ＩＮＦＰ： Romantic Hermit

 

INFPs are a personality type with high ideals and a pure heart.

That is why many of them find living in the real world difficult.

Here I would like to focus on overcoming such problems for INFPs.

 

 

 

Little presence, but passionate

 

INFP, interpreted according to Jungian theory, probably refers to the following psychological types.

 

Below is a figure that illustrates the above.

In this type, the sensation is the inferior function.

Incidentally, Jungian theory explains that the other three functions are introverted when the superior function is extroverted.

And conversely, when the superior function is introverted, the other three are extroverted.

(In the MBTI, only the interpretation of introversion follows this rule.)

 

However, the MBTI interprets it differently from the above Jungian theory, shown in the table below.

INFP in MBTI
Dominant	Introverted Feeling
Auxiliary	Extroverted Intuition
Tertiary	Extroverted Sensing
Inferior	Extroverted Thinking

 

I describe personality types on this site with four letters, “just like the MBTI.

However, I follow Jungian theory as much as possible when explaining personality theories.

This is because those who have studied the MBTI can broaden (or change?) their thinking by learning the original and correct Jungian theory.

 

 

 

INFPs are usually idealistic because of their well-developed intuition.

Therefore, they tend to have ideals and longings for various things.

 

 

 

However, since they are naturally introverts, they don’t honestly show their innermost feelings to others.

Therefore, they are the type who hold various dreams and ideals but keep them all in their minds.

 

They also have relatively strong feeling functions and tend to keep various　feelings in themselves.

In other words, their hearts are filled with ideals and emotions.

 

 

 

If you want to understand this type, it is the best way to think of a person in one-sided or unrequited love, for example.

 

When you fall in love with someone, the other person you see from your point of view becomes more and more “idealized.”

For example, an ordinary woman may seem like a goddess; a common person may seem like a prince, and so on.

 

However, you can never convey what’s in your heart.

The INFP type may resemble the psychological situation of such “unrequited love.”

 

 

Some INFPs are usually quiet and have little or no presence.

But as I mentioned earlier, their hearts are filled with many emotions.

So once you open the lid of their hearts, they can be more romantic than anyone else or more radical thinkers than anyone else.

 

This gap between the outside and the inside is one of the characteristics of the INFP’s personality.

 

 

 

 

Gap Between Ideal and Reality

 

INFPs are generally tolerant and seldom condemn others.

They also show some understanding of opinions and ideas that differ from their own.

 

However, they have very high standards for themselves and tend to believe they are immature and have yet to reach their ideals.

 

This is probably due to the perfectionism that is common among idealists.

Therefore, they always try to achieve the perfect ideal, but it is hard to reach.

And they think the reason for this is their lack of effort.

 

This may be a typical example of someone suffering from the gap between the ideal and reality.

 

 

Thus INFPs often go through life with the feeling that “life is hard.”

But they need to realize that the “hard life” they feel is an illusion in their minds.

 

That illusion can be erased at any time by their own will.

Then life will be a lot easier.

 

So what should they do to achieve this?

 

INFPs have stronger intuition than sensation.

In these cases, it isn’t easy to fully activate the sensation.

 

But instead, they can develop auxiliary functions (in Jungian theory).

In the case of INFPs, these auxiliary functions are feeling and thinking.

(However, this interpretation is different from MBTI theory.)

 

In INFPs, thinking is weaker than feeling but can still be somewhat developed.

They can organize their minds logically if they develop this thinking a little more.

 

 

Another problem is a lack of a sense of reality.

To avoid being tormented by illusions in the brain, it is crucial to get into the habit of seeing things realistically.

The key to this is sensation, but as mentioned above, it is tough for INFPs to develop a sensation.

 

However, it is necessary to be aware that sensation is a weakness.

This is because only with this awareness will the sensation begin to work better.

 

 

The following article explains how INFPs can awaken sensation and recover their sense of reality.

 

 

Not Good at Saying “No”

 

INFPs are basically “intuition people,” but at the same time, they are a type with well-developed feelings.

 

However, it is important to know the difference between this type and the extroverted feeling type.

Extroverted feeling types express their feelings of joy, sadness, and anger.

And they actively seek to share their feelings with those around them.

 

INFPs, on the other hand, tend to keep their emotions inside themselves.

 

 

They also tend to accept other people’s emotions rather than letting them out.

In other words, they are passive empathizers.

 

This is best seen in the way INFPs behave in the workplace.

 

INFPs don’t voluntarily take the initiative to do anything.

In that sense, they are really like employees with little presence.

 

But suppose someone asks an INFP for a favor.

Then, the INFP thinks,

“Finally, they noticed my presence.

And they will work hard.

 

 

Eventually, the colleagues realize that the INFP is “unexpectedly” competent.

Moreover, they notice that the INFP is kind enough not to refuse a favor when asked.

And so they ask the INFP for favors, one after another.

 

Actually, INFPs cannot refuse a request, no matter how busy they are.

This is because they can “sympathize” with the feelings of others in need, and they feel that it would be bad for them if they refuse.

But eventually, they reach a mental limit, and one day they finally snap.

 

 

In truth, they should have consulted someone or explained their situation to others before it happened.

But they cannot do so because they are introverts.

So, they continue to endure until they reach their limits.

 

Have you ever seen a quiet person at work suddenly snap and leave the workplace?

This is a similar situation.

 

And those left behind will be surprised as follows:

“What happened to that person?”

 

 

INFPs can learn how to communicate their thoughts logically and clearly in the following article.

 

 

Learn How to Make Money!

 

The biggest worry for INFPs is choosing a job.

Many people on the Internet give irresponsible advice to INFPs, such as “you should become an artist” or “you have the potential to be a fortune teller.”

It is impossible to live a financially comfortable life in such a profession.

 

 

For INFPs, finding a job where they can easily make money is more important than getting a job that fits them.

Please refer to the following article for ideas on how to achieve that.

 

 

Summary of INFP type

 

If INFPs want to change their lives, they first must understand themselves objectively.

 

Let me conclude with a summary of the INFP personality.