Why The World Needs Extraverted Sensing

Listen To The Podcast Episode: Why The World Needs Extraverted Sensing

If you’ve spent any time on YouTube lately—or if you have kids, maybe you’ve noticed this even more—you’ll see people watching other people do things. Videos of skateboarders flying down mountain passes in the French Alps. Survivalists digging intricate shelters in the jungle. Makeup artists transforming their faces into works of art. Gamers live-streaming their play.

We’re fascinated by these experiences. But often, instead of engaging in life directly, we settle for watching it from a distance.

This is what Joel and I call our “voyeur culture.” Not necessarily in the literal sense, but in the way we consume experiences secondhand rather than living them ourselves. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with this (who doesn’t love a good binge-watch now and then?), if it becomes our only way of experiencing life, we risk losing something essential: the immediacy, vitality, and joy of direct engagement.

That’s where Extraverted Sensing (what we call “Sensation”) comes in.

What Is Extraverted Sensing (Sensation)?

In the Myers-Briggs® system, Extraverted Sensing is a cognitive function—one of the eight ways our minds take in and process the world. At Personality Hacker, we use nicknames to make the functions easier to understand. So “Sensation” = Se.

This is the Driver (dominant) process for ESFPs and ESTPs, and the Copilot (auxiliary) process for ISFPs and ISTPs. These types are often called the “SPs,” and they bring an extraordinary gift to the world: the ability to be fully present in the moment, grounded in their physical body, and responsive to what’s happening right now.

As Antonia Dodge often says:

“Sensation can’t passively experience life. It must be in the middle of it—kinetic, present, and responsive.”

Lessons from Extraverted Sensing

1. Life Happens in the Now

Extraverted Sensing reminds us that sometimes the answer is simple: what’s happening right here, right now.

Intuitives (like myself) tend to abstract, analyze, and complicate. We want to understand the meaning behind everything. But Se asks:

• What’s actually happening in this moment?
  

• What do your senses tell you?
  

• Can you stop spinning stories long enough to simply experience?
  

Sometimes joy is found in the immediacy of watching fireflies with your child, or sharing a laugh with a friend, without needing to turn it into a lesson or a plan.

2. Get Into Your Body

This function is deeply connected to the physical. People who use it well are often in tune with their bodies—whether that’s knowing when they need rest, pushing themselves athletically, or creating with their hands.

My brother-in-law (an ESFP and bodybuilder) has been a huge inspiration for me. Just being around him has challenged me to take better care of my health. His discipline with workouts and nutrition has reminded me that my body isn’t just a vehicle for my brain—it’s the foundation of my entire life experience.

Sensation users model what it looks like to prioritize physical well-being. That’s something our modern, screen-saturated culture desperately needs.

3. Be Ready for Anything

Dario Nardi, a researcher in personality neuroscience, has shown that when people use Se, their brains exhibit what he calls the “tennis hop.” Like a tennis player bouncing lightly on their feet, ready to spring in any direction, the Sensing mind is constantly poised to respond.

This readiness makes SPs excellent in high-pressure, real-time environments: first responders, athletes, performers. But beyond professions, it’s a mindset worth cultivating.

Instead of assuming life will always be predictable, Extraverted Sensing reminds us to stay alert, adaptable, and prepared for opportunity—or challenge—when it comes.

4. Don’t Just Watch—Do

One of the most important lessons Se offers is the call to action. It’s easy to slip into passivity—streaming entire seasons, scrolling social feeds, watching other people live.

But this function pulls us back into engagement. It asks us to play, to risk, to move, to live.

As Joel Mark Witt puts it:

“Sensation reminds us that we cannot be voyeurs for life. Not if we want to be a sustainable species.”

The Balance: Extraverted Sensing and Perspectives

Every function has a polarity opposite. For Se, that opposite is Perspectives (Introverted Intuition, Ni).

When balanced, Sensing brings the immediacy of action and presence, while Perspectives provides foresight and meaning. Together, they remind us that:

• Every action creates ripples of meaning.
  

• The present moment matters, but so does the future it shapes.
  

An Se user who integrates Perspectives asks: What meaning am I creating as I act? How will this land with others? That combination of grounded presence and mindful consequence is a powerful gift to the world.

Why the World Needs Extraverted Sensing Now

We live in a time of paradox:

• Our systems make life easier than ever—food delivered at the tap of an app, endless entertainment at our fingertips.
  

• Yet, we’re more passive, sedentary, and disconnected from our bodies than ever.
  

Extraverted Sensing reminds us of what we’re in danger of losing:

• Vitality. The aliveness of direct experience.
  

• Simplicity. Not everything has to be complicated. Sometimes the answer is obvious.
  

• Engagement. Action beats over-analysis.
  

• Play. Fun, joy, and physical presence are not luxuries—they’re essential.
  

Bringing It Home

You don’t have to be an SP type to learn from Extraverted Sensing. We all have access to this function in our personality, even if it’s not a natural strength. The invitation is simple:

• Go outside and engage with the physical world.
  

• Move your body. Notice how it feels.
  

• Pay attention to the sights, sounds, smells, textures around you.
  

• Instead of just watching, participate.
  

And most importantly: when life feels overcomplicated, remember Se’s message—sometimes the best prescription is just to do it anyway.

Your Turn

What’s your relationship with Extraverted Sensing (Sensation)?

• Is it your strength, or a stretch point for you?
  

• Have you learned from SP friends or family about what it means to be present?
  

• Where do you see the need for more Se in our world today?
  

I’d love to hear your story. Share it in the comments below—your experience may be exactly the inspiration someone else needs.

And if you’re ready to go deeper into your own growth journey, this is the perfect time to take action. Your Personality Owners Manual is designed to help you understand your unique type, unlock your strengths, and chart an actionable path toward the life you want to live. Don’t just read about growth—step into it.

Get your Personality Owners Manual now and start applying these insights to your own personal development today.

Summary Takeaways

• Extraverted Sensing (Se) is about presence, action, and engagement in the real world.
  

• It teaches us to simplify, to honor our bodies, to prepare for the unexpected, and to play.
  

• Balanced with Perspectives (Introverted Intuition, Ni), Se’s actions gain depth and meaning.
  

• The world needs Extraverted Sensing now more than ever—to counteract passivity, overcomplication, and disembodiment.

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