Laziness and Potential for the INTP

[md5fungi]

I'm curious as to how you INTPs relate to these two issues.

For myself, I'm always questioning what my potential actually is, and I think (maybe a byproduct of narcissism) that as a person I have quite a bit of potential. I think I might be capable of doing a lot with my mind, more certainly in the areas of music or academia. The questions that then plague me are:

1.) What exactly is my potential? What can I achieve, and is this important to me?

2.) Suppose I achieve something "great" that I sought to achieve; will this help fulfill one of my main goals in life, happiness? Do I need this?

Laziness plagues me too often. It is easier to not do than to do. This may be a result of me feeling that I'm "pushing towards something that is unknown and possibly worthless." It is also very difficult to allocate my energy into so many different areas. This gets more difficult with age; responsibility is unavoidable, I sometimes forcefully throw myself into things such as sociability (taxing on the mind), etc.

What is enough? What can the INTP achieve? How do potential and laziness affect your lives?

Please discuss.

[MacGuffin]

I'd say many INTPs think or struggle with these issues.

However, no one, except yourself, can actually answer your two numbered questions.

[starla]

1.) What exactly is my potential? What can I achieve, and is this important to me?

Is it possible to know your full potential without at some point exceeding it? I think fear of failure is very limiting. It's much easier to say "I could've done such and such" than it is to risk getting your ass kicked proving it. I think it's high time I failed at more things.

[bluebell]

It's much easier to say "I could've done such and such" than it is to risk getting your ass kicked proving it. I think it's high time I failed at more things.

Thanks, that's a nice twist on it.

[airjaw]

yes all INTPs struggle with this
best way is to be forced into the situation, kicking and screaming
like being thrown in a pool to learn how to swim

[Hustler]

People who claim they believe they have great potential but then say they're too lazy to realize it generally have a fear of failure.

[ciphersort]

Fear of failure can certainly be limiting, but I have to admit laziness itself is the number one factor that holds me back. Actually, I take that back, it is my crappy time management skills that hold me back. Also, INTPs have a tendency to set their standards improbably high (hey, who is the next Einstein...). Be realistic with your goals. While true greatness is not accidental there are many more factors involved than your personal abilities and drive. If you aren't willing to do something you don't even stand a chance.

[nonperson]

Fear of failure can certainly be limiting, but I have to admit laziness itself is the number one factor that holds me back. Actually, I take that back, it is my crappy time management skills that hold me back. Also, INTPs have a tendency to set their standards improbably high (hey, who is the next Einstein...). Be realistic with your goals. While true greatness is not accidental there are many more factors involved than your personal abilities and drive. If you aren't willing to do something you don't even stand a chance.

ditto

I have a critical thinking text book I want to get through, but I know I won't.:banghead:

I am going stop typing. I am not in the mood.:mellow:

[ciphersort]

Additionally, in my case, crappy time management often means letting numbskulls take up more of my time than they should be allowed.
__________________

I managed to escape the child penal system without being properly medicated to the chagrin of the members of civil and polite society.

[starla]

People who claim they believe they have great potential but then say they're too lazy to realize it generally have a fear of failure.

I would argue that people who do have great potential but are too lazy to realize it are failures. They just have found root cause, that's all.

[Trentham]

I would argue that people who do have great potential but are too lazy to realize it are failures. They just have found root cause, that's all.

But, how much potential does someone really have if, by nature, they're lazy, apathetic, and have a low need for achievement?

Intelligence, talent and ability only count for so much. In fact, sometimes they count for very little at all.

[starla]

But, how much potential does someone really have if, by nature, they're lazy, apathetic, and have a low need for achievement?

They have potential if they can overcome their issues. Like dyslexic kids. But yeah, that's kind of what I was getting at. Being too lazy to realize your potential has the same end result as not having potential.

[ciphersort]

They have potential if they can overcome their issues. Like dyslexic kids. But yeah, that's kind of what I was getting at. Being too lazy to realize your potential has the same end result as not having potential.

Ohhh... I realize my potential and have decided that the world doesn't deserve to profit from my greatness. I am enjoying it just fine. *joking*

__________________

There are only two industries that refer to their customers as users.

[Lurker]

I think fear of failure can override any abilities or talents you have. It retards you, sapping away your willingness to take chances and possibly succeed.

And back to laziness, yes, it often has root in fear or depression. Then again, there are some genuinely "lazy" people out there...

Edit: That was pretty general. I want to add that this "laziness" may skew your perception of your potential for the above reasons. Vicious cycle and all that.

[nonrandian]

I do set high expectations for myself, but i seldom follow through with them, and i really am extremely lazy. Other relevant factors would including... wanting to do too many things at once, and the limited availability of time. It might also be worth noting that i am sometimes easily distracted (though sometimes also extremely concentrated), which might be the case for other INTP's too.

However, even with my high self-expectations... i never really looked at it as potential or not, capable or not... only 'what i want, or would like to do.' Whether i can or not is somewhat irrelevant, because trying alone is what would make me happy... doing what i want to do. I, however, had that kind of philosophy hammered into me rather early (very much so by myself)-- do what makes you happy.

To me, doing something because it's what you enjoy doing is far more valuable than achieving success, etc. Sure, success is good, but what is it worth if you are still unhappy?

[Hustler]

I would argue that people who do have great potential but are too lazy to realize it are failures. They just have found root cause, that's all.

That's usually easy to see as an outside observer. To the person who is suffering from the fear of failure, the ego-preservation comes from the idea that, if you can't succeed without putting forth an effort, you also can't fail. They can then believe, even if only to a very limited extent, that they could succeed if they wanted, but they just don't want to try, for whatever excuse they can conjure up (laziness being a common and convenient one).

[md5fungi]

People who claim they believe they have great potential but then say they're too lazy to realize it generally have a fear of failure.

That could be true for some. I'm not sure if I have great potential; laziness does plague me especially in the summer, and during the school year I'm pretty burnt out and don't feel like doing other shit that I could be doing.

I wouldn't describe myself as someone who is afraid of failure (and neither would my colleagues). Failure was practically the theme of my life a few years ago, and I only overcame it by not giving up.

There's always something further one can strive for, it seems. I suppose I will never come upon some epoch of self-fulfillment, or will I?

It might be just a matter of balancing contentment with ambition.

[Hustler]

That could be true for some. I'm not sure if I have great potential; laziness does plague me especially in the summer, and during the school year I'm pretty burnt out and don't feel like doing other shit that I could be doing.

I wouldn't describe myself as someone who is afraid of failure (and neither would my colleagues). Failure was practically the theme of my life a few years ago, and I only overcame it by not giving up.

There's always something further one can strive for, it seems. I suppose I will never come upon some epoch of self-fulfillment, or will I?

It might be just a matter of balancing contentment with ambition.

I would say it's more a matter of balancing action with thinking. At some point, you have to start pouring hours of your time into doing something you like, and developing real experience.

[rainfall]

If you're too lazy to do anything then you have no potential.

[lpethe]

I always had it hammered into me growing up that all the potential in the world is meaningless unless it is used.
It seems that popular opinion agrees since the most common time the term "potential" is even used is when it is unfulfilled (otherwise it would just be called achievement).

[fripping]

i am both afraid and lazy. let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

[Shoot!]

I refuse to do anything.

[Zephyrus055]

Laziness is caused by pleasure and pain dynamics. The reason you are doing A rather than B is because you prefer A more than B. I could play Tennis right now, but because I consider writing this post more pleasurable than Tennis I am writing this post.

If you are neglecting "your life" while focusing on entertainment, it's because you consider working or "your life" less pleasurable than your sources of entertainment. If you really want to be motivated, you need to find some incentive to work and forgo your entertainment.

In my case, I love money. I was generous a few times and learned what it can give me. Not to say I don't indulge in my hobbies, but I'm actually trying to network, be on top of my problems, and do well in school. I just secured a job for myself even. I have done all of that because I have incrementally built a passion for more money.

[last_caress]

Laziness is caused by pleasure and pain dynamics. The reason you are doing A rather than B is because you prefer A more than B. I could play Tennis right now, but because I consider writing this post more pleasurable than Tennis I am writing this post.

If you are neglecting "your life" while focusing on entertainment, it's because you consider working or "your life" less pleasurable than your sources of entertainment. If you really want to be motivated, you need to find some incentive to work and forgo your entertainment.

In my case, I love money. I was generous a few times and learned what it can give me. Not to say I don't indulge in my hobbies, but I'm actually trying to network, be on top of my problems, and do well in school. I just secured a job for myself even. I have done all of that because I have incrementally built a passion for more money.

I look at it as a reward/(risk + effort) equation. evaluated alone, playing video games all day doesn't relatively speaking, offer as great of a reward as other things I could be doing, but when divided by the (risk + effort) part it ends up comparing rather favorably.

[ObtainGnosis]

Much of what I would've said has been said, but I would like to emphasize that inflation is an all too prevalent INTP quality. We live in the theoretical. We comprehend reality quite well in the abstract, we make beautiful thoughtforms, but we typically, upon examination, lack any idea of how to actualize the ideals derived therefrom methodically in the immediate. We comprehend but don't involve ourselves in the ongoing process.

I've been guilty of this often. Big plans, little activity in their regard, convinced of some vague and nebulous greatness. It took a therapist to make me see my inflation. We must learn the practical implications of our conceptions and learn to do them thoroughly with discipline and assertion.

[md5fungi]

We must learn the practical implications of our conceptions...

Working on it. :mellow: