Signs That You’re an Unbalanced Version of Your Myers-Briggs® Personality Type
Most people love reading about their strengths. But sometimes your biggest problems don’t come from having weak functions. They come from ignoring them completely. When your personality becomes too “top-heavy,” your greatest strengths slowly become your greatest blind spots.
Everyone does this sometimes. Stress, burnout, trauma, or simply staying in your comfort zone can all make us lean too heavily on our favorite mental processes.

So many times we stifle certain parts of ourselves, seeing them as less “interesting” than other parts. If you’re an intuitive-dominant type, you might neglect sensing so massively that you sabotage some very crucial parts of your development. So today we’re exploring how you might look if you’ve been failing to integrate your tertiary or inferior functions.
Wait, what are all these functions?
The cognitive functions are mental processes that explain how you absorb information and make decisions.
Your dominant function is the “hero” of your personality and basically runs the show and is where you rely the most.
Your auxiliary function is the “second-in-command” of your personality, and helps to balance your dominant function so that you’re not being too one-sided. It’s also one of the main ways that you take care of people in the world around you.
Your tertiary function is where you go for relief, creativity, and balance as well.
The inferior function tends to be your Achilles’ heel – an area of uncertainty and insecurity, but also an area that balances your dominant function (as long as you don’t constantly ignore it).
If you want to understand the cognitive functions more fully, check out this article I wrote about them: An Introduction to the Cognitive Functions in Myers-Briggs® Theory
Keep in mind, it’s not ideal to focus 100% of your energy on your tertiary or inferior cognitive functions. Ideally, you should only work on developing these functions when you’re calm, relaxed, and life is low-pressure. And even then, you should do it in bite-sized bits of time rather than large swaths. Think of it as giving your lower functions a chance to “come up for air” so that they can be healthier and you can have a more mature/fleshed-out personality.
So without further ado, let’s get started!
Not sure what your personality type is? Take our new personality questionnaire here. Or you can take the official MBTI® here.
Table of contents
- Wait, what are all these functions?
- Unbalanced Versions of Every Myers-Briggs® Personality Type
- The Unbalanced ENFP
- The Unbalanced ENTP
- The Unbalanced INFP
- The Unbalanced INTP
- The Unbalanced ENFJ
- The Unbalanced ENTJ
- The Unbalanced INFJ
- The Unbalanced INTJ
- The Unbalanced ESFP
- The Unbalanced ESTP
- The Unbalanced ISFP
- The Unbalanced ISTP
- The Unbalanced ESFJ
- The Unbalanced ESTJ
- The Unbalanced ISFJ
- The Unbalanced ISTJ
- What Are Your Thoughts?
Unbalanced Versions of Every Myers-Briggs® Personality Type
The Unbalanced ENFP
ENFP Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
Auxiliary: Introverted Feeling (Fi)
Tertiary: Extraverted Thinking (Te)
Inferior: Introverted Sensation (Si)
As an ENFP, you’re energized by possibility. Your mind is constantly making connections, imagining new adventures, and discovering fresh ways of looking at the world. Your Feeling function helps you stay connected to what matters most, giving your creativity a sense of purpose and authenticity.
But when your love of possibilities overshadows your Thinking and Sensing functions, life can begin to feel exciting but scattered. You may have no shortage of inspiration, yet struggle to give your best ideas the structure they need to flourish. You might notice some of these patterns:
- You enthusiastically begin new projects but lose momentum once the routine work begins.
- You say yes to so many opportunities that you become overwhelmed, exhausted, or overcommitted.
- You overlook practical details, assuming you’ll figure them out later.
- You neglect healthy routines like sleep, meals, budgeting, or scheduling because something more interesting captures your attention.
- You chase what’s new so consistently that you don’t always recognize the value of slowing down and building on what you’ve already started.
One Small Step Toward Balance
Before beginning something new today, spend twenty minutes moving an existing project one step closer to completion. Then take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve already come instead of immediately looking toward the next exciting possibility. Your creativity doesn’t become confined by structure. Instead, it becomes strong enough to leave a lasting impact.
Find some ways to balance out your personality in this article: How to Improve Your Weaknesses, Based On Your Personality Type.
The Unbalanced ENTP
ENTP Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
Auxiliary: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Tertiary: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
Inferior: Introverted Sensation (Si)
As an ENTP, you recharge by focusing your energy on Intuition (Ne). Thinking (Ti) is your “second-in-command” that guides your Ne to reasonable conclusions. While it’s ideal to focus the majority of your energy on these two functions, when you completely ignore Feeling (Fe) and Sensing (Si), you can be in for trouble. Here are some signs you’ve been neglecting the lower functions in your stack:
- You come up with amazing ideas, but when it comes to implementing them, you get distracted and change course.
- You chronically lose track of details that are important (like paying bills on time, getting your oil changed, or brushing your teeth).
- You fail to acknowledge or realize the impact your decisions and comments are having on other people emotionally.
- You are so focused on challenging or debating that you damage meaningful relationships or prospective opportunities.
One Growth Tip: Before arguing someone’s opinion, ask yourself, “What matters to this person emotionally?” Understanding doesn’t require agreement.
Find out ways to balance out your personality type in this article: The Biggest Weakness of Every Myers-Briggs® Personality Type.
The Unbalanced INFP
INFP Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Introverted Feeling (Fi)
Auxiliary: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
Tertiary: Introverted Sensation (Si)
Inferior: Extraverted Thinking (Te)
As an INFP, you’re guided by your deeper values and morals, combined with a vivid imagination that’s always exploring new ideas and possibilities. You naturally look beneath the surface of life, searching for authenticity, meaning, and the potential hidden within people and situations. This combination gives you remarkable empathy and creativity.
But it’s possible to become so immersed in your inner world that your Thinking and Sensing functions don’t get the attention they need. When that happens, your ideals may stay trapped in your imagination rather than finding expression in the real world. You might notice some of these patterns:
- You dream about meaningful projects but struggle to break them into manageable, practical steps.
- Constructive criticism feels deeply personal, making it difficult to separate feedback from your sense of identity.
- You spend so much time imagining possibilities that important routines and responsibilities begin to slip through the cracks.
- You rely so heavily on what feels right internally that you overlook useful facts or perspectives that could strengthen your viewpoint.
- You become overwhelmed by the gap between your ideals and reality, making it harder to begin at all.
One Small Step Toward Balance
Choose one idea that’s been living in your head and spend just twenty minutes bringing it into the real world. Write the first page, send the email, organize the supplies, or make the phone call. Your ideals don’t lose their beauty when they’re translated into action—they gain the chance to make a real difference.
Find out more about the INFP type, and get ways to overcome these challenges in my eBook, The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer.
The Unbalanced INTP
INTP Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Auxiliary: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
Tertiary: Introverted Sensation (Si)
Inferior: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
As an INTP, your mind loves asking questions, analyzing ideas from every angle, and discovering elegant solutions to complex problems. Combined with your Intuition, you’re able to connect seemingly unrelated concepts and imagine possibilities that other people might never consider.
But if you focus almost exclusively on Thinking and Intuition, your Feeling and Sensing functions can become underdeveloped. Over time, you may find yourself living almost entirely in the world of ideas while unintentionally neglecting the practical and relational parts of life. You might notice some of these patterns:
- You become so absorbed in your thoughts that everyday responsibilities, routines, or self-care begin to fall by the wayside.
- You assume other people value detached analysis as much as you do, unintentionally overlooking their emotional needs.
- You dismiss experiences or perspectives because they don’t seem logical, missing the wisdom they might still contain.
- You withdraw from relationships because they feel unpredictable or emotionally demanding, even when you genuinely care about the people involved.
- You spend so much time refining ideas that you struggle to decide when it’s time to act.
One Small Step Toward Balance
Choose one practical task you’ve been putting off and finish it before diving into your next fascinating idea. Then take a few minutes to check in with someone you care about simply to connect. Your intellect becomes even more valuable when it’s supported by healthy habits and meaningful relationships.
You can find out more about unhealthy expressions of your type here: The Unhealthy INTP
The Unbalanced ENFJ
ENFJ Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
Auxiliary: Introverted Intuition (Ni)
Tertiary: Extraverted Sensation (Se)
Inferior: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
As an ENFJ, you get into a “flow” state by dwelling on Feeling and Intuition. Motivating people, inspiring them, and connecting in authentic ways gives you a sense of meaning and purpose. Tapping into the potential of others and finding significance and meaning through philosophical thought and exploration gives you lots of stimulating ideas to toy with. That said, if you completely ignore Sensing and Thinking, you risk becoming out of touch with reality or having half-baked ideas. Here are some other signs that your personality type is too out of balance:
- You co-dependently prioritize other people and their needs without weighing the logical setbacks of doing so.
- You go after your ideals without analyzing the details required to make those dreams a reality.
- You struggle to relax and appreciate the moment for what it is.
- You make decisions based completely on your personal values or feelings, without analyzing the logical criteria.
One Growth Tip: Before committing to help someone else, ask yourself, “Do I realistically have the time and energy for this?”
Find out more about your type here: 24 Signs That You’re an ENFJ, the “Mentor” Personality Type
The Unbalanced ENTJ
ENTJ Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Extraverted Thinking (Te)
Auxiliary: Introverted Intuition (Ni)
Tertiary: Extraverted Sensation (Se)
Inferior: Introverted Feeling (Fi)
As an ENTJ, you naturally prioritize Thinking and Intuition. Thinking (Te) helps you to make efficient, logical decisions quickly. Intuition (Ni) helps you to see underlying patterns and long-term implications. Having a solid grasp of these functions can make you an inspiring leader and innovator. That said, if you completely neglect or ignore input from Sensing and Feeling, it can come back to bite you later. Here are some signs that you might be de-prioritizing them too severely:
- You dismiss or overlook other people’s feelings or their need for affirmation, connection, or emotional support.
- You decide too quickly without taking details and other people’s feelings into account.
- You focus on tasks and goals while forgetting what actually matters to you on a personal level.
- You set out to accomplish your plans and ignore specifics or nitty-gritty details that could dismantle your whole plan.
- You are condescending or dismissive towards people who value Sensing (S) or Feeling (F).
One Growth Tip: Pause before making an important decision and ask one person affected by it how they honestly feel. Their perspective may reveal something your strategy missed.
Find out more about your type here: 10 Things You’ll Relate to if You’re an ENTJ
The Unbalanced INFJ
INFJ Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Introverted Intuition (Ni)
Auxiliary: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
Tertiary: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Inferior: Extraverted Sensation (Se)
As an INFJ, your mind naturally gravitates toward meaning, symbolism, and the patterns that connect seemingly unrelated experiences. You’re energized by exploring ideas, understanding people, and imagining the future. Your Feeling side helps you bring warmth and compassion to those insights, making you someone who often sees both the bigger picture and the human story behind it.
But every strength has a blind spot. If you spend too much time living in ideas while neglecting your Thinking and Sensing functions, your inner world can become so absorbing that it’s harder to translate your insights into everyday life. You might notice some of these patterns:
- You have rich, complex insights but struggle to explain them in a way that other people can easily understand.
- You become so focused on your vision that practical details get overlooked, making it difficult to bring your ideas to life.
- You spend so much time anticipating the future that you forget to enjoy the small, tangible moments happening right now.
- You lose touch with your body’s signals, pushing through exhaustion, skipping meals, or forgetting that your physical well-being matters just as much as your inner world.
- You dismiss practical or purely logical perspectives, not realizing they may contain exactly the information your vision needs.
One Small Step Toward Balance
Spend fifteen minutes doing something that reconnects you with the present moment. Take a walk without your phone, cook a meal from scratch, work in the garden, stretch, or simply notice the sights, sounds, and textures around you. Your intuition doesn’t become weaker when you engage your senses, it becomes better grounded, giving your insights a stronger foundation to grow from.
You can find out more about your type and how to overcome these issues in my eBook, The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic. You can also check out this article about overcoming typical weaknesses for your type: How to Improve Your Weaknesses, Based On Your Personality Type.
The Unbalanced INTJ
INTJ Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Introverted Intuition (Ni)
Auxiliary: Extraverted Thinking (Te)
Tertiary: Introverted Feeling (Fi)
Inferior: Extraverted Sensation (Se)
As an INTJ, you naturally focus on patterns, long-term strategy, and understanding how systems fit together. Your mind is constantly sifting through ideas, making predictions, and looking for the most effective path forward. Combined with your Thinking function, this gives you an unusual ability to turn your big ideas into practical plans.
But even the clearest vision can develop blind spots. If you rely too heavily on Intuition and Thinking while neglecting your Feeling and Sensing functions, it’s easy to become so focused on efficiency and long-range goals that you lose sight of the people—and even yourself—along the way. You might notice some of these patterns:
- You become so attached to your interpretation of a situation that you’re slow to notice details that point in another direction.
- You unintentionally overlook how your words or decisions affect the people around you, assuming they’ll simply understand your intentions.
- You push your physical needs aside, working through exhaustion or ignoring stress until your body forces you to slow down.
- You spend so much time preparing for the future that it’s difficult to appreciate what’s already good in your life.
- You dismiss emotional or practical perspectives too quickly, not realizing they may reveal weaknesses in your plans.
One Small Step Toward Balance
Once a day, pause for a few moments and check in with yourself. How is your body feeling? What emotions are present beneath the task list? Then intentionally express appreciation to someone who has helped you recently. Paying attention to both your internal values and the present moment won’t distract you from your goals. Instead, it will help you pursue them with greater wisdom and resilience.
Find out more about your type here: 24 Signs That You’re an INTJ, the “Strategist” Personality Type.
The Unbalanced ESFP
ESFP Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Extraverted Sensation (Se)
Auxiliary: Introverted Feeling (Fi)
Tertiary: Extraverted Thinking (Te)
Inferior: Introverted Intuition (Ni)
As an ESFP, you get the most stimulation and excitement by living in the moment and interacting with the world around you. You’re a fun-loving individual with a realistic, resourceful attitude about life. On top of that, because of your auxiliary Feeling (Fi), you align yourself with your values. Authenticity and integrity are vital to your being. However, if you focus solely on Sensing and Feeling and devalue Thinking and Intuition you can run into problems. Some of these setbacks can look like this:
- You may be overly impulsive and fail to consider the long-term consequences of your actions.
- You may avoid people or concepts that seem overly theoretical or conceptual.
- You might consistently put enjoyment ahead of your responsibilities and obligations.
- You may struggle to prioritize and organize your schedule so that you can achieve the things you want.
One Growth Tip: Before saying yes to something exciting, ask yourself, “How will this choice affect me a week from now?”
Find out more about your personality type here: What It Means to be an ESFP Personality Type
The Unbalanced ESTP
ESTP Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Extraverted Sensation (Se)
Auxiliary: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Tertiary: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
Inferior: Introverted Intuition (Ni)
As an ESTP, you enjoy a life that allows you to be spontaneous, active, and logical. You enjoy immersing yourself in thrilling experiences, but you also try to back up your decisions with logical feedback from your Thinking (Ti) function. However, if you over-fixate on your Sensing and Thinking functions and ignore feedback from Feeling and Intuition, you can run into problems like the ones below:
- You may make decisions without considering how they will impact the people you love.
- You may overlook or miss the wider ramifications of your actions and decisions.
- You may avoid conversations or studies that involve a lot of theory or conceptual material.
- In your quest for action, you may become impatient with people who have a preference for feeling (F) or intuition (N) and want to discuss relationships or conceptual issues.
One Growth Tip: When making a fast decision, spend five extra minutes imagining the long-term consequences before acting.
To find out more about your type, check out this article: 24 Signs That You’re an ESTP, the “Daredevil” Personality Type
The Unbalanced ISFP
ISFP Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Introverted Feeling (Fi)
Auxiliary: Extraverted Sensation (Se)
Tertiary: Introverted Intuition (Ni)
Inferior: Extraverted Thinking (Te)
As an ISFP, you want to be sincere in the way you live your life. You want your life to reflect your values, and you have a remarkable ability to notice beauty, respond to the present moment, and adapt to whatever life brings your way. Whether through creativity, relationships, or everyday experiences, you seek a life that feels genuine.
But if you rely almost exclusively on Feeling and Sensing, your Intuition and Thinking functions may not get the opportunity to develop. In time, you may become so focused on what feels right in the moment that it’s harder to step back and consider the bigger picture. You might notice some of these patterns:
- You avoid making long-term plans because they feel restrictive or uncertain.
- You have creative ideas but struggle to organize the steps needed to bring them fully to life.
- Criticism feels really personal, making it difficult to separate feedback from your sense of self.
- You lose interest once a project requires sustained structure or routine rather than inspiration.
- You shy away from abstract or theoretical discussions, even though they may offer valuable new perspectives.
One Small Step Toward Balance
Choose one meaningful goal you’ve been thinking about and write down the next three practical steps toward making it happen. You don’t have to plan your entire future (I know that’s scary even for me!) just give your dreams a little structure so they have room to grow. Your authenticity isn’t diminished by organization; it’s given a stronger foundation. uninterrupted minutes before deciding whether to move on.
You can find out more about your personality type here: 24 Signs That You’re an ISFP, the “Virtuoso” Personality Type
The Unbalanced ISTP
ISTP Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Auxiliary: Extraverted Sensation (Se)
Tertiary: Introverted Intuition (Ni)
Inferior: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
As an ISTP, you’re observant, adaptable, and (at least in my experience) impressively calm under pressure. Whether you’re solving a practical problem or learning a new skill, you trust direct experience and careful analysis to guide you.
But when Thinking and Sensing do all the heavy lifting, your Intuition and Feeling functions can remain in the background. You may become so focused on solving problems that you overlook the emotional or long-term aspects of a situation. You might notice some of these patterns:
- You instinctively offer solutions when someone really wants understanding or encouragement.
- You become impatient with conversations that feel overly emotional or theoretical.
- You focus on what works right now without always considering the longer-term direction of your choices.
- You value independence so highly that you hesitate to lean on others, even when support would help.
- You unintentionally keep people at arm’s length because expressing your feelings feels unfamiliar or awkward.
One Small Step Toward Balance
The next time someone shares a struggle with you, pause before offering advice. Ask a question, listen carefully, and let them know you understand before trying to solve the problem. Your practical nature is a gift, but people often remember how understood they felt just as much as how well you fixed the issue.
You can find out more about your personality here: ISTP Personality Profile – An In-Depth Look at “The Mechanic”
The Unbalanced ESFJ
ESFJ Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
Auxiliary: Introverted Sensation (Si)
Tertiary: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
Inferior: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
As an ESFJ, you have a talent for creating warmth, comfort, and connection wherever you go. You’re often the person who remembers birthdays, notices when someone is struggling, and works hard to make sure everyone feels welcomed and cared for. Your attention to both people and practical details allows you to build relationships that are dependable and lasting.
But if you rely almost entirely on Feeling and Sensing, your Intuition and Thinking functions may not have the opportunity to grow. Over time, you can become so focused on making everyone happy and doing what’s familiar that it’s harder to step back, question your assumptions, or explore new possibilities. You might notice some of these patterns:
- You become so concerned with keeping everyone happy that you lose sight of your own needs and boundaries.
- You find yourself relying on familiar routines or trusted methods, even when a different approach might work better.
- Criticism or disagreement feels more personal than it needs to, making it difficult to consider opposing viewpoints objectively.
- You instinctively dismiss ideas that seem too unconventional or impractical before giving them a fair chance.
- You spend so much energy taking care of others that you forget to ask yourself what you genuinely want.
One Small Step Toward Balance
The next time you face a decision, pause before asking what everyone else needs or expects. Instead, ask yourself two questions: “What do I really think?” and “Is there another possibility I haven’t considered?” Giving yourself space to think independently helps you bring even greater wisdom and authenticity to the people who depend on you.leave you feeling drained. Healthy relationships can survive healthy boundaries.
The Unbalanced ESTJ
ESTJ Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Extraverted Thinking (Te)
Auxiliary: Introverted Sensation (Si)
Tertiary: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
Inferior: Introverted Feeling (Fi)
As an ESTJ, you like to have a structure, a logical sense of order, and a steady momentum towards your goals (Te). You also trust tried-and-true methods and look to your past experience as a guide for the future (Si). That said, if you focus on your top two cognitive functions and consistently dismiss input from Intuition and Feeling you can risk the following problems:
- You focus on logic and your goals at the expense of the emotions and needs of the people you care about.
- In your rush for decisiveness and productivity, you may fail to listen and give people the time they need to process things.
- You may over-simplify problems and fail to see the long-term implications or wider ramifications.
- You brush off or dismiss the views of Intuitive (N) types without giving them a fair analysis.
- You may jump to conclusions in your hurry to have momentum towards your goals.
One Growth Tip: Invite someone with a very different perspective to explain their reasoning, and listen with genuine curiosity before responding.
You can find out more about the ESTJ personality type here: What It Means to be an ESTJ Personality Type.
The Unbalanced ISFJ
ISFJ Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Introverted Sensation (Si)
Auxiliary: Extraverted Feeling (Fe)
Tertiary: Introverted Thinking (Ti)
Inferior: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
As an ISFJ, you want to create a life that’s dependable, loving, and grounded. You’re often the person who remembers the little things that make others feel cared for, noticing needs before anyone else does. Your steady nature gives people a sense of safety, and your experience helps you navigate life with wisdom and practicality.
But if you rely almost entirely on Sensing and Feeling, your Thinking and Intuition functions may not have much room to grow. You can become so focused on preserving harmony and doing what’s familiar that you forget to make space for your own growth and curiosity. You might notice some of these patterns:
- You put other people’s needs ahead of your own so consistently that you’re not even sure what you want anymore.
- You stay with familiar routines or responsibilities long after they’ve stopped serving you because change feels unnecessarily risky.
- You have difficulty looking at emotionally charged situations objectively, making it hard to separate compassion from responsibility.
- You hesitate to explore unfamiliar ideas or opportunities because they feel uncertain, even when they might enrich your life.
- You underestimate your own potential, assuming you’re best suited to what’s comfortable rather than what could help you grow.
One Small Step Toward Balance
This week, try something that’s just outside your comfort zone. Read a book on a topic you’ve never explored, take a different route home, learn a new skill, or say yes to an opportunity you’d normally decline. You don’t have to abandon the stability you value—sometimes the healthiest growth comes from expanding it little by little.obby can remind you that growth often begins with tiny experiments.
Find out more about the ISFJ personality type here: Here’s What It Means to be an ISFJ Personality Type
The Unbalanced ISTJ
ISTJ Cognitive Function Stack:
Dominant: Introverted Sensation (Si)
Auxiliary: Extraverted Thinking (Te)
Tertiary: Introverted Feeling (Fi)
Inferior: Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
As an ISTJ, you’re someone people can depend on. You prioritize integrity, responsibility, and following through on your commitments. Your ability to learn from experience, create effective systems, and approach life with consistency makes you an invaluable source of stability in your family, workplace, and community.
But when Sensing and Thinking carry nearly all the responsibility, your Feeling and Intuition functions can remain underdeveloped. You may become so focused on doing things efficiently and reliably that you unintentionally overlook new possibilities or the emotional impact your decisions have on yourself and others. You might notice some of these patterns:
- You rely so heavily on past experience that you’re reluctant to consider approaches that don’t have a proven track record.
- You become frustrated with uncertainty, preferring familiar methods even when circumstances have changed.
- You focus on solving problems efficiently but forget to acknowledge the emotions involved—for yourself as well as the people around you.
- You dismiss unconventional ideas too quickly, not realizing they may solve problems in ways you’ve never considered.
- You place so much value on fulfilling your responsibilities that you neglect your own emotional well-being or personal dreams.
One Small Step Toward Balance
The next time you catch yourself thinking, “We’ve always done it this way,” pause and ask, “Is there another approach worth considering?” Then take a few moments to check in with your own values and emotions before moving forward. Exploring new possibilities doesn’t erase the wisdom of your experience, it builds on it, helping you adapt without losing the steady reliability that people appreciate about you.
You can find out more about the ISTJ personality type here: 24 Signs That You’re an ISTJ, the “Detective” Personality Type.
What Are Your Thoughts?
None of us stays perfectly balanced all the time. We all have seasons where we lean too heavily on our strengths because they’re familiar and safe. Growth isn’t about abandoning those strengths, it’s about gradually building the parts of yourself you’ve ignored so your personality becomes more flexible, resilient, and whole.
You’ll be able to discover so much more if you delve into my eBook: Discovering You – Unlocking the Power of Personality Type. This book explores how each personality type reacts to stress, grief, parenthood, childhood, romantic relationships, and more. You’ll also get tips for interacting effectively with each type!
We also have in-depth eBooks about other types, like The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, or The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!




This doesn’t jibe with my experience at all. The problem with most ENFPs isn’t that they rely only on their first two functions. The problem with most of them is that they overemphasize their third function and constantly loop between Ne and Te. They get an idea with Ne and then immediately rush to implement it using their Te. Of course it goes badly because they haven’t stopped to think about whether it’s what they really want or whether it will really help others, in other words, without using their Fi. And when it fails they feel stress and so they go back to their favorite Ne and the process restarts all over again.
It’s not just ENFPs. Same thing happens with a lot of other types.
This article does not appear to be based on anything real, just imaginings.
Loops are definitely a real thing and something I’d like to explore in a future article. The point of this article was to clarify what it would look like if a type was “top heavy” or focusing on dominant, auxiliary at the expense of tertiary, inferior. This is definitely something I’ve seen quite a few times in people – although loops are also relatively common. That’s why I decided to write about it 🙂
Yes that’s me I am definitely an INFP and sometimes I want to explode my best ideas on the universe. Fortunately,I realized I have always had good heart. I am also noted to be a good listener. And I wouldn’t want to lose my reputation for that. I suppose I was trained to be a good listener from my autocratic father. Who didn’t give a hoot about anybody else’s opinion and it seems I have had to learn the hard way that: ultimately, I am the one responsible for managing my life. My mother was the opposite. She cared only so much until she reached an impasse with my father and then that was it. Thanks for letting me explore that.
Add me to the list of people who can’t relate to being unbalanced because of top-heaviness, but are MUCH more prone to looping and (to a lesser extent) being shoved into the grip state. I’m an INFP, and for the first thirty years of my life, I acted a LOT like every negative meme-based stereotype of an Si-dom, and I almost exclusively used my Te to torture myself and the people around me… but that didn’t stop me from relying HEAVILY on those two functions in my day-to-day life. (I still do use my Si and Te a lot, but I’ve gained more perspective on those functions and have learned to better appreciate them for what they are, rather than as impossible standards that exist to torment me with the vision of what I am not.)
That said, I’m given to understand that being top-heavy is also super-common, and I do feel like it’s the direction that people are more prone to going in if they have more “normal” experiences that don’t force them to do things that feel unnatural or develop maladapative coping mechanisms to compensate for trauma.
It’s only recently that I’ve succeeded in taking ownership of my Ne… I didn’t really feel like I had access to my Ne, more like IT had access to ME. But now that I’m actively working to promote my own Ne, my Si is less prone to stubbornness and refusing to make even necessary changes in my life just because I’m scared (Fi) to leave my comfort zone because who knows what’s going to happen (Ne being childish and throwing a temper tantrum). My Te is also a lot more flexible and a lot more effective at what it was meant to be used for (problem-solving) because the creativity that comes from Ne is supporting and directing the drive and productive energy of Te. And that leads me to wonder if that’s one of the major keys to healthy development of the inferior function, to marry it with the development of the auxiliary, rather than putting yourself at risk of falling into grip by trying to develop the inferior alone.
I also feel like the silver lining that comes with being in loop for so long is that, once you finally DO realize what it is you actually need, it might be easier to work towards balance vs. when you’re starting from the more natural “top-heavy” place. It’s easier to work on a skill / function that you enjoy and comes fairly naturally, rather than trying to grind in a function that’s more taxing / unpleasant to use. In my case, I feel like Si and Te having taken up so much psychological real estate from an early age means I’m much less prone to going off the rails when I AM accessing Ne, even when I am REALLY in the flow and completely immersed within it.