Smarts and Resolutions

I’ve always thought that Smarts (NTs) have the easiest time taking a global perspective, especially when it comes to resolutions or self improvement. They’re the ones who never have to purchase that book “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” because they never do. In fact, most mothers, spouses or partners of Smarts at one point or another have probably WISHED they’d sweat the small stuff every once in awhile, i.e., I see them as the least likely to have a resolution to relax more or watch less TV. The trick with motivating a Smart is to appeal to their or your own keen sense of logic and grasp of the big picture.

And I don’t mean logic in a Spock sort of way. Smarts are way more complex than some one dimensional Spock figure. You can’t just give them facts and details and expect them to compute their way to the correct way to accomplish a resolution. You have to come up with multi-dimensional arguments that include logic, facts, details and sometimes an emotional meaning to tie it all together.

Smarts don’t always think they’re perfect but they’re not going around worrying about the small tweaks they ought to make like so many people do. Smarts are probably the least likely to start a gym routine come January 1 — or insert New Year’s Resolution — because a set date on a calendar isn’t what’s going to really motivate them. If a Smart is out of shape, it’s likely something they’ve thought about earlier in the year and either done something about it — Smart Structures (NTJs) — or will get around to doing when something sparks their motivation — Smart Freedoms (NTPs).

Smart Structures have an easier time with routine and are therefore more likely to stick to a resolution or get back on the horse throughout the year once it’s an established routine. Smart Freedoms are going to have much more distractions that throw them off the horse and often do better when attaching an emotional meaning behind a resolution — and I don’t mean a weepy emotional state but something that grabs your gut and compels you to follow through on a repeated basis.