Here’s How You Use Intuition, Based On Your Personality Type

Did you know that intuitive personality types aren’t the only ones who use intuition? We all use it. We all value it to some degree. Just as we all value sensing to a degree. Without using both sensing and intuition we would become unbalanced and unable to process the world we live in. This article is meant to shine a light onto some of the ways each personality type uses intuition, even if they aren’t an “N” personality type.

Not sure what your personality type is? Take our new personality questionnaire here. Or you can take the official MBTI® here.

Estimated reading time: 21 minutes

Here’s How You Use Intuition, Based On Your Personality Type

The ENFP

You ever meet someone who can look at a paperclip and suddenly start planning a small business around it? That’s the ENFP. Their brain runs like a movie trailer for alternate realities: What could this become? Where could this go? What if I flipped this upside down and painted it neon green?

ENFPs don’t just see the world as it is — they see ten different versions of what it could be, and they’re determined to peek into all of them. They’re the type who’ll say, “What if this is connected to that?” while you’re still trying to figure out what this even is.

To them, every situation is a jigsaw puzzle, and every piece has five potential fits. They’re not being contrarian when they play devil’s advocate — they’re just frustrated by one-dimensional thinking. Life is a kaleidoscope, not a spreadsheet.

At their best, ENFPs are dot-connectors and reality-benders; people who can take something ordinary and turn it into something astonishing. They spot the unseen link, the hidden opportunity, the door nobody else noticed. And then they fling it open like, “Hey, look what I found!”

Quick Hits: ENFP in Action

• Sees potential everywhere — sometimes too much to act on all at once.
• “What if…?” is their favorite question, and sometimes their curse.
• Can turn a boring rule into a brainstorming session.
• Sees connections between random ideas (you’ll be skeptical… until they’re right).
• Transforms everyday stuff into creative experiments.
• Plays devil’s advocate to open your mind.
• Always zoomed out. They want the big picture, not the fine print.
• Loves exploring patterns that make others go, “Huh, never thought of that.”

You might also enjoy: The Dark Side of the ENFP Personality Type

The ENTP

The ENTP’s mind doesn’t walk from Point A to Point B; rather, it parkours through the alphabet. One idea ricochets off another, and suddenly you’re in a 3-hour conversation about how jellyfish could inspire better the latest health innovation.

They live in a constant loop of “Huh, that’s interesting…” followed by “What can I do with it?” Every piece of data is raw material, and they’re part architect, part mad scientist; forever trying to upgrade the blueprints of reality.

To the ENTP, the world is one big prototype. Systems are meant to be tested, rules are meant to be stress-tested, and ideas are meant to be broken open just to see what’s inside. It’s a combination of research, experimentation, and brainstorming.

They’re always scanning the horizon for hidden angles, loopholes, or overlooked opportunities. While others are stuck in step-by-step thinking, ENTPs are already two metaphors ahead, sketching out possibilities that make people go, “Wait, how did you get there?”

At their best, they’re the great innovators and disruptors; people who can take an outdated process and turn it into something wildly effective (or at least wildly entertaining).

Quick Hits: ENTP in Action

• Thinks in blueprints, brainstorms in fireworks.
• Asks “What if?” and then actually builds something out of the answer.
• Treats every rule like a hypothesis waiting to be disproven.
• Sees patterns in chaos and loopholes in logic.
• Turns stale systems into playgrounds for innovation.
• Plays devil’s advocate just to stress-test your thinking.
• Finds angles no one else noticed — sometimes not even on purpose.
• Lives halfway between now and the next big idea.

The INFP

INFPs live with one foot in the real world and the other in a world that could be. Their hearts are the compass, but intuition is the map; full of winding paths, secret trails, and hidden doors that lead to something beautiful. They look at what is and quietly ask, “How could this be truer? Kinder? More meaningful?”

To the INFP, possibilities are invitations to explore. Each one says, “You could make something out of this. Something honest. Something real.” They imagine futures that line up with their values and help them feel more aligned with their integrity.

They can spend hours crafting worlds, songs, stories, or movements that carry a message. It’s no wonder many of our best authors (George R.R. Martin, Alduous Huxley, Emily Dickinson) were/are INFPs!

INFPs are gentle revolutionaries who long to build a better world. Sometimes they do it with sketches, sometimes with poems, indie startups, or even scientific research. They see the past with nostalgia, the present with sensitivity, and the future with hope. Every moment is raw material for meaning.

Quick Hits: INFP in Action

• Imagines futures that feel like home.
• Sees possibilities through the lens of personal values.
• Turns daydreams into creative blueprints.
• Innovates best when something feels right, not just when it looks right.
• Blends imagination with integrity.
• Stays open to new ideas and symbols of meaning.
• Loves connecting past, present, and future in creative ways.
• Creates art, stories, or projects that express moral truth.

Find out more about INFPs: 12 Awkward Moments INFPs Absolutely Hate

The INTP

INTPs see the world like a puzzle someone forgot to finish. They’re determined to find the missing pieces, even if it means redesigning the whole thing. Their intuition feels like the quiet click of an idea snapping into place after hours of turning it over in their minds.

When they hit a problem, they don’t look for quick fixes, they deconstruct it. They’ll run simulations in their head like, “If I change this one variable, does the whole thing collapse or finally start making sense?” They step back, detach, and let logic and imagination tag-team their way through the mess.

To an INTP, “the way it’s always been done” is basically an invitation to tinker. Routine makes them itch. They want to rebuild systems from the ground up, learn new ways to improve things and grow.

They’re masters of mental experimentation; imagining every possible scenario before settling on one that fits. They may take their time, but when they arrive at a solution, it’s elegant, unexpected, and often brilliant.

Quick Hits: INTP in Action

• Turns over ideas like puzzle pieces until the picture clicks.
• Spots patterns and possibilities in complex problems.
• Runs endless “what if” simulations before choosing a path.
• Sees inefficiency and can’t resist streamlining it.
• Stays detached to view things from every angle.
• Innovates through logic.
• Finds routine soul-numbing, reinvention is their default mode.
• Prefers elegant fixes over quick ones.

You might also like: The INTP Cognitive Function Stack

The INFJ

INFJs are always picking up signals other people miss. They’ll walk into a room and sense the tension before anyone speaks, or glance at a situation and just know how it’s going to play out. It might feel like magic, but it’s really just advanced pattern recognition.

Their minds are always asking: “What’s really going on here?” “Where is this leading?” “What’s the meaning behind all this?” They’re not satisfied with surface-level explanations. They’re looking for the thread that ties everything together; the hidden motive, the recurring theme, the reason why.

To an INFJ, life is a kaleidoscope of symbols, synchronicities, and connections. They zoom out instinctively, seeing layers of cause and effect, often feeling like observers of their own story. It’s beautiful, but it can also be disorienting. When you’re always living five steps ahead, the present moment can feel like a blurry photograph.

But their gift is vision: the ability to see what could be, not just what is. They catch glimpses of the future in everyday details, reading between the lines until the bigger picture emerges. When they trust that insight and ground it in action, they become powerful guides and people who can sense the shape of things before they exist.

Quick Hits: INFJ in Action

• Turns abstract intuition into visionary guidance.
• Lives life “zoomed out,” scanning for patterns and hidden meanings.
• Senses how events will unfold.
• Constantly asks, “What’s behind this?” and “Where is this leading?”
• Sees everything as part of a larger story or cosmic pattern.
• Reads between the lines — always.
• Can feel detached from the moment when lost in future visions.
• Has uncanny insight into motives, themes, and long-term consequences.

Find out more about INFJs: Creating the Perfect Fall Movie Night as an INFJ

The INTJ

INTJs often feel like they pre-live the future. Their minds are like time machines, scanning forward and backward to see how today’s choices ripple across decades. While everyone else is busy with the next step, they’re quietly sketching out the next hundred.

Their insights come like lightning: sudden, precise, and oddly certain. One minute the path is foggy, the next they just know. Ask them how they know, and they’ll blink like you asked them to explain gravity. It’ll make sense later, after the vision’s had time to unspool.

They’re constantly analyzing implications, consequences, and long-term patterns. What’s the real meaning here? What’s the trajectory? What’s the endgame? They see life as a network of cause and effect, symbols and systems.

INTJs are less concerned with the present than with what the present is building toward. They step outside time like strategists surveying a battlefield, assessing what needs to shift now to create the outcome they already see forming.

At their best, they’re visionary architects mapping the unseen structures beneath reality, translating abstract insight into tangible plans. Where others see what is, INTJs see what’s inevitable and then they start designing around it.

Quick Hits: INTJ in Action

• Turns abstract foresight into structured action.
• Scans forward and backward through time to map outcomes.
• Sees how systems, choices, and events ripple into the future.
• Experiences sudden “flashes” of clarity, then reverse-engineers the logic later.
• Looks for hidden meaning and long-term implications.
• Thinks in timelines and trajectories, not snapshots.
• Combines insight with strategy to create visionary plans.
• Prioritizes purpose over immediacy.

You might also like: The Four Personality Types INTJs Clash with Most

The ENFJ

ENFJs see people like gardeners see seeds. It’s not about what they are right now, but what someone could become with the right care, timing, and sunlight. Their intuition reads between the lines of human behavior: the symbols, motives, and emotional undercurrents. They catch glimpses of who someone could be five chapters from now and quietly start plotting the arc of their character development.

ENFJs can sense the bigger story unfolding and want to rally others toward it, turning vague inspiration into collective momentum. In their mind, the world is clay: it’s supposed to be shaped, molded, and made better.

In quiet moments, their imagination lights up with visions of a more connected, meaningful, or beautiful future, and they start mapping out ways to get there. They’re not here to sweat the details; they’re here to direct the play. They zoom out, spot the theme, and guide people back toward the heart of the story.

At their best, ENFJs are visionary builders of people and culture. They organize change and inspire people to look deeper into the “Why” behind their actions, and where they ultimately want to go.

Quick Hits: ENFJ in Action

• Shapes communities by nurturing growth in others.
• Sees potential in people long before it blooms.
• Reads emotional and symbolic subtext effortlessly.
• Inspires others with a clear vision of what could be.
• Turns ideals into action steps and group momentum.
• Focuses on the big picture.
• Keeps an eye on purpose, meaning, and the future arc.
• Balances heart-led insight with strategic direction.

The ENTJ

One of the ways I like to think about ENTJs is that they engineer inevitability. Their intuition works like a satellite, scanning the horizon for long-term outcomes and mapping the most efficient routes to get there.

They see the big picture; not just what’s happening now, but where it’s heading, and how to optimize the path between. Their insights come fast and land hard, forming the backbone of their strategies and the confidence behind their decisions. Once they’ve spotted the most logical trajectory, good luck talking them out of it without serious evidence.

But ENTJs aren’t all spreadsheets and deadlines. When they step away from execution mode, they’re drawn to big ideas — philosophy, systems, theories — anything that makes the universe feel like a grand equation waiting to be solved. They want conversations that go somewhere and discussions that have weight, depth, purpose. Small talk? No thank you.

Their intuition pulls them toward understanding the symbolic dance behind reality; the structure beneath the chaos, the hidden meaning behind motion. At their best, ENTJs are visionaries with follow-through. They’re people who not only see the mountain peak but chart the trail, pack the gear, and lead the team up.

Quick Hits: ENTJ in Action

• Balances vision with ruthless efficiency.
• Sees future outcomes.
• Turns intuition into executable plans.
• Craves depth, purpose, and big-picture meaning in conversation.
• Tunes out when talk gets lost in trivia or small details.
• Spots the most effective route and commits.
• Loves exploring philosophy, systems, and cosmic structure.
• Uses abstract insight to fuel practical success.

The ISFP

ISFPs live mostly through their senses: the colors, the textures, the realness of the moment. But beneath that grounded calm, there’s a flicker of intuition; a quiet voice that whispers, “There’s more here than meets the eye.”

When they’re young, they might brush it off, trusting what’s tangible over what’s symbolic. But as they grow, that inner voice gets harder to ignore. They start noticing patterns: echoes between events, meanings behind coincidences, the deeper truths hidden in the day-to-day.

They may find themselves drifting into daydreams about where life could go next or getting caught up in the emotional resonance of symbols, myths, and archetypes. There’s often a quiet mysticism built into their creations. This mysticism could show up like symbols in their art, metaphors in their writing, or an urge to express or create something profound or abstract.

At their best, ISFPs are grounded dreamers who are rooted in the real world, but who are curious to the deeper meanings hidden beneath the surface.

Quick Hits: ISFP in Action

• Turns quiet insights into tangible beauty.
• Trusts what’s real, but feels what’s possible.
• Notices patterns and symbolism that deepen their art.
• Drifts into abstract thought when alone.
• Imagines quiet, vivid futures or creative paths.
• Expresses intuition through sensory craft: color, sound, texture.
• Drawn to mystery, myth, and deeper meaning.
• Balances grounded realism with soulful vision.

Find out more about ISFPs: 12 Awkward Moments ISFPs Absolutely Hate

The ISTP

ISTPs trust what they can touch, measure, and verify. They live in the concrete world: the sound of an engine, the weight of a tool, the precision of a well-executed move. But every so often, they get a gut pull, a half-formed vision, a sense that something’s coming.

When they’re young, they’ll shrug it off. Facts first, feelings later. But with time, those flashes become harder to ignore. They start noticing quiet patterns, subtle shifts in how things unfold. A situation will click in their mind, and they’ll think, “I don’t know why, but this is where it’s heading.”

For an ISTP, intuition is like a compass hidden inside the toolbox. It may not be their first instinct to grab the compass, but it’s invaluable when precision alone can’t explain the terrain. Sometimes they’ll chase a vision with laser focus, translating a hunch into concrete results. Other times, they’ll find themselves thinking through strange symbols or philosophical musings, surprising even themselves.

It can be unsettling stepping into the fog when you’d rather read the map. But with maturity, intuition becomes an ally to the ISTP, helping them see not just what is, but what’s taking shape.

Quick Hits: ISTP in Action

• Learns to trust quiet insights alongside concrete data.
• Prefers facts but occasionally hit by flashes of “just knowing.”
• Spots patterns in motion before they fully appear.
• Uses intuition to foresee shifts and opportunities.
• Drawn to symbols, imagery, and deeper meaning over time.
• Balances logic with instinct when solving problems.
• Turns abstract vision into tangible results.
• Can be puzzled — or fascinated — by their own hunches.

Find out more about ISTPs: Four Personality Types ISTPs Clash with Most

The ESFP

ESFPs live in vivid color: the now, the laughter, the taste, the rush. They trust what they can experience firsthand, not theories about what might happen someday. But every once in a while, a flicker of intuition sneaks in; a gut feeling, an image, a sudden “aha!” that points toward something bigger just over the horizon.

In their younger years, they would brush it off. Why worry about tomorrow when today’s this good? They’d rather follow what’s fun, what’s real, what’s right in front of them. If the vibes are solid, who cares what the warning signs say?

But as life adds a few chapters, they start to notice patterns. The “random” hunches that used to show up out of nowhere start connecting the dots. They begin to wonder about meaning, destiny, symbolism as new colors to paint with. By midlife and beyond, many ESFPs surprise even themselves by getting hooked on the mysterious and archetypal; fascinated by how life’s moments fit together like a story with foreshadowing. Sometimes this focus can make them feel unsettled, disconcerted, and vulnerable. They may feel awkward talking about their hunches or insights, assuming that they’re “wrong” or inaccurate. But over time, and with the right encouragement, these intuitive hunches can add more depth and meaning to life.

Quick Hits: ESFP in Action

• In early life, intuition may be dismissed or ignored.
• Trusts lived experience over abstract theory.
• Gets “aha!” flashes about where things are heading.
• May ignore warnings if the present moment feels good.
• Focuses on joy first, consequences later (especially early on).
• Develops deeper intuition and foresight with age.
• Grows curious about symbolism and meaning in midlife.
• Balances optimism with emerging wisdom over time.

The ESTP

ESTPs live in motion. They’re quick, adaptable, and alert to whatever’s happening right now. They read the room, clock the variables, and act before most people have finished processing the question. Facts are their native language, and reality is their playground.

But every so often, something strange flickers in: a gut feeling, a vision, a sudden “this could work” that seems to come from nowhere. When that intuition hits, they’ll often follow it with full throttle, chasing a hunch before they can explain it, convinced the window of opportunity won’t stay open long. Sometimes they’re right. Other times, they leap before the bridge is built.

In early life, many ESTPs shove intuition to the back seat. It’s foggy, unpredictable, and — worst of all — can make them hesitate. They’d rather stick with what’s tangible, what’s proven, what they can test themselves. But that ignored function doesn’t disappear; it lingers. In stress, it can surface as insecurity: haunting “what ifs,” doomsday visions, or an uncomfortable sense that something’s coming they can’t control.

With maturity, though, that same intuition becomes an ally. They start noticing patterns instead of just playing reactions. Symbols and metaphors begin to hold meaning. The unknown stops feeling like a threat and starts feeling like an invitation. And when they learn to balance instinct with foresight, their power doubles and turns into swift action guided by quiet insight.

Quick Hits: ESTP in Action

• Learns to fuse instinct with foresight for powerful results.
• Acts fast, confident in the data right in front of them.
• Gets sudden hunches about how things will play out.
• Leaps on opportunities before others see them.
• May move too fast to foresee long-term consequences.
• Feels uneasy or off-balance when intuition gets loud.
• In stress, may spiral into anxious “what ifs” and worst-case imagery.
• Grows more reflective with age.

The ISFJ

ISFJs see the world through the lens of memory and meaning. They trust the patterns they’ve lived, the process that works, the traditions that have been honed by time. Practicality and lived experience are their guides. But tucked away in the background is their intuition; a shy voice full of “what ifs,” feeding them possibilities that don’t yet exist.

Most ISFJs find that voice… unsettling. It’s messy. Unpredictable. It doesn’t come with data or a clear track record. In youth, they’re more likely to wave it off as nonsense. “Why chase a wild idea when I don’t have any facts to support it?” They’d rather build with what they know than experiment with something that might crumble.

Still, their intuition slips in, often through their hands. They’ll pick up a stone and imagine a fairy garden. Look at a scrap of fabric and see ten different projects waiting. Their creativity tends to stay tethered to the tangible: imagination they can touch.

But there’s another side to intuition, the anxious kind. When ISFJs are stressed, those quiet “what ifs” can mutate into worst-case scenarios. They’ll start forecasting disasters, obsessing over what might go wrong, spinning in loops of uncertainty. They may feel overwhelmed by a feeling of doom and gloom and a frantic need to find solutions.

With time and maturity, though, that relationship softens. As ISFJs age, they start letting curiosity slip past caution. They toy with abstract ideas, explore unfamiliar paths, even laugh at their old resistance to change. Their perspective widens, not abandoning the tried-and-true, but blending it with possibility.

Quick Hits: ISFJ in Action

• Learns to balance security with curiosity.
• Trusts facts, experience, and tangible results first.
• Sees creative connections through hands-on projects.
• Uses intuition best when it’s grounded in the real world.
• Dismisses abstract “what ifs” as impractical, especially when young.
• Feels anxious or disoriented when unfamiliar possibilities flood in.
• May catastrophize under stress, imagining worst-case futures.
• Grows more playful and open to abstraction with age.

Find out more about ISFJs: Why ISFJs Often Feel Taken for Granted in Relationships

The ISTJ

ISTJs build their lives on bedrock: facts, evidence, and experience. If something’s worked before, they trust it. If it’s been tested, they’ll use it. Abstract theories and hypothetical debates? Those often sound like background noise; interesting, maybe, but not exactly useful.

Still, every so often, intuition slips through the cracks. When the usual methods stop working, they’ll catch a flash: a new angle, an unconventional fix, a pattern they can’t quite explain. It’s not their default mode, but when it shows up, it’s often right. Even if it makes them squint at first and go, “Huh. That’s… different.”

Early in life, ISTJs usually keep their intuition on a short leash. They’re suspicious of what can’t be proven. A half-formed “what if” feels flimsy compared to a solid “this works.” But with age and confidence, that begins to shift. They start experimenting just to see what happens.

Over time, brainstorming stops feeling like chaos and starts feeling like play. They discover there’s value in tossing ideas around, even the weird ones. The same mind that once clung to precedent begins connecting dots across decades, linking past lessons to future possibilities.

At their best, ISTJs are grounded innovators. They’re the people who can take the reliability of the past and fuse it with a glimmer of what might be next.

Quick Hits: ISTJ in Action

• Blends tradition with quiet originality over time.
• Relies on facts, proof, and real-world experience.
• Sees intuition as interesting but untrustworthy at first.
• Values methods that are tested, not theoretical.
• Dismisses abstract speculation as “nonsense” when young.
• Grows more open to brainstorming and experimentation with age.
• Learns to follow intuitive nudges when logic hits a wall.

The ESFJ

ESFJs like their world to make sense: clear plans, familiar rhythms, and results they can actually see. They trust what’s tried and true, what’s already proven itself useful. So when intuition pipes up with some vague “maybe,” they often side-eye it like, “Cool theory, but can it fold laundry?”

In early life, most ESFJs wave off their hunches. They prefer concrete facts over cloudy impressions. But as they grow, those quiet nudges start landing harder. They begin catching glimpses of the unseen: patterns in people, connections between events, subtle meanings in everyday moments. And that can be both exhilarating and exhausting.

Brainstorming and exploring fresh ideas lights them up for a while. But if the conversation drifts too far into hypothetical territory, they’ll start glancing at the clock, itching to get back to something real. Too many “what ifs” can feel like juggling jellyfish: slippery, shapeless, and impossible to hold still.

Sometimes their intuition opens a door to creativity, helping them imagine new systems, solve complex people-problems, or plan for the future in inspiring ways. Other times, it hijacks their peace, flooding them with options they can’t possibly chase or worries about problems that don’t even exist.

Quick Hits: ESFJ in Action

• Balances imagination with structure to build something real.
• Prefers facts, experiences, and clear results.
• Enjoys new ideas in small, manageable doses.
• Dismisses vague hunches as unreliable (especially when young).
• Grows more open to intuition and symbolism with maturity.
• Can feel overwhelmed by too many options or “what ifs.”
• Sometimes overthinks, seeing obstacles that aren’t there.
• Uses intuition best when it’s tied to practical goals.

The ESTJ

ESTJs like things that work. If there’s a system, they’ll run it. If there’s a plan, they’ll follow it, or, more likely, improve it. They build their lives on evidence and efficiency, so when intuition wanders in with a pile of “what ifs” and half-baked ideas, they’re not exactly rolling out the red carpet.

In youth, most ESTJs side-eye their hunches. If an idea can’t be proven, tested, or verified, it’s suspect. Why gamble on abstract theories when reality is so dependable? But as they age, intuition starts to tug at them. They catch glimpses of how things could unfold, flashes of possibility that make their minds buzz. Suddenly, brainstorming isn’t just tolerable, it’s energizing. For a while.

Too much abstraction, though, and they start to itch. They’re wired for action, and endless theorizing feels like being stuck in a meeting with no clear next steps. Still, when they harness their intuitive spark, blending it with their logistical skills, they can become exceptional strategists. They mix inspiration with contingencies, outcomes, and backup routes.

The trouble comes when the floodgates open. Too many options, too many angles, too many imagined futures, and the ESTJ’s instinct is to decide something now. But picking too fast can lead to regret, or worse, chasing phantom problems that never materialize.

Quick Hits: ESTJ in Action

• Blends foresight with follow-through to create lasting results.
• Prefers facts, structure, and real-world data.
• Sees abstract “what ifs” as impractical (especially early on).
• Grows more open to possibility and brainstorming with age.
• Uses intuition to map long-term strategies and contingencies.
• Can feel anxious or impatient when faced with too many options.
• Sometimes leaps into decisions just to clear the mental clutter.
• May overthink potential risks or problems that never appear.

What Are Your Thoughts?

How do YOU use intuition? 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 INTJ – Understanding the Strategist, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!

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