Evanmark

Live. Explore. Grow. Inspire.

in pursuit of deeper meaning

INFJ

In the world of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), INFJs make up about 1-2% of the population, and within that, males are even less common. Estimates suggest that INFJ males represent less than 1% of all men.

“What’s the big deal?” you may ask.

Well, as an INFJ male, I spent my childhood—and most of my early adult years—wondering why I had a hard time finding like-minded individuals who functioned in the same ways that I do.

In college, I wrestled with choosing between music, math, or computer science, as I enjoyed and excelled in all three for similar reasons. I developed strong foundational understanding of the overarching principles that undergirded each of these fields and was able to be creative, productive, and helpful to my peers. However, I didn’t fit the mold or stereotypes associated with any of these fields. The problem was, I felt I didn’t “fit.”

This isn’t a “poor pitiful me” sort of thing. I was genuinely curious as to why things were the way they were. But it wasn’t until much later in life that I stumbled upon MBTI, a psychological tool that categorizes individuals based on four dimensions: (i) where you focus your attention and get your energy, (ii) how you take in information, (iii) how you make decisions, and (iv) how you approach the outside world.

Many posts in this section reflect my own journey as an INFJ, focusing on personality development and how I’ve come to understand myself better. Generally, they will explore the intricacies of my personality type, and how I’ve worked to become more emotionally, socially, and mentally mature.

INFJ Breakdown

Introversion (I)

Preference for the inner world: INFJs focus more on their inner thoughts and feelings rather than external stimuli. They recharge by spending time alone or with a close-knit group of people.

Depth over breadth: INFJs tend to have fewer relationships, but they are deep and meaningful. They often prefer quiet reflection or engaging in personal interests.

Reserved energy: They typically appear calm and introspective, conserving their energy for important or meaningful interactions.

Intuition (N)

Focus on possibilities: INFJs use intuition to understand patterns and connections, often thinking about the future or deeper meanings. They prefer to focus on big-picture ideas rather than specific details.

Abstract thinkers: They are more interested in exploring ideas, concepts, and underlying meanings rather than concrete facts or the immediate, present reality.

Creative problem-solvers: INFJs rely on their intuition to come up with innovative solutions to problems, trusting their hunches and insights.

Feeling (F)

Value-driven decisions: INFJs prioritize emotions, values, and personal principles when making decisions. They seek harmony and want to make choices that align with their moral beliefs.

Empathetic: INFJs are highly sensitive to the feelings of others, often able to understand what others are experiencing even when it’s unspoken.

Compassionate: They are driven by a deep desire to help others and improve the world around them, often leading causes that align with their core values.

Judging (J)

Preference for structure: INFJs like to plan, organize, and have a sense of control over their environment. They often make decisions in advance and prefer order and predictability in their lives.

Goal-oriented: They set clear goals and work methodically toward achieving them, valuing organization and long-term planning.

Decisive: INFJs are typically decisive and prefer to close off options once they’ve made a decision, rather than staying open-ended or spontaneous.

All of this information initially led me down a rabbit hole, pushing me to seek a deeper understanding not only of myself but of everyone around me.

The blog posts that I make about the INFJ personality type will reflect my own personal journey as I’ve come to understand myself better. Through these posts, I hope to shed light on what it means to be an INFJ and offer insights for others who may be on a similar path of self-discovery. Whether you are an INFJ yourself or simply curious about this unique personality type, my goal is to create a venue where we can explore these topics together and gain a deeper understanding of how we, as INFJs, see and interact with the world.