After working hard to prepare and then sharing that wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends, you were probably pretty tired. It’s a common myth that tryptophan, an amino acid found in turkey, makes you woozy. On November 25, 2015 The New York Times featured “No, the Tryptophan in Turkey Won’t Make You Sleepy”. Author Daniel Victor cites researcher Nicolaas Deutz, a nutrition expert at Texas A&M, who has studied the effects of tryptophan. According to Deutz, turkey is indeed a source of tryptophan. On Thanksgiving, “You’re inhaling a lot of carbs, tryptophan’s ticket across the blood-brain barrier, where it can boost serotonin levels & lead to a restful sleep.” So, without its carbohydrate sidekicks: the potatoes, stuffing and desserts, the turkey won’t make you tired.
Like this misconception about turkey, people often misinterpret the Extraversion/Introversion dimension of personality type. The word extravert tends to conjure up images of a talkative, assertive person. While the word introvert may bring to mind someone who is quiet and even shy. When it comes to personality type, your preference for Extraversion or Introversion does not reflect whether you are outgoing or reserved. Rather, it indicates how you “get energized”. Extraverts seek stimulation from their surroundings and through interaction with others. Whereas, Introverts are energized by taking time to quietly process and reflect upon their experiences. Each of the sixteen personality types interacts and reflects. However, you tend to do one more often than the other.
When choosing a career, your preference for Extraversion or Introversion is important to consider. Jobs requiring continuous interaction and frequent changes don’t necessarily provide as many opportunities for an Introvert to reflect and think about what lies ahead. Solitary work, on the other hand, doesn’t usually provide the interaction and stimulation preferred by an Extravert. The boost you get during your work day shouldn’t just come from a cup of coffee.
So, don’t allow dictionary definitions to influence your perception of type. Each of the sixteen types has unique strengths and gifts. It’s important to choose a career where you can apply yours. Take the MBTI and find out!