Knowing if you prefer Sensing (S) or Intuiting (N), how you gain information, can improve relationships, parenting success, and career choices.

Imagine house shopping. What would you see and how would you describe a house you toured?

I am a “S”, meaning I bring in information from what I see, smell, taste, touch, and hear. I might say about the house, “It had wide crown molding, old oak floors, antique light fixtures, and new windows. The furnace was noisy, and it had popcorn ceilings. It also had a musty smell in the basement.” Information comes from my senses. My dad, three sisters, and my three children are all “S’s”.

After the house tour, my “N” husband, mother, and sister, who get information from a sixth sense, might say something like, “It was large and felt welcoming. The natural light felt cozy. I liked it; it felt good!” Or, they might say, “I don’t like it!” No obvious reason, it just didn’t feel right. They get information from outside the five senses. They are intuitive; they know without proof.

As a “S”, if I was walking and became afraid, it would be because I noticed a strange smell, a sound from the bushes, or a change in the usual environment. An “N” could feel afraid at the same moment, but it would be because of a feeling. Both could be correct, but they gained information differently.

In school, as a “S”, I want clear directions. I prefer to see an example of what is desired. I want to know how many pages, type of font, and when it is due. I get stressed with open-ended assignments. My “N” family members prefer to go with their gut. They want to create their own project, and do not want or need a list of rules. They get stressed with lack of freedom or self-expression.

A team is better when both “S” and “N” preferences. One is not better than the other, just different, and getting information from both strengths is beneficial.

Trust your preferred way of gaining information, and find value in how others might gain information differently. We all have access to both, only one is preferred and more developed.

Do you prefer Sensing (S) or Intuiting (N)?

Until the next time: Live while you live!

(Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of My Clients…My Teachers, and the blogger and encourager of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.)

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