Are you an INFP who struggles with sticking to one goal or finding it hard to make decisions?
Do you often find yourself lost in your own thoughts and fantasies?
If so, you’re not alone. As an INFP, your dominant function is Introverted Feeling (Fi), which can make it challenging to balance your inner values with the outside world.
However, with some effort and self-reflection, you can develop your other functions and achieve personal growth.
In this article, we’ll explore some practical tips on how to improve as an INFP and live a more fulfilling life.
So, let’s dive in!
How To Improve As An INFP
1. Develop your Ne function: As an INFP, you have a natural ability to generate many ideas and see possibilities where others cannot. However, this can also become overwhelming and make it hard for you to stick to any one goal. To overcome this, try to focus on feasible goals that are of the highest priority. Then, come up with short-term strategies to achieve them. Celebrate your small wins along the way to boost your motivation and confidence.
2. Gain real-world experience: Your Ne function can be extremely beneficial if it’s not being used to avoid the problem. Use it to explore new skills, hobbies, and volunteer opportunities that can help you discover your strengths and interests. This will also help you learn what is realistically possible for you and narrow down your options.
3. Think long-term: While it’s important to focus on short-term goals, it’s equally important to think about your long-term future. Ask yourself if you’re comfortable where you are now and if this is the reality you want to carry on living in permanently. Do research on the ideas running through your head and determine which ones are actually plausible and fulfill your required criteria.
4. Come up with objective criteria: Use your Te function to judge your options against objective criteria. Determine which of your options are actually plausible and fulfill your required criteria. Your goal is to form a goal, so don’t be afraid to ask someone for advice who both knows you well and is reasonably successful in the real world.
5. Be more decisive: INFPs often struggle with making decisions due to their Fi function. To overcome this, try listing options and including a formal cost-benefit analysis when making important decisions. This will help you weigh the pros and cons of each option objectively.
6. Enjoy the present: INFPs tend to focus on the future and forget about the present moment. Try to enjoy the present more by practicing mindfulness or engaging in activities that bring you joy.
Understanding Your INFP Personality Type
As an INFP, it’s important to understand your personality type fully to help you improve and grow. INFPs are known for being dreamers, idealists, and poets. They have a profound imagination and an exploratory approach to life, yearning to understand the human experience and live up to their deeply held values. However, they can struggle with finding motivation and achieving their goals.
To tap into your potential as an INFP, it’s important to understand how to use your cognitive functions fully. The four cognitive functions that make up the INFP personality type are Fi (introverted feeling), Ne (extraverted intuition), Si (introverted sensing), and Te (extraverted thinking).
INFPs tend to rely heavily on their Fi function, which can make them sensitive to criticism and lead them to discard information that doesn’t fit with their core beliefs. To overcome this, they should adopt an open perspective and try to view the world more realistically. They should also strive to be objective in evaluating incoming information and use it as a way to understand others and the world better.
INFPs also have a natural ability to generate many ideas and see possibilities where others cannot due to their Ne function. However, this can also become overwhelming and make it hard for them to stick to any one goal. To overcome this, they should focus on feasible goals of the highest priority and come up with short-term strategies to achieve them.
INFPs tend to struggle with making decisions due to their Fi function. To overcome this, they should list options and include a formal cost-benefit analysis when making important decisions. This will help them weigh the pros and cons of each option objectively.
Developing Your Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
As an INFP, developing your Extraverted Intuition (Ne) can be a game-changer for your personal development. Ne is all about seeing possibilities, making connections, and seeking to understand the external world in a symbolic, abstract way. By complementing your sophisticated, internal value system with a well-rounded intuitive way of perceiving the world, you can become a powerful force for social change.
To develop your Ne function, you need to start by taking in information for the sake of understanding the external world, rather than just to support your own values. This means learning to perceive information objectively and not immediately fitting it into your value system. It enables you to see things from different perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of other people and the world.
Here are some practical tips to help you develop your Ne function:
1. Think of how different people would behave in the same situation. Try to understand how they would see the situation differently. Try to understand their perspective without passing judgement or comparing it to your own.
2. Ask questions! Try to understand where other people are coming from. Talking to people of different cultures and backgrounds can offer different perspectives that fuel your Ne!
3. Remember that everyone is living in their own world. Tell yourself that every person has their own life going on, and try to imagine what is going on in their world. Try not to pass judgement or compare their situation to yours.
4. Brainstorm. Whether that be ideas for a future career or where to travel next, explore different options and open yourself up to different possibilities.
5. Find a creative outlet. Ne is often a powerful force when channeled into a creative outlet, whether that be writing, visual art, or film making etc. Give yourself time to create!
Setting Goals And Making Decisions
Setting goals and making decisions can be a challenge for INFPs due to their tendency to overestimate their abilities and get lost in their imagination. To overcome this, it’s important to take a realistic approach and evaluate past experiences to determine what is feasible and what isn’t.
Firstly, it’s important to develop your Ne function, which allows you to generate many ideas and see possibilities. However, it can also lead to overwhelm and difficulty sticking to one goal. To overcome this, focus on feasible goals that are of the highest priority, and come up with short-term strategies to achieve them.
Secondly, gaining real-world experience is crucial in determining what is realistically possible for you and narrowing down your options. Use your Ne function to explore new skills, hobbies, and volunteer opportunities that can help you discover your strengths and interests.
Thirdly, while short-term goals are important, it’s equally important to think about your long-term future. Ask yourself if you’re comfortable where you are now and if this is the reality you want to carry on living in permanently. Do research on the ideas running through your head and determine which ones are actually plausible and fulfill your required criteria.
Fourthly, come up with objective criteria using your Te function to judge your options against. Determine which of your options are actually plausible and fulfill your required criteria. Your goal is to form a goal, so don’t be afraid to ask someone for advice who both knows you well and is reasonably successful in the real world.
Fifthly, INFPs often struggle with making decisions due to their Fi function. To overcome this, try listing options and including a formal cost-benefit analysis when making important decisions. This will help you weigh the pros and cons of each option objectively.
Lastly, it’s important to enjoy the present moment while working towards your goals. INFPs tend to focus on the future and forget about the present moment. Try practicing mindfulness or engaging in activities that bring you joy to balance out your future-oriented mindset.
By taking a realistic approach and evaluating past experiences, INFPs can set achievable goals and make informed decisions that lead them towards a fulfilling future.
Balancing Your Inner World With The Outside World
As an INFP, you have a rich inner world, but it’s important to balance this with the outside world. This means engaging with others and the environment around you. Here are some tips to help you balance your inner world with the outside world:
1. Practice socializing: As an introvert, socializing may not come naturally to you, but it’s important to practice engaging with others. This can be as simple as striking up a conversation with a stranger or attending social events with friends.
2. Try new things: Stepping out of your comfort zone can be scary, but it’s a great way to learn about yourself and the world around you. Try new hobbies, attend new events, and explore new places.
3. Set goals: Setting goals can help you stay focused on what you want to achieve in the outside world. Make sure your goals align with your values and interests.
4. Get involved in causes you care about: As an INFP, you likely have a strong sense of ethics and a desire to make the world a better place. Getting involved in causes you care about can help you make a positive impact on the world.
5. Take care of yourself: It’s important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally. This means getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising regularly, and practicing self-care activities like meditation or yoga.
By balancing your inner world with the outside world, you can become a more well-rounded and fulfilled individual. Remember that it’s okay to take things slow and make small steps towards achieving balance in your life.
Building Meaningful Relationships
As an INFP, building meaningful relationships is a top priority. You value deep connections and emotional intimacy, and seek partners who share your values and passions. Here are some tips to help you build meaningful relationships:
1. Be open and honest: INFPs tend to be empathetic and understanding, but can also be reserved and private. To build meaningful relationships, it’s important to open up and share your thoughts, feelings, and desires with your partner. This will help them understand you better and strengthen your emotional connection.
2. Listen actively: INFPs are great listeners, but it’s important to actively listen and engage with your partner. Ask questions, show interest in their life, and validate their feelings. This will help them feel heard and understood, which is essential for building a meaningful relationship.
3. Communicate effectively: INFPs can struggle with conflict and confrontation, but effective communication is key to building a healthy relationship. Practice assertive communication by expressing your needs and boundaries in a respectful way. This will help you avoid misunderstandings and build trust with your partner.
4. Be patient: INFPs tend to take their time when it comes to relationships, as they value emotional intimacy over physical attraction. Don’t rush into anything or put pressure on yourself to find the perfect partner. Be patient, take your time getting to know someone, and trust your intuition.
5. Embrace vulnerability: INFPs can be sensitive and vulnerable, but this can also be a strength in building meaningful relationships. Embrace vulnerability by sharing your fears, insecurities, and weaknesses with your partner. This will help you build trust and deepen your emotional connection.
By following these tips, you can build meaningful relationships that fulfill your emotional needs and bring you happiness and fulfillment. Remember to be true to yourself, communicate effectively, and embrace vulnerability in order to create deep connections with those around you.
Embracing Your Creativity And Imagination
As an INFP, you have a natural inclination towards creativity and imagination. However, it’s important to learn to embrace and utilize these traits effectively. One way to do this is to let yourself walk away from a project or idea when you feel stuck or uninspired. Taking a break can help rekindle your curiosity and creativity.
Another way to embrace your creativity is to try new hobbies or revisit old ones. Don’t be afraid to cycle through different interests and mediums. This can help prevent restlessness and keep you advancing your skills.
To nurture your imagination, it’s important to have a positive self-image. This means accepting yourself honestly and nipping negative thoughts in the bud. One technique is to use the power of imagination by visualizing yourself as the self-assured person you aspire to become. This can help purify your self-image and give you additional internal resources to cope more effectively.
INFP therapy and coaching can also help you embrace your attributes and realize your potential. As one of the most sensitive personality types, INFPs benefit from being cared for without being intruded upon and feeling listened to and warmly accepted.
In Phase II of development, INFPs may experience heightened polarity and conflict between their dominant Fi and their inferior function, Extraverted Thinking (Te). It’s important to reconcile these opposing forces within yourself by exploring the world through your feelings and imagination (Ne) while also heeding the prompting of tertiary Si and inferior Te to “be responsible” and follow a more traditional path.
Overall, embracing your creativity and imagination as an INFP involves taking breaks when needed, trying new hobbies, visualizing a positive self-image, seeking therapy or coaching, and reconciling opposing forces within yourself.
