This was in response to a comment claiming that the focus on 'ideals, dreams, and values' of the Fi function (introverted feeling) which is a key aspect of INFP and ISFP personalities, is "useless". (I won't go into an explanation of function theory and definitions right here though.) The person was arguing that the things Fi is good at probably won't make you any money in life and therefore it's more of a hindrance to your success.
What is useful depends on your value system. What makes money isn't the only useful thing there is. That is an idea that really bugs me, as it totally takes for granted a LOT of things that we appreciate in life and would be upset about if we lost. I hate this idea that if you're not making enough money to live on you're not 'pulling your weight' in society as if there aren't a Whole Lot of useful and important things people do voluntarily for no money at all which people freely benefit from in ways they probably aren't even aware of.
Strict survival without quality of life makes people wonder why we're even trying to survive, so I don't think just putting food on the table and shelter over our heads are the only 'useful' things. Being able to appreciate beauty - and have beautiful things to appreciate - gives people reason to want to survive. Sharing laughter, smiles, hugs, camaraderie, love with others - gives people reason to want to survive. Philosophies and values give people a sense of significance and direction as well as a desire to survive. These are useful things, not merely embellishments, they give purpose and meaning to existence. Emotional Health is a very important aspect of life; right alongside physical nourishment we need emotional nourishment - and that comes from kindness, from beauty, from seeking understanding of people and the world, from art and philosophy, etc.
For Example:
A mother getting up in the night to comfort her child after a nightmare doesn't give her any money, but it's still useful because it helps form a good relationship with her family, it helps the child psychologically become a stable and giving person who will pass on their mother's kindness throughout their life. This is useful.
Taking beautiful photos of wildlife is useful because it reminds people of the value of the bigger picture of the world beyond their office building and favorite starbucks, it informs them of places in the world they may not have a chance to see in person broadening their perspective of the world, it encourages them to protect nature not just use it all up. A beautiful scene can boost their mood and inspire them, causing them to have a better impact on those around them. That is useful even if the photos are not sold for money to put food on the photographer's table.
Listening to a friend talk through their problems and plans is useful. It can help them think more clearly or feel more confident about their course of action. It gives them a sense of companionship which can boost their confidence and their sense of emotional stability which will help them in general to interact with others in a more sensible and helpful way. Being a good listener or a shoulder to cry on is Useful even though nobody's paying you money to be a good friend.
Introspection, analyzing your inner emotions and learning to cultivate positive attitudes in yourself will affect your own effectiveness in other things that you do and will provide a positive influence on the others around you. Gaining an understanding of how people's emotions work will give you the ability to help others work through emotional difficulties, help them understand each-other, and help them work together better so that they too can be more helpful, more creative, more focused, more insightful, more energetic, more productive, more 'useful' in the grand scheme of things.
Stopping to really think about what's important, and not just take how-things-are for granted, is useful. It can help us realize where we are going wrong before we get hit with severe consequences. It can give us inspiration and drive for improvements and discoveries that would never have happened if we were just focused on maintaining the current system or just surviving. Developing well thought out values gives people direction and saves us heart-ache. To some, contemplating philosophical concepts may seem useless, but that is very naive, as it is the philosophies and values that people hold which drive what happens in society and in their individual lives. "Values" are not a hobby or luxury, they affect everything. Spending some time sorting them out is certainly Useful.
No comments:
Post a Comment