The Struggles of an INFP

Every so often, I fall into a personality test rabbit hole, and other than being a huge time suck, they can actually be a great tool for self-reflection. Despite the debatable aspect of whether or not it is scientifically sound, there’s nothing like answering a bunch of quick, simple questions in succession and then reading a fleshed-out analysis of your entire being that is – more often than not – a very accurate depiction of you.

Of course, the results should be taken with a grain of salt because everyone is so much more than 4 letters. But I think it’s a starting point for people who want to figure themselves out, which I know I always am. A lot of workplaces incorporate the MBTI test to determine the dynamics of their team, and it was brought up during a meeting at my own workplace so it compelled me to write about it here!

As you can see, the MBTI is a widely accepted method of labelling yourself, but its usefulness lies in the fact that it is only an indicator of your tendencies for going about your life. There is no permanence in the results, meaning you can self-improve in areas you are lacking in, and that is why I love this test. You can take it here: https://www.16personalities.com/

I’ve taken this test a few times, and I always ended up with INFP, or “The Mediator”. According to the website, INFPs are idealists who are guided by principles rather than logic. Sounded like me, but at the same time, I was disappointed by the results because the person I’ve always worked on becoming was someone more outgoing, pragmatic, and less daydream-y.

At this point in my life, I think I’m less focused on changing who I am than thinking about it as becoming more well-rounded without feeling the need to uproot my values and my personality. Even if you’re not an INFP, some of these traits may still be relatable, because INFP is essentially just a category and not a box.

1. Overthinking

I have a talent for overthinking things. It doesn’t help me in any way and only creates unnecessary stress. But I can also consider many different levels, possibilities, and viewpoints which is a more useful skill – finding a healthy balance is something that I am trying to achieve by being direct and logical when I need to be.

2. Indecisiveness

Overthinking also goes hand-in-hand with indecisiveness. A very INFP thing to do is to consider all the ‘what-ifs’ and go nuts. I try to accept the fact that I cannot live multiple lives to experience everything that I want to do, although I really wish I could.

3. Aversion to planning and being organized

Going with the flow is kind of our thing, but it really can be inefficient and unreliable. Living in a constant state of chaos or gently cruising through life in zen? To me, this tendency can go both ways but it’s important to recognize when you need to get it together.

4. Impulsiveness

There’s a strange dichotomy with INFPs that allow us to be both extreme procrastinators and doing something when it feels “right”, no matter the situation. I’ve definitely jumped blindly into certain endeavours – surprisingly, I don’t regret any of them. This tells me that I should work more on staying motivated.

5. Idealism

Seeing the good in people and things can make me somewhat unaware of what the situation truly is. While I love this aspect of INFPs, it can also bring a lot of disappointment when reality doesn’t match up to expectations.

Although INFPs commonly have these struggles, basically everyone has probably experienced varying degrees of the ones I listed above. Using my own personality type helps me be more self-aware and that gives me a lot of perspective on maintaining relationships with other people as well as myself.