perceiving (1?)

hilariously i feel a lot more familiar with noticing judging functions, but i think i've finally grasped a concept of how Ni works to make this post...

and as usual, it's all metaphor. because that's how i work i guess.

the body of water analogy
Ni = the dry path of a stream (carving, anticipatory, outlined, distinct, aiming, linear, mental guideline, acute/goal, having a method)
Se = the water in the stream (filling, being, there, action and reaction, substance, working to work, actually doing/making use [a stream is not a stream without water in it!], doing the method)
Ne = clouds above the sea (hovering, unrestrained, ambiguous, expanse, flexible in size, excitable on many fronts, constantly everywhere, moving, unpredictable, looks flimsy and senseless but is definitely there)
Si = sea below the clouds (moving with substance, intent, mysteries below the depth that it concretely knows, works at a pace that can't be easily shaken, containable but practical, moves in the space it has)

or...

the physical object (or sphere, as that is what i usually picture) analogy (not to be taken interactively)
Ni = inside the sphere
Se = the outside the sphere
so: the Ni/Se user possessions that awareness/consciousness of what they are thinking vs what they are actually doing. they are simultaneous and together and aware of each other, but bias/practice/placement in stack can also create that separation and disconnect. either way they remain conscious (neutral term; can indicate hyperawareness/overload, paranoia, or comfortable awareness) of both despite behavior; even if they withdraw "inside" they remain aware that the "outside" exists, or if they overexert/try to live most "outside," they are still aware of the hollowness or darkness or whatever other shit that is possessed on the "inside"
Ne = the sphere split into multiple other smaller objects that make it up and scattered across a space (not necessarily broken, just in pieces)
Si = the sphere as it exists: together, whole, solid as one
so: from my experience, Ne/Si users tend to feel each is a different "mode" and usually try to find the middle ground or how to use both at once. they are much more separate and motion-based and less simultaneous, as within analogy if a sphere is split up into multiple pieces it cannot exist as a whole solid sphere at the same time. essentially the Ne tries to find ways it is not the way that is expected of them - hence, though expectantly the sphere (the initially stated analogy), it is determinedly not a sphere within the analogy, while the Si exists as expected. this leads to an intensity since it can take time to take something apart, or put it together, which is why Ne/Si users often become intense in their work while not really meaning to be that intense, because subconsciously when they work their brain and body work together to focus on a single task, which also can lead to their efficiency in other areas getting impaired
(as opposed to the Ni/Se, who fall to these things more intentionally since they are aware of/need to pair the brain & body work, if also exhibit this behavior)

now i'm tempted to find legos and make a video about this lol

scattered sensing thoughts

isfps and esfps can have a closer overlapping/not as predictive outward appearance of how outgoing or withdrawn they are. (e.g. esfps are just as likely to be found as withdrawn people as they are to be outgoing, and vice versa.)
as compared to enfp and infp, who tend to usually lean appearing one way or another (infp = appears more withdrawn at first, enfp = appears more outgoing at first. infps can get soooo loud once they're comfortable with you [or if their Fi has higher priorities than self-preservation, which is possible but not common] though.)
this is because Ne tends to be more... conversational and interactive with other people, and since for an infp it's aux it's slower, while the enfp will more engage since it's dom and faster.
Se is not interactive with other people strictly, but more of a generic outward sense so it does not necessarily have to apply to interacting with others. Se is still environment and action over like conversation and idea, so if they're in a comfortable place or with comfortable people or in an atmosphere that they enjoy, then that's how their Fi will act based on if the Fi itself is more withdrawn or outgoing. for example an isfp can be outgoing because the person themselves tends to feel more comfortable when they engage with others so when they're in that situation, even if a stranger, they can go into it with their Fi-comfort (in reaction to the Se-environment) because that's who they are individually. and an esfp can be withdrawn because since they lead with Se, they can be so in tune with it that they don't feel the need to express it with dialogue via their Fi because their Fi is more comfortable when keeping things close. like they still lead with that dominant and awareness to environment, while dom Fis decide how to act first whether it's outgoing or withdrawn.

also, on the Si:
i think a difference between Si and Se/Ni (which a lot of mistyped Si-doms i think don't realize) is that Si tends to have that... urgency and need to like. fulfill the Si? like it's never just Knowing what to do but also Doing. like from my experience w my own tert Si when i know there's something i need to do i'm positively itching to direct all my energy tasking... there's never that divide i think that Ni/Se has with Knowing and Doing, Si is like itchy and stubborn and impulsive. i mean dom it's more natural and looks more like ppl subconsciously setting up/falling into routines (and aux/inf it's also diff lol) but like. overall. i hate the fufuckgin "memory/past experiences" thing it's literally more simultaneously constructing and following a structure at the same time. like the actual action of both the construction and acting on it simultaneously. i don't want to compare it to Ni/Se bc overall they function waaaaaaaay differently (and overexertion of Ne without Si is literally the least effective function ever i can say that with confidence) but like. if i Had to i would say it would be similar to the combo of Ni/Se working together. but only on what that looks like on the outside. because internally there's usually no delay, determination, or doubt in work (that Ni users tend to possess), it's more of a naturalization of work as it is. i think. and a lot of Si-doms don't realize this because self-awareness, adjustment, and perception of identity is waaaaay different from actual work ethic. imo u can tell a dom/aux Si user from work ethic or how they talk about work/efficient pretty well alone