Are You an INFJ Too?

What is an INFJ exactly? Well, this personality type is said to make up only 1% of the population, meaning you'll spot one in a crowd of one hundred. So they are somewhat rare, but they’re out there!

The following 9 INFJ characteristics helped me realize I was one of them!

1) The Advocate

An INFJ is said to have a strong protective side of other people, particularly when someone is in danger or being hurt. We feel sudden empathy with that person and become a passionate advocate. As long as someone needs us, we can literally "do this all day" with a violently protective spirit.

2) Passionate Nerd

Every INFJ I have ever met loves the world Tolkien created: Middle Earth as portrayed in The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series! Many of them also enjoy Dungeons & Dragons, immersive story games like Skyrim, nerdy shows like Sherlock and Doctor Who, and Disney movies (of course, who doesn't like Disney?).

INFJ’s tend to be passionate in areas such as literature, art, music, video games, TV shows, etc. because we love “to explore strange new worlds…to seek out new life and new civilizations…to boldly go where no one has gone before!”—often just from the comfort of our homes with a blanket and warm mug of coffee or tea!

(Fun Fact: INFJ's tend to remember countless quotes accurately and can whip them out at any time in a conversation!)

3) Daydreamer

Though the INFJ tends to be quiet on the outside, their minds are going a mile a minute! Their thoughts wander into other realms even as the real world moves around them.

Perhaps they’re wondering something completely random, like, “Did Caesar invent the thumbs-up gesture we use today?” It might also be something of a deeper concept, such as, “Can anyone truly be called good or bad? Or are we all just people?” They are constantly thinking about anything and everything!

4) Quiet Observer

Whether or not it’s true, an INFJ may often come across as shy around strangers or even a group of friends. Honestly, we're content to stay quiet because we simply enjoy absorbing the atmosphere of a social gathering, silently observing from the side with the occasional comment. When the social environment is peaceful and everyone is getting along, we are at ease merely enjoying the time together.

5) Peacemaker

However, if things get aggressive between other people, the INFJ will often try to turn down the heat, offering reassurance, compliments, and rewording other people’s statements to keep things peaceful.

Constantly predicting potential outcomes of a conversation, an INFJ will try to mediate harmful topics, which can be helpful or counterproductive, depending on whether it was actually going to be valuable communication despite the painful honesty!

6) The Rosetta Stone, "Open Sesame," and "Rumplestiltskin!" Discovery for Getting an INFJ to Open Up

INFJ’s aren’t often comfortable talking about themselves through small talk and direct questions, probably because the question either feels irrelevant or they will read too far into the surface-level questions, feeling they didn’t have enough time to carefully choose their words.

However, if you show a genuine interest in something they’re passionate about without judgment for their somewhat unusual opinions, the floodgates are opened! Bring up a topic of interest to them, and that conversation is something else they can probably “do all day!”

Showing interest in their passions is an indirect way of showing interest in them. That way, they won’t feel pushed into the spotlight, but they will end up expressing themselves throughout the conversation!

7) Don't Judge and Don't Want to be Judged

As peacemakers, INFJ’s don’t often judge other people or try to tell them how to live their lives. They have to be really passionate about trying to help someone change for the better to initiate such a confrontation. On the other hand, INFJ’s abhor being judged or given advice without asking for it!

One of the quickest ways out of an INFJ’s heart is to question their beliefs, choices, or their morals; they take pride (maybe too much) in their efforts to be good, wise, and effective people. To tell them they’re selfish, dishonest, fake, etc. would be very destructive. Essentially, always be genuine around them (they won’t judge you), but try to keep an open mind (and don’t judge them either)!

8) The Feels!

I believe INFJ’s either go 100% or 0% into something. They are either completely, personally invested or not at all. We feel things so deeply that we have to be selective about our objects of sentiment. An INFJ dreams of adventure and purpose: 100% of our emotions are wrapped up in those two desires.

We want to meet interesting people and also save them; we want to explore the world but also make a difference in it. Constantly trying to improve ourselves in anticipation of a meaningful future, we’re always searching for something to advocate, somewhere to belong, which is difficult, because we have trouble feeling we belong anywhere.

9) How Do You Say..."Understand?"

Finally, INFJ’s tend to be pretty socially inept (great listeners, but not so great at speaking effectively). We don't say much in casual conversations, and we’ll feel that no one understands us if we are honest about the thoughts behind our smiles.

But that’s expecting a lot from someone because we’re bad at making people understand! Even so, while an INFJ doesn’t expect much from a friend, the one thing they do expect can feel pretty costly, and, again, that is your genuine interest in them as a person. You don’t have to understand them (chances are, they’re having trouble even understanding themselves); it just means the world to them that you want to!

Thank You!!

So, if you've made it this far, thank you so much for reading all of this! I hope it was somehow insightful and helpful to you, whether you're an INFJ, you know one, or you've yet to meet one! Have a wonderful day!

Fun Fact!

Every INFJ I know loves this guy!!