10 Things That Excite the INFJ Personality Type
If you’re an INFJ personality type, chances are you’ve had a few “fish out of water” moments. In a world predominantly made up of other types, sometimes your interests and joys can fall flat for other people (or their interests can fall flat for you!) Here are a few things that INFJs find extremely stimulating and energizing.
What is an INFJ Personality?
An INFJ is one of the 16 personality types in the Myers-Briggs® system. Their four-letter type code, INFJ, explains how they derive energy (from introversion), how they perceive the world (through intuition), how they make decisions (by looking at feeling components first), and how they interact with the world around them (through judgment, meaning that they prefer things planned out in advance and stick to a routine). To discover more of the basics of the INFJ type, you can check out What it Means to be an INFJ personality type.
10 Things That Get INFJs Excited
#1 – Complexity
Ever wonder why you see so many INFJs in online type communities? That’s because these types FEED off of complexity – especially psychological complexity. INFJs are the most frequent visitors to Myers-Briggs® websites because they love digging into the theory of personality (as well as many other theories) as deeply as possible. The more unknowns they find, the more excited they get. If a concept is too one-dimensional they are usually disappointed.
#2 – Vision
Neuroscience expert Dario Nardi has found that Ni-dominant personality types (INFJs and INTJs) enter a “flow” like state when they envision or imagine how things will play out in the future. In fact, INFJs and INTJs naturally use their mental energy to imagine distant future possibilities and conclusions. They get a thrill from tinkering with ideas of what might happen in 20, 50, or 100 years. It’s a plus if they can do all of this in a quiet, peaceful environment without extraneous distractions.
#3 – Psychology
INFJs are extremely idealistic, empathetic personalities. They yearn to understand human nature and the essence of who everyone is. They enjoy understanding the complex reasons why people think, process, and behave the way that they do. This is likely why INFJs are over-represented among counselors and psychotherapists* (MBTI®Manual – 3rd Edition).
#4 – Intellectual Conversation
INFJs enjoy deep conversations with intellectually curious individuals. They enjoy talking about philosophy, psychology, religion, and a lot of the “taboo” subjects that many other people avoid. They enjoy asking questions, looking for answers and understanding how other people see the world.
#5 – Being Alone in Nature
INFJs find themselves refreshed and inspired by being alone in nature. The peace and quiet of the mountains, the lakes, and the forests all calm their busy minds and help them to focus and meditate on all that is possible and true and beautiful in the world.
#6 – Silence
While INFJs enjoy companionship and music, they also find themselves mentally enlivened by moments of silence. In fact, moments of complete sensory deprivation can cause their intuition to work with extra clarity and power. Many times INFJs get their clearest, deepest “aha moments” in periods of stillness, darkness, and complete solitude.
#7 – Adventure
Reading about INFJs you might expect them to stay holed up in a dark corner all the time. However, it’s important for INFJs to take occasional breaks for adventure. Their inferior function, Extraverted Sensing (Se) is all about experiencing the external world in high-definition. When INFJs don’t “appease” Se they can become poorly-developed and out-of-balance. Taking occasional breaks to do something thrilling and interactive can inspire them and give them a burst of energy. This can be anything from deep-sea diving to trying a new food or traveling to a new part of the world.
#8 – Reading
When it comes to INFJ hobbies, most of these types are major book-lovers. In fact, in a study I conducted comparing type and reading, INFJs came in 2nd place, averaging a total number of 67 books read per year! Reading stimulates their imagination and opens their mind to new possibilities, universes, and emotions.
#9 – Raw, Intimate Conversation
INFJs enjoy delving into rich human experiences and shared feelings. They love authentic conversation where both they and the person they are speaking with are able to divulge their fears, weaknesses, joys, ideas, failures, and successes. They want to travel the emotional pathways others have trod and understand them on a meaningful, core level.
#10 – Creativity
INFJs are usually creative and innovative. They like to do things in new ways and they enjoy expressing their ideas through artwork, music, writing, and more. Many famous authors and artists have been INFJs and even actors/actresses like Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, and Daniel Day-Lewis. INFJs should try to engage in at least one creative activity every day! You can find some creativity ideas specifically for INFJs here.
What About You?
What do you find exciting or fascinating? Let us know in the comments!
Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type, The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer, and The INTJ – Understanding the Strategist. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
Other Articles You Might Enjoy:
24 Revealing Quotes About the INFJ Personality Type
The Unique Intelligence of INFJs, INTJs, ENFJs and ENTJs
10 Ways INFJs Can Boos Their Creativity
3 Weird and Wonderful Secrets About the INFJ Personality Type
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very, very accurate Susan – love your website and all your articles.
This describes me to a T, thank you 🙂
Amazingly spot on. It took me into adulthood to discover I’m always trying to take people with me camping and hiking, but I get a much deeper and intense experience when I’m out in nature alone. In true INFJ fashion I really enjoy all your blog posts.
Hi Dee! Thanks so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed the article and I definitely think INFJs enjoy quiet time in nature! Have a great day! *Susan*
This is totally me! I regonize everything and that makes that I take a deep breath. I’m not weird!
I love to write and I am a thinker, I think the whole day and deeply.
Also I like to photograph in nature, but also street photography and portraits.
Thanks so much for this article!
These are so true for me, with the exception of reading… I have never really enjoyed it much, unless I’m researching something non fiction that’s important to me (like personality!) 🙂 It’s hard for me to sit still long enough enjoy it… I am borderline ISFJ, so maybe that accounts for why I’m that way… I enjoy your site sooo much! Thank you!!
I really enjoyed this, great job!
Thank you!!
Susan, I like to pick a subject which needs a new innovsve solution to a common problem in it’s sphere of influence. Then I spend wonderful hundreds and thousands (true) of hours pouring over the latest sc ientific research on that subject. Culling facts and research together to implement a new, simple, elegant solution to a common problem .I once spent 4 years and 10k hours developing a protocol for raising healthier ouppies I am several years into a project of the same kind for chicks. Evidence based. They will/have worked because l live to stand on the shoulders of giants. I am just a housewife with an Assoc. In English Literature which is very dusty. But I find flow in open ended non fiction research. It is where I fly
Really and truly, so me. My nature place is the beach :-).
I attended College/University in my seventies – 83 now – going on 34 – in the Psychology lectures I was given four lwtters they were INFJ- by my personal tutor – and all the hugs and love I could accept an d so very much more than I had as a child – I loved every one of my Fellow Students and revelled in being the oldest student in a Seminar
I have recently had to make effort to shake off a “Control Freak” – I could be almost sure he is more extrovert than am I and young enough to be a Grandbaby – I made a loan and am having a struggle getting it repaid – the issue I have with this individuall – is what four letters should I look for – what have you written on the subject – I am also a “Jung;s-Maidl” but I cannot find my solution – Calling this individual a Control Freak – is not enough – but he has a HECK of a Temper and when he used invective it is a start with “How Dare you” sorry for writing so much but I am at wit’s end here
5, 6, 8, 9
This is só accurate, so “me” that it’s awesome and scary at the same time. ????????
What i find the most exciting thing to do in my life is what I call
“my littles”, i create miniature room boxes, and different size of furniture. Everything I use is from recycled stuff. I have this thing for boxes I collect them different sizes and create furniture and then make box rooms out of them it’s so fun to decorate with things I’ve collected throughout the years. I think they’ve turned out pretty good and I’ve got a collection now .I’ve been told I should sell them that’s not my intent. it’s fun and brings me peace and joy when I can just focus on it.
I am a play therapist and have the best job in the world. It is always new, interesting, exciting and challenging. It keeps me involved with kids and parents in the best possible ways.
The more I discovered about INFJ’s the more I feel relieved. It’s so pleasing to see the lines of a picture you truly felt in your bones finally unfold.
I, too, am relieved that it’s okay to identify with Belle in Disney’s “Beauty & The Beast.” I am content with who I am. I’m just fascinated by mysteries & discoveries, past, present & future. It’s like the anticipation of opening a Christmas gift! You never know what you find in a box of chocolates! 😃
I have to admit I be ALWAYS been a “history geek”. My personal research , the books about real history I’ve read and loved over the years, and my insatiable love of documentaries have made me the “odd man out” in my family. But then this statement from the above article “They get a thrill from tinkering with ideas of what might happen in 20, 50, or 100 years”, struck me HARD! My love of “post apocalyptic” stories (The Maze Runner, the entire series starting with “The Birth of The Peacekeepers”, even some young adult fiction like “The Giver”, the “Shadow Children” series, and the “City of Ember” series…. Now makes SENSE to me…! 😂
By reading a lot about my personality type, I get to understand myself more. I am not weird after all. I am just ME. 🙂
I am a history and nature junkie!! Also a well traveled person who lived in Europe for awhile. Total empath and very spiritual. Art and music also very important to me. Thank you for insights about some aspects of my personality. I am in my 50’s now and know so much more about myself at this age. I do not get along with any of my family- greedy and materialistic.
So freeing to find what I do is ok and beneficial. It helps to better the skill of excusing myself to alone time without judging others, something I had trouble with when younger and overwhelmed. I can appreciate others better now and take care of myself. Point taken on remembering to socialize! Could you refresh the link to 10 Ways to Boost INFJ Creativity? I got only a cover page. Thank you again for your work.
This is an interesting read! I’m curious to learn more about the INFJ personality type and how it relates to my own experiences in life.