Life Isn’t a Copy-Paste Job

Here’s the distribution of 16 personality types across the world as per Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI):

1. INTJ: 2.1%
2. INTP: 3.3%
3. ENTJ: 1.8%
4. ENTP: 3.2%
5. INFJ: 1.5%
6. INFP: 4.4%
7. ENFJ: 2.5%
8. ENFP: 8.1%
9. ISTJ: 11.6%
10. ISFJ: 13.8%
11. ESTJ: 8.7%
12. ESFJ: 12%
13. ISTP: 5.4%
14. ISFP: 8.8%
15. ESTP: 4.3%
16. ESFP: 8.5%

Even with MBTI’s limitations, it claims that there are 16 types of people in this world.

And hence other than the natural law of survival, isn’t it fair to assume that there will be 16 distinct ways of looking at life and making decisions?

So why is it necessary for everyone to

• study science and become a doctor/engineer?
• get a high paying job in an MNC?
• get married and have kids?

If it’s not, why is the majority doing this?

Because we are conditioned by society to act in a particular way and however rational we think we are, most of our actions are governed by that conditioning, just to feel belonged.

When we were kids, we did as we were told by our parents and elders but can we now ask ‘why’ to ourselves?

• before picking up a job
• before getting married
• before going for kids

And even if you don’t come up with a strong reason and tell yourself, “I thought about it. Though I don’t have a strong reason behind doing this, I just feel like doing it”, by all means, go ahead and do it; at least, you are well aware of the pros and cons and are making an informed decision.

Do I really love traveling or is it a FOMO induced by people’s pics on Instagram?

Do I really like K-pop or is it because people my age listen to it and talk about it? 

Do I really love cats/dogs or am I tempted by ‘my furry friend’ pics?

If we all stop thinking and start repeating the same thing, the world will be an echo chamber and living in an echo chamber for long drives people crazy.

“I think therefore I am”- Descartes