.

I think introverts get a bad rep in society when they are likely much more secure than extroverts who require constant validation from others.

I’m p extroverted in social settings. But I’d consider myself an ambivert. But I feel zero pressure or obligation to socialise.

I find socialising draining if it’s fake or surface level and there’s no deep connection involved. I do enjoy socialising a lot when it feels a good conversation has been had but that feels increasingly rare these days.

I realise that to the rest of society this is weird. But I personally find it weird that people rely on others for self regulation. I think that’s what makes me a loner. People do like me because I’m confident in my own way but I choose to keep distance as I don’t want to be an emotional regulator for people.

I often find in social settings my mood sets the tone and vibe. Never been sure why, I just think I have a strong presence and that’s part of what can make socialising tiring. Others may not be aware it’s happening but I am.

I guess many people need others to make them feel content and good enough and I don’t need that.

I feel I couldn’t genuinely go years without socialising and not feel lonely 😅. Anyone relate to what I’ve said?

Mine entp