INFJ

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.

Maya Angelou

Overview of “the Counselor”

INFJs are Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, and Judging.

  • Introverted because they are energized by time spent alone and connect most with their inner world.
  • Intuitive because they explore a world of creative ideas and search for information about abstract concepts and new theories.
  • Feeling because they prioritize personal values and emotions when making decisions.
  • Judging because they prefer to have things organized and like control in their outer environment.

INFJs are intense, private idealists. They are incredibly empathetic individuals who like to view life through rose-tinted glasses. Their ability to “read people” and perceive what they’re feeling makes them particularly talented at connecting authentically. Their warmth and depth is seen best within their closest relationships since it takes time for them to truly be vulnerable.

INFJs hold tightly to their core beliefs and will stick to their convictions with passion and sincerity. This deep, genuine nature often draws them to humanitarian causes where they can care for others and put the general good above themselves. Given this selflessness, it’s not uncommon for INFJs to forget about their physical needs and need reminders to engage in basic self care. They are kind, loyal, agreeable, empathetic, and often perfectionist in their pursuits.

Cognitive Functions

In the Myers-Briggs personality system there are eight cognitive functions. Your unique personality is a road map pointing to the four cognitive functions that you access consciously. Every personality will have two extroverted functions and two introverted functions. Every personality will also have one feeling function, one thinking function, one intuitive function, and one sensing function. For more help and practice identifying cognitive functions for the sixteen Myers-Briggs personality types check out this worksheet. All eight functions are as follows:

  • Extroverted Intuition
  • Introverted Intuition
  • Extroverted Sensing
  • Introverted Sensing
  • Extroverted Feeling
  • Introverted Feeling
  • Extroverted Thinking
  • Introverted Thinking

Ni (Introverted Intuition) – Dominant

An INFJ’s dominant cognitive function is Introverted Intuition, abbreviated as Ni. Dominant cognitive functions are used approximately 80% of the time by an individual and are hardly noticed by the user. This function will feel like second nature and “drives” an INFJ.

10 Signs You’re Ni-dominant

  1. You are driven by inspiration
  2. You love abstract things
  3. Spend time day-dreaming
  4. Love hidden meanings and metaphors
  5. Strategizing is fun
  6. Always asking “why”
  7. You have many insights and hunches
  8. Living in a world of ideas
  9. May have trouble focusing
  10. You try to “zoom out” and see the big picture

Positives of Being Ni-dominant

  • Grasping very abstract concepts
  • Looking at the big picture
  • Connecting the dots and strategizing
  • Having a surreal ability to think outside conscious awareness

Struggles of Being Ni-dominant

  • Being mentally elsewhere
  • Passing over important details
  • Not being able to explain your perceptions
  • Avoiding the present and living for the future

A note to the INFJs reading…

Ever wonder why you have an uncanny ability to almost predict the future? That’s Ni. Have you ever questioned why you have impressions that seem to come from nowhere? That’s Ni. Have you ever noticed your natural ability to pick up on metaphors and use them naturally in thought and speech? That’s Ni.

Introverted Intuition is the reason why you can accurately read between the lines. It helps you see “behind the curtain” of what’s real and come to certain epiphanies about people, yourself, and the world around you. Introverted Intuition gathers information and spots patterns on an subconscious level. It can be your secret weapon and your Achilles heel if it isn’t properly balanced with the other cognitive functions.

Fe (Extroverted Feeling) – Auxiliary

An INFJ’s secondary function is Extroverted Feeling/Fe. If someone is an extrovert, their dominant function will be extroverted and their auxiliary function will always be introverted. Balance is necessary — especially in the brain! Fe helps bring new information and impressions to Ni.

10 Signs You’re Fe-auxiliary

  1. You naturally keep the peace
  2. You like to “talk out” your decisions
  3. Naturally expressive and sincere
  4. You live your life based on your values
  5. You are a master-sympathizer
  6. Strong response to feedback (good or bad)
  7. Outwardly caring
  8. Susceptible to guilt
  9. Caught up in the emotional state of environment
  10. Very sacrificial (almost to a fault)

Fe takes a backseat to Ni. Because Ni is the driver, Fe goes out into the world to gain more information when Ni feels ready to receive it. This is why INFJs need such personal connection after long periods of alone time. Ni is processing information and Fe wants to gather more experiences from one-on-one human interaction.

INFJs are very introverted personalities and will identify themselves as such. With many types there is moderate confusion concerning introversion and extroversion (depending on how much the user accesses their auxiliary function), with true INFJs there’s no doubt they need space alone to recharge. INFJs want to truly discover who you are as a person and determine what makes you tick. Because of this, they don’t open up to just anybody for fear of rejection and come off as shy, reserved, and private.

Ti (Introverted Thinking) – Tertiary

An INFJ’s tertiary cognitive function is Introverted Thinking/Ti. This position as third in the “cognitive stack” often means that NiFe is running the show the vast majority of the time. Because of this, Ti is a bit underdeveloped and usually starts to show up in an INFJ’s mid-20s. Tertiary functions usually have the maturity level of a ten-year-old child — they can serve as a strength or a weakness depending on how the user responds to it.

Tertiary Ti is why INFJs are more comfortable explaining things through their passions and ideals rather than through logical data. This function is part of what makes strategizing so fun and its why they like to analyze and categorize things. Ti makes an INFJ enjoy brain games and strategy board games as a way to unwind. This function helps them piece together their abstract ideas in a concrete way and makes for more well-rounded opinions and arguments.

Se (Extroverted Sensing) – Inferior

An INFJ’s inferior cognitive function is Extroverted Sensing/Se. This function is typically concerned with present surroundings, immediate action, and the physical environment. Inferior functions usually develop in midlife. Because of this late-blooming, there will be many times Se pops up in uncomfortable, weak, and even self-destructive ways.

Healthy Se-inferior looks like

  • Coordination and athleticism
  • Awareness of physical environment
  • Being fully present in the moment
  • Responding to the body’s needs in terms of food, temperature, sleep, etc.

Unhealthy Se-inferior looks like

  • General clumsiness
  • Unwillingness to engage in exercise or sports
  • Getting lost in thought and blocking out the moment
  • Ignoring the body’s physical needs in terms of food, temperature, sleep, etc.