INTP + Something Missing in Life

[Oculus Sinister]

Where is the passion? Where is that urge to jump out of bed and get started on the next exciting project? Something has been missing in my life my whole life. I don't what it is and I want to find it. Where in the hell does an INTP find what is missing?

[Dempsey]

I also lack the passion. I'm currently saving and preparing for a long trip to Europe, which will help, hopefully.

[geniusndisguise]

Yup, me too, see my sig...

[NightCrawler]

Where is the passion? Where is that urge to jump out of bed and get started on the next exciting project? Something has been missing in my life my whole life. I don't what it is and I want to find it. Where in the hell does an INTP find what is missing?

Look into a church.

Don't worry, it won't make you an INFP.

[MacGuffin]

Look into a church.

Don't worry, it won't make you an INFP.
Raised that way. Go nearly every Sunday.

Doesn't do it for me.

[panda]

http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/heroin.jpg

[NightCrawler]

http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/heroin.jpg

Whoa.

[airjaw]

Where is the passion? Where is that urge to jump out of bed and get started on the next exciting project? Something has been missing in my life my whole life. I don't what it is and I want to find it. Where in the hell does an INTP find what is missing?

I have the same exact problem man. Sometimes I don't even feel like there's a point to living life, and its so hard to get out of bed.

I don't believe that it has to be this way... I think we need to find something... some sort of religion, or at least some spirituality... something to keep our soul burning

[s0978]

Where is the passion? Where is that urge to jump out of bed and get started on the next exciting project? Something has been missing in my life my whole life. I don't what it is and I want to find it. Where in the hell does an INTP find what is missing?

used to feel this way and now I don't. Don't know how to explain what changed in a meaningful/ helpful way or without sounding gay. But one day as I skipped outta bed in the morning, I thought to myself the difference was that I now believed I was going to get what I wanted out of life, maybe that day. Which sounds so simple, but I don't think it's a very easy thing for some of us to realize what we really want (beyond the things we're conditioned to think we should) and then to go ahead and believe (belief/ conviction requires a bit of leap of faith- alogic) we're entitled/ equipped/ enabled.

[garak]

I thought the getting out of bed thing was just figurative language.. I have a hard time getting up too, but I never equated that with not having passion for anything. It's just fucking comfortable.

[PsiKik]

People who have a passion for something are usually singleminded about it. Is this incompatible to the INTP's supposed interest in many things?

[outmywindow]

I thought the getting out of bed thing was just figurative language.. I have a hard time getting up too, but I never equated that with not having passion for anything. It's just fucking comfortable.

This is great! Seriously though, I can completely relate to the OP on this one. I figure that since I'm only 22 I still have plenty of time to find that special something which can lure me out of bed in the morning. Oh wait, it's called a job and I already have one of those...

[immortalmack]

Look into a church.

Don't worry, it won't make you an INFP.

Yes it will.
I've told nyself that I wanted to do certain things but i would need a good eal of money to them done. I feel almost fake and superficial to go on a pure money pursuit.

[MacGuffin]

used to feel this way and now I don't. Don't know how to explain what changed in a meaningful/ helpful way or without sounding gay. But one day as I skipped outta bed in the morning, I thought to myself the difference was that I now believed I was going to get what I wanted out of life, maybe that day. Which sounds so simple, but I don't think it's a very easy thing for some of us to realize what we really want (beyond the things we're conditioned to think we should) and then to go ahead and believe (belief/ conviction requires a bit of leap of faith- alogic) we're entitled/ equipped/ enabled.
This is what I was exploring in my two threads, Stumbling On Happiness (http://forums.intpcentral.com/showthread.php?t=15114) & Flow (http://forums.intpcentral.com/showthread.php?t=17250).

To constantly look to the outside world for something to come along and inspire passion is a waste of time. It comes from within.

[bergenski]

used to feel this way and now I don't. Don't know how to explain what changed in a meaningful/ helpful way or without sounding gay. But one day as I skipped outta bed in the morning, I thought to myself the difference was that I now believed I was going to get what I wanted out of life, maybe that day. Which sounds so simple, but I don't think it's a very easy thing for some of us to realize what we really want (beyond the things we're conditioned to think we should) and then to go ahead and believe (belief/ conviction requires a bit of leap of faith- alogic) we're entitled/ equipped/ enabled.
aka self-esteem (?).
How's that working for ya?

[Faust06]

Where in the hell does an INTP find what is missing?

Sleep.

And discipline. Being depressed and unmotivated/uninterested is a pretty bad cycle, so break the rhythm, it should make a difference. Also, try being around people more even if you aren't socializing. Go downtown.

[garak]

This is great! Seriously though, I can completely relate to the OP on this one. I figure that since I'm only 22 I still have plenty of time to find that special something which can lure me out of bed in the morning. Oh wait, it's called a job and I already have one of those...

The job thing doesn't seem to work that well for me. Especially if you have a flexible work schedule. I was SO going to get up early today, at 8 or 9 or so. I had a reason and everything. I DID wake up around then and I told myself "don't fall back asleep, don't fall back asleep." I finally got up at about 10:20. :banghead:

edit: and I think the problem at least for me lies not so much in getting up, but in going to bed at a decent time. It is maddeningly difficult.

[Lurker]

I currently feel a lot is missing in my life. However, here's the problem: if I went looking for it, captured it, and took it home with me, I would probably still feel that way. With INTPs, existential crises are the norm.

Honestly, I think the remedy may go something like this:

Keep mentally active. Repeat. Repeat.

Always develop your interests and hold them dear. When people tell you they are impractical, tell 'em to fuck off. Don't let scorn get you down.

Avoid ruts like the plague. INTPs can fall into them when they are depressed. Climb out again, keep your mental life dynamic. The rest will follow.

Don't fall into the "poor misunderstood intellectual" crap.

Don't think that being an INTP means you are doomed to be unloved. Not true. The majority may not love you, understand you, or give a damn about your "offbeat path," but really - who cares? Why does it really matter? There are people out there who will think you're great.

Let claims that you're selfish, heartless, or cold slide off of you. If you really aren't and people can't see it, that's their problem, not yours. If you are heartless or cold, don't feel guilty about it. Instead, work on developing your empathy. Imagination does wonders in this department.

More thoughts to come....

[Notsweetynice]

Where is the passion? Where is that urge to jump out of bed and get started on the next exciting project? Something has been missing in my life my whole life. I don't what it is and I want to find it. Where in the hell does an INTP find what is missing?

I haven't read all the posts, but are you a 5w4?

As an INTP you are probably not a 4, but you could have 4 aspects.

Enneagram 4: Compensating belief: Something vitally important is missing and must be regained to relieve the painful feeling of deficiency and loss of connection.

[Helios]

I just don't go there anymore! I can't. It will just wig me out.

[Avengardh]

It comes and goes.

When you feel it, just do it.

[Oculus Sinister]

I haven't read all the posts, but are you a 5w4?

As an INTP you are probably not a 4, but you could have 4 aspects.

Enneagram 4: Compensating belief: Something vitally important is missing and must be regained to relieve the painful feeling of deficiency and loss of connection.

I could perhaps fall into the test result of 5x4 though I have used caution lately when researching the enneagram or INTP. In the skeptic's dictionary, one can see how the tests are misrepresentative and without a doubt fall victim to subjectivity(too lazy to fetch the quote right now). Even though I have not read a lot of actual books like "Kiersey's Please Understand Me" or anything by Jung entirely, I have observed how different the concepts and definitions of both MBTI and the Enneagram are to others. I suspect that I am a highly-intuitive individual and that my Ne/Ni could be stonger than my Ti/Te. Also, I use Fi and Fe regularly. But, I just stopped my last sentence because of the realization of how different my perception of the definition of Fi/Fe Te/Ti, Si, Se, Ne, Ni are to others.

I find it difficult to connect any dots with my relationship to either personality test. I have read different descriptions of each too numerous to count and have found so much variability that I have become disillusioned to its accuracy. Also, it should be noted that I have slept very little (3 hrs) in two days and am currently in a distorted state of thought. I have always had a penchant for projecting my imagination onto the objects found in reality. Right now, I am considering your and my understanding of reality and how they could differ. When, I say reality I am referring to anything observed in the external world. For example, my imagination allows me to see faces on mailboxes. Everything I take in has the possibility to be manipulated by my mind. Recently I have noticed that I possess very strong senses and that I can take my senses and project them like someone who looks at wood contour and sees a face or someone who talks the sound of bells and hears a similar sound or voice or experiences a strong sense of taste, awareness of symmetry...etc.

If you read what I have written, I apologize in advance for being off beat in my thought. I wanted to give you a better picture of myself but its possible I could of distorted everything I just wrote. Good night!

What do you do, how do you experience things?

[Llewellyn]

Where is the passion? Where is that urge to jump out of bed and get started on the next exciting project? Something has been missing in my life my whole life. I don't what it is and I want to find it. Where in the hell does an INTP find what is missing?

Learn to get used to the routines. Stand up immediately when you wake (and yet be flexible in that, learn to recognize what gives you energy). Within those routines make your life more and more your life. With me it's a slow process of re-recogizing all the value. Especially in people I start to recognize a lot more value (there's so much that is communicated).

[skip]

What are you doing with your life now, OP? How do you spend your days? What do you do to connect with other people? How do you give back to the community in which you live?

[zago]

uhhhh he's banned

[gardnerj]

I think the problem is in doing things we don't feel like doing. Which is just about everything, as INTPs. The things we would normally be passionate about, we avert from because its "boring." Its hard to find meaning plus intellectual stimulation at the same time. That's why I'm a music teacher.

[nonrandian]

I think i sometimes feel apathy for life, and other times i'm very pro-goal oriented (or passionate) about life too.

I find that this changes a lot whether i'm feeling down or not. I used to be apathetic all of the time, but after a very rough spot in my life i came out more on top. Now it is most of the time i feel good about stuff, but only when i'm very down that i get apathetic, and yes i do get very apathetic.

However, i've found that apathy tends to cause more problems than it solves. It's easy not to care, surely, at least it seems so... but not caring in and of itself can cause a lot of problems that you will care about once they happen.

Also, when i am feeling less apathetic, i still must confess that my life is most often full of mere content. Very little do i feel passion. I'm very pro-happiness, anti-suffering/death which you could say i'm passionate about. I explain this to people, and they often agree, i don't think most of them 'get it' though; it could just be my eccentricity. Also i'm sometimes very, very passionate about music (i play the guitar). I'm not even all that good, only been playing a couple of years, but sometimes i feel like when i'm playing the instrument that it's an extension of my body, or soul. I think that's quite arguably passion.

I would tend to agree that a feeling of purpose is very important.

[airjaw]

Feeling a lack of passion has been my experience as well. I would guess about 50% of the days of the year are spent just waking up and busting through another day without any feeling.

The other 50% of the days I can build some kind of motivation to work on projects

[walfin]

Feeling a lack of passion has been my experience as well. I would guess about 50% of the days of the year are spent just waking up and busting through another day without any feeling.

Restless passionlessness is the worst curse. If you ever feel that way you know what I mean.

[deuteros]

Something has been missing in my life my whole life.

Jesus.

[Technical]

Advantage: Obsessive.

[Llewellyn]

I just thought: experience of self is what is missing. If you realize it's yourself that is doing things, that must be the final relevation. (Edit: maybe we have too strong an intuition or thought that this is not true).

[msg_v2]

Love and passion. Not so much from others, but in my own attitude towards the other world, or at least aspects of it.

My bitterness threatens to consume me. I hope one day it doesn't win out.

Discipline would be nice. The things I could accomplish if I only had discipline.

[Dempsey]

I also lack the passion. I'm currently saving and preparing for a long trip to Europe, which will help, hopefully.

This trip never occurred :). I do feel more passionate now however. More emotional in general. Change of lifestyle.