guest post: elasticity as an analogy for N/S function pairs

[mbti]

(written by a friend)

trampolines and rubber bands mirror the complementary nature of function pairs, but they operate in fundamentally different ways. in each case, the elastic object performs a push-and-pull action. when you jump on a trampoline, you can’t go up without going down, and you can’t come down without bouncing back up. when you snap a rubber band, you can’t pull it out without it taking the same shape it did before and you can’t give it a resting shape without the potential to expand. the difference, then, is in intent: do you want to jump, or do you want to land? do you want to expand, or do you want to contract?
Se-Ni is a trampoline: Se launches you upwards, Ni is there to catch you when you fall.

• if you favour Se, you’re all about leaps of faith, starting from scratch and taking in as much of the world as you can.
• if you favour Ni, you recognise that there’s a lot to take in, so you want to start with a foundation of as many ideas as possible.

Ne-Si is a rubber band: Ne pulls the band outwards, Si pulls it back in.

• if you favour Ne, you’re all about expanding, starting with a foundation of ideas and stretching it as far as it will go.
• if you favour Si, you recognise that the world is full of so many ideas and you want to keep them in order as best you can.