To find out your personality type: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
INFJ: aka The Protector
INFJ: aka The Protector
INFJ = Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judger
Nickname of INFJ: “The Agent for Change”
INFJs are among the rarest of the sixteen personality types, constituting
only 1-3% of the general population.
Unlike INTJs, in which males predominate,
there is greater gender parity among INFJs, with nearly equal numbers of males
and females.
It is difficult to broadly classify INFJs as either right-brained or
left-brained since they utilize both sides of the brain with equal adeptness.
INFJs are both creative and responsible, artistic and logical, spiritual and
scientific, intuitive and analytic.
As an INFJ,
your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in
primarily via intuition. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with
things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit with your personal
value system.
INFJs are
gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and
creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one
percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare
of all the types.
INFJs place
great importance on havings things orderly and systematic in their outer world.
They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things
done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the
other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is
entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to
pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are
usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, INFJs put a tremendous
amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions. This is something of a
conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not
being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs
of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy
desk.
INFJs have
uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about
things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report
experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there
being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car
accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at,
and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level
which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner
selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it.
They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically
difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be
secretive.
But the
INFJ is as genuinely warm as they are complex. INFJs hold a special place in
the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special
gifts and depth of caring. INFJs are concerned for people's feelings, and try
to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone. They are very sensitive to conflict, and
cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive
the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may
tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems
when under a lot of stress.
Because the
INFJ has such strong intuitive capabilities, they trust their own instincts
above all else. This may result in an INFJ stubborness and tendency to ignore
other people's opinions. They believe that they're right. On the other hand,
INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential.
INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves - there's always something
else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them. They
believe in constant growth, and don't often take time to revel in their
accomplishments. They have strong value systems, and need to live their lives
in accordance with what they feel is right. In deference to the Feeling aspect
of their personalities, INFJs are in some ways gentle and easy going.
Conversely, they have very high expectations of themselves, and frequently of
their families. They don't believe in compromising their ideals.
INFJ is a
natural nurturer; patient, devoted and protective. They make loving parents and
usually have strong bonds with their offspring. They have high expectations of
their children, and push them to be the best that they can be. This can
sometimes manifest itself in the INFJ being hard-nosed and stubborn. But
generally, children of an INFJ get devoted and sincere parental guidance,
combined with deep caring.
In the
workplace, the INFJ usually shows up in areas where they can be creative and
somewhat independent. They have a natural affinity for art, and many excel in
the sciences, where they make use of their intuition. INFJs can also be found
in service-oriented professions. They are not good at dealing with minutia or
very detailed tasks. The INFJ will either avoid such things, or else go to the
other extreme and become enveloped in the details to the extent that they can
no longer see the big picture. An INFJ who has gone the route of becoming
meticulous about details may be highly critical of other individuals who are
not.
The INFJ
individual is gifted in ways that other types are not. Life is not necessarily
easy for the INFJ, but they are capable of great depth of feeling and personal
achievement.