Are you an INFJ struggling to navigate the world around you?
Do you find it difficult to communicate effectively and feel drained by social interactions?
You’re not alone.
As an INFJ, you possess unique qualities that can make it challenging to fit in with the crowd.
But fear not, there are ways to embrace your individuality and become a better version of yourself.
In this article, we’ll explore tips and tricks to help you thrive as an INFJ, from learning to accept imperfection to building quiet zones in your life.
So sit back, relax, and let’s dive into how to be a better INFJ.
How To Be A Better INFJ
1. Embrace Imperfection
As an INFJ, you may strive for perfection in your communication and interactions with others. However, it’s important to accept that no one is perfect and to grant yourself the same degree of grace that you give to others. Remember that vulnerability and imperfections are what make us human and more likable. Start by opening up to trusted friends and work your way up to your wider social circle.
2. Build Quiet Zones
As an introvert, loud noises and social interactions can be draining for you. It’s essential to build quiet zones in your life to help you regenerate. Whether it’s a cozy café, a museum, or a restaurant, find a tranquil environment that suits you best.
3. Channel Your Empathy
As an empathetic person, you may feel the emotions of others as if they were your own. However, this doesn’t mean you have to stay a wallflower forever. Visualize yourself as a confident and secure person while talking to someone new to filter out some of the worst feelings you might receive from others. Use your empathy to pick up cues from other people and work those insights into the conversation.
4. Protect Your Energy
As an INFJ, you may enjoy being there for the people in your life, but it’s essential to be aware of how much energy you’re giving away. Our energy is not an unlimited resource, and we can get drained pretty easily. Learn to opt-out when you need or want to protect your energy.
5. Nurture Your Gifts
Many INFJs struggle to find their place in the world and feel misunderstood or inadequate for their surroundings. It’s essential to become aware of your gifts and nurture them. Don’t lose confidence only because you are unable to present actual facts. Use the situation to point out discrepancies anyway.
6. Embrace Your Individuality
As an INFJ, standing out with your judgment and the way you see things can be frustrating at times. However, being an INFJ means precisely that- standing out! Embrace your individuality and do what you’ve always wanted to do – make a positive impact on people surrounding you.
Understanding Your INFJ Personality Type
Understanding your INFJ personality type is crucial to unlocking your full potential. INFJs are guided by a set of deeply considered personal values and are intensely idealistic. They have a heightened awareness of human energies and can pick up on the subtlest clues about what’s going on for other people. They are skilled mediators who look for the root sources of conflict to find common ground with others.
To be a better INFJ, it’s important to embrace imperfection and vulnerability. INFJs should grant themselves the same degree of grace that they give to others. Building quiet zones in their lives can help them regenerate as introverts. INFJs should also channel their empathy to pick up cues from other people and work those insights into the conversation.
INFJs should protect their energy and become aware of how much energy they’re giving away. Our energy is not an unlimited resource, and we can get drained pretty easily. It’s essential to opt-out when needed or wanted to protect their energy.
Nurturing their gifts is crucial for INFJs, as many struggle to find their place in the world and feel misunderstood or inadequate for their surroundings. INFJs should become aware of their gifts and nurture them, even if they don’t fit into traditional molds.
Finally, INFJs should embrace their individuality and do what they’ve always wanted to do – make a positive impact on the people surrounding them. Standing out with their judgment and the way they see things is what makes INFJs unique, and embracing that individuality is key to being a better INFJ.
Embracing Your Unique Qualities As An INFJ
As an INFJ, you possess unique qualities that set you apart from others. One of the most defining qualities of an INFJ is their vivid and private imagination. You have a unique ability to see patterns and connections between things and are focused on identifying where those patterns will lead in the future. This gift for anticipating future events can seem “magical” even though it can be explained scientifically.
It’s important to embrace this quality as an INFJ and use it to your advantage. Use your imagination to envision a future scenario or solve complex problems. When you are tasked with such problems, you experience a mental state of flow, which is a sign that you are using your natural gifts to their fullest potential.
Another unique quality of an INFJ is their sensitivity and warmth. You have a highly-developed awareness of other people’s values and needs and tend to arrange your life in order to live harmoniously with the people around you. On some level of consciousness, INFJs feel it is their “mission” to understand all the various shades of how people think. They feel that they can’t make a wise decision until they can “get into the shoes” of other people.
It’s important to embrace this quality as well and use it to your advantage. Use your sensitivity and warmth to connect with others on a deeper level and understand their perspectives. This will allow you to make better decisions and build stronger relationships.
Finally, as an INFJ, you have a strong desire to make the world a better place. You can’t just punch in and punch out; in order to be happy, you must be working to help others and ultimately make the world a better place. And the world needs what INFJs have to give. There is perhaps no other type better suited to create a movement to right a wrong.
Embrace this quality as well and use it to your advantage. Find ways to make a positive impact on the world around you, whether it’s through volunteering, activism, or simply being kind to those around you. Your unique qualities as an INFJ make you perfectly suited for this task, so embrace them and use them to make a difference in the world.
Learning To Accept Imperfection
As an INFJ, you may tend to be a perfectionist in your work and communication with others. However, striving for perfection can often lead to self-doubt and anxiety. It’s important to learn to accept imperfection and grant yourself the same level of grace that you give to others.
One way to embrace imperfection is by recognizing that no one is perfect, and that’s okay. Instead of focusing on your mistakes or flaws, try to focus on your strengths and accomplishments. You can take inventory of your strengths by writing them down on a piece of paper or using an assessment tool like StrengthsFinder 2.0. Hang this list somewhere you’ll see it often to remind yourself of your strengths.
Another way to accept imperfection is by talking it over with someone you trust who has good judgment but is less of a perfectionist. Even if you know you need to let go of something, hearing it from someone else can make it easier for you to give yourself permission to let go.
It’s also important to recognize that perfectionism can be crippling in some areas, like learning a new language, where mistakes are essential for growth. Instead of focusing on imperfections, try to focus on progress and improvement. The more you practice, the better you become.
Finally, remember that vulnerability and imperfections are what make us human and more likable. Don’t be afraid to open up and show your true self to others. Embrace imperfection as a part of who you are, and focus on being the best version of yourself rather than striving for perfection.
Building Quiet Zones In Your Life
As an INFJ, you have a highly active inner world, and you need considerable quiet time to yourself to think and focus. Interruptions, noise, and excessive sensory stimulation can push you to the edge of your comfort zone. Therefore, it’s essential to build quiet zones in your life to help you regenerate.
A quiet zone can be any environment that suits you best, where you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It could be a cozy café, a library, or even your own bedroom. The key is to find a tranquil environment that allows you to recharge your batteries.
When building your quiet zone, it’s crucial to consider the sensory stimulation around you. As an INFJ, you have inferior Extraverted Sensing (Se), which makes you extremely sensitive to sensory stimulation such as noise, bright lights, and excessive movement. Therefore, it’s important to choose an environment that minimizes these factors.
You can also create a quiet zone by establishing boundaries with the people in your life. Let them know that you need some alone time and that they should not disturb you during that time. This could mean turning off your phone or disconnecting from social media for a while.
Building quiet zones in your life is not only beneficial for your well-being but also for your creativity and productivity. By taking breaks and giving yourself time for introspection, you can come up with new ideas and solutions to problems that you may have been struggling with. So take the time to build your quiet zones and enjoy the benefits they bring.
Effective Communication Strategies For INFJs
As an INFJ, effective communication is essential to building healthy relationships and making a positive impact on the world. Here are some strategies to help you communicate more effectively:
1. Listen actively: Since INFJs tend to be great at seeing patterns and predicting outcomes, it’s easy to fall into the trap of assuming you know what someone will say and not really listening. However, active listening is crucial to understanding each person’s point of view and resolving conflicts. Try to listen without interrupting and ask clarifying questions to ensure that you understand what the other person is saying.
2. Be clear and concise: INFJs tend to process information deeply and may struggle with communicating their thoughts clearly and concisely. To improve your communication skills, practice expressing your thoughts in a straightforward manner. Try breaking down complex ideas into smaller, more manageable pieces, and use concrete examples to illustrate your points.
3. Use positive language: As much as INFJs are motivated by affirmation and encouragement, they are averse to critical or judging words, even if they’re spoken with good intentions. When engaging in debates or discussions, frame your words positively. Use the sandwich principle in your delivery by stating points of agreement first before the points of disagreement.
4. Practice assertiveness: INFJs tend to be empathetic and accommodating, which can sometimes lead to being taken advantage of or not having their needs met. Learning to be assertive can help you communicate your needs effectively while still being respectful of others. Practice using “I” statements to express your feelings and needs, and be clear about what you want.
5. Write it out: Writing gives INFJs time to process and organize their thoughts – two things they need to communicate well. To become a better talker, try leaning into your writing gifts. Type out or journal your thoughts, feelings, or what you’re learning on a regular basis. Commit to doing so once or a few nights per week. You’ll start to get better at figuring out what you want to say and how you want to say it.
By embracing imperfection, building quiet zones, channeling empathy, protecting your energy, nurturing your gifts, embracing your individuality, actively listening, being clear and concise, using positive language, practicing assertiveness, and writing things out, you can become a more effective communicator as an INFJ.
Navigating Social Interactions As An INFJ
Navigating social interactions as an INFJ can be challenging. INFJs tend to be introverted and only willing to share their “true selves” with a select few. However, there are ways to navigate social interactions as an INFJ and make them more comfortable.
First, it’s essential to be aware of your energy levels. INFJs can get drained pretty easily, so it’s important to take breaks and recharge when needed. Don’t feel guilty about taking some alone time to protect your energy.
Secondly, channel your empathy to pick up cues from other people and work those insights into the conversation. This can help you connect with others on a deeper level and make social interactions more comfortable.
Thirdly, don’t be afraid to express yourself through your feelings. INFJs tend to internalize their emotions, but expressing them with confidence, assertiveness, and kindness can lead to positive outcomes.
Fourthly, build quiet zones in your life to help you regenerate. Whether it’s a cozy café or a museum, find a tranquil environment that suits you best.
Lastly, embrace your individuality and do what you’ve always wanted to do – make a positive impact on people surrounding you. Don’t be afraid to stand out with your unique perspective and judgment.
In conclusion, navigating social interactions as an INFJ can be challenging, but by being aware of your energy levels, channeling your empathy, expressing yourself through your feelings, building quiet zones in your life, and embracing your individuality, you can make social interactions more comfortable and enjoyable.
