Work fast.
I was reading a book on experimental drawing yesterday and this maxim is what resonated with me as the antidote to the INFJ lock into their tertiary introverted thinking. The person writing the book said when she had students that one of the exercises was to make 40 drawings in 3 hours. She said some students had a big problem with that. I myself have experienced this disconnect. How the fuck am I supposed to work that fast and do anything remotely decent?
But that is the point. It gets you out of your head and into your work. It encourages focus and engagement. It is especially good advice for an INFJ who is stuck in their tertiary. Big problem for them. They want to figure it out before they do it. And it has to be done painstakingly and perfectly. This might work better for an extraverted thinking type but not for extraverted feeling. Extraverted feeling has to flow.
Yes, you risk losing a lot of information and accuracy but that will come with practice. Get out of the left-brain analysis.
Moreover, get outside. Get outside yourself. That’s called extraversion. All that worrying about whether that was the perfect word choice leads to a lack of production, another keyword of extraversion, production. You can spend days, weeks, and hours worrying about whether your expression was correct but meanwhile time is aticking away. And that is what will drive you crazy in the end, not whether you expressed some part of some thing perfectly.
Now, notice that you can’t do extraverted feeling and introverted thinking simultaneously. Let’s use writing as an example. If you were engaging in extraverted feeling type writing you would be using a lot of adjectives and descriptive language, painting a picture with words as it were. The writing might almost smack of hyperbole, exaggeration, and emotional emphasis. In other words, there would be a lot of subjective flavor to it, a strong feeling coming from a flesh-and-blood person.
Introverted thinking writing is akin to legalistic writing like if you were writing a contract that was legally binding. Because a document of this nature is subject to legal repercussions should any of the parties that the contract binds fall into breach of contract, it is necessary to have the strictest definitions of terms so that there is the minimum of grey area in interpretation. Still, even with these type of written documents, they are still subject to interpretation. The reason for this is because humans are involved and humans use natural language to communicate. A natural language is the English language for example. It evolved over time and naturally. Words have shifted in meaning. That sort of thing.
So, there is the rub. We can communicate in very precise language and terms with the English language but what you mean and what I mean by the same word might vary somewhat. When you add context to the matter, it further complicates things. Words can mean different things in different contexts. Someone might have been joking for example. The other person took it seriously. Result = miscommunication and maybe even, gasp, hurt feelings.
Yes, INFJs through their tertiary introverted thinking will bypass their auxiliary function (big mistake for all types and quite common) of extraverted feeling because they will be getting the snide feeling that what they are putting across through any variety of mediums doesn’t have that objective ring to it. It is not precise enough, dry enough, inhuman enough. O, see how INFJs secretly yearn to be robots.
But, it is not destined for them. Should have been born an INTP if that is what you had in mind.
Now, it is not all bad INFJs of the world, you can still express introverted thinking crystal clarities anytime you want. You simply have to engage your extraverted feeling auxiliary in order to do it. It is akin to the Newtonian law that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. But, you have to start at extraverted feeling. You hear that. YOU HAVE TO START AT EXTRAVERTED FEELING. If you bypass extraverted feeling, which is your exuberant and irrational emotional self, then not only will you not be getting the tertiary function, you will be going to bed early without any dinner. Dig.
The tertiary function for all types is dessert. What do you have to do in order to get dessert? That’s right, you have to eat your meat. Or whatever you crazy fucks eat for dinner. The auxiliary function is the main course. The dominant function is the plate holding all the courses. Or something like that. This isn’t an exact science.
Which bring up a good point. This isn’t an exact science. INFJs can pretty much forget about exact sciences if that is what they were secretly hoping for. Inexact sciences, yes. Exact sciences no. (Psychology, for example, is an inexact science)
So, if you eat too many sweets, what happens to you? You get sick, right? When INFJs go to the cookie jar one too many times in that one last search (I promise momma!) for that perfect term, line, look, or nook, then they are in danger of dying of sweetness. That is the tertiary. In due proportion, it is fine and fitting and quite an excellent end to round out the main course. The tertiary is a rounding out function. Study ancient Greek architecture, like the Greek Parthenon to see the INFJ tertiary in action. It gives that sheen of formality over what is essentially a humanistic construction, whether it be in words, birds, bricks, or paint. But, you don’t start with a sheen. You start with the main thrust. That is extraverted feeling for INFJ. It isn’t even your dominant introverted intuition. Best to think of the dominant function like something that is just always there. If it ain’t, you don’t exist. It’s like fish in water. No water, no fish. You don’t really do anything with it as such.
Want to solve all your problems INFJs. Work fast. Be like the people in the experimental drawing book, which incidentally is a thing they do in all proper art courses. Learn to draw fast. It will seem strange at first, especially to introverts who have all these precious notions stored up of the way things should be, but I assure you it is your ticket to freedom. Ditch the analysis paralysis. That is your lock into the dominant-tertiary loop and it will fuck you so sweetly, yet so assuredly.
Get yourself in a profession that supports the gifts of your type; depth of insight combined with a humanistic form of expressing them. Not robotic form of expressing. Or legal or even scientific. Nothing like that. Now, those things may come as a sheen once you have gotten on the right end of the equation of extraverted feeling/introverted thinking. They exist as a pole. Can’t express both sides of a pole simultaneously. You will start at extraverted feeling and end up with no effort on your part, as a natural byproduct and reaction, at introverted thinking.
Don’t reach for the secret too soon, as Pink Floyd said.
If you need help with any of the INFJ issues outlined in this article, consider consulting with me. I have been helping INFJ’s since 2015 find their way in a world not made for them.
Thank you for this great article! It’s like a present for my birthday) As I have noticed for me journaling in a “stream of consciousness” way is a key for my wellbeing. And it really demands to work fast.
Well, that makes me very happy. Happy Birthday!
This may wind up being very long, but I’m going to vomit my disconnected thoughts onto you after binge reading all of your INFJ posts. First of all, thank you for writing about us INFJs in a non-jaded, exposing manner that acts as a very refreshing slap in both mine, and many other INFJ’s faces. You know you’re revealing some uncomfortable truths to people when they’re posting butt-hurt comments about how “offended” they are.
To preface my question, I’m 18 years old, a senior in highschool who is about to graduate, and soon to start my last stage of education in college. Obviously the stones are starting to roll, so to speak, and I’m going to be thrown in to the “real world” in not too long… which means I need to figure out what I’m going to be doing in life. I laughed while reading a few of your posts because you made it pretty clear-cut that INFJs, for the most part, have no business in math and science fields. Basically, anything too involved and meticulously dry that drains us mentally and won’t hold our attention for very long. And I completely agree; I would love nothing more than to support myself through writing, while getting the chance to act and even dabble in painting. But, I’m also a realist, and I know just how difficult it would be to support such a lifestyle. Which is why I’m thinking about potentially trying to get the best of both worlds by double majoring in both Computer Science and English. I figure this way I get a solid career that can easily earn 70k out of school, and I can further study what I love to do. Obviously, I’m still having second thoughts about it though. I do have a pretty reasonable interest in technology and am savvy enough with it to say I could match your average INTJ in knowledge related to computers, but inside I have this nagging feeling that I may be making a mistake by studying Computer Science. I feel like once I get to those weed-out courses like advanced calculus and electrical mapping, I’ll begin to wonder what the hell I’m doing. Not to mention, you can’t have that much time for writing on the side if you’ve made a career out of programming. But, then, what am I to do? Should I listen to the old cliché, and “follow my dreams”? You seemed to insinuate in one of your posts that INFJs have a natural aptitude to succeed in artistic fields, only bested by perhaps the ENFJ. I also found it interesting that you seemed to claim there is a “high demand” for INFJs, but also stated they’re very unfit for the current workforce. I still have a couple years while I complete my general education classes to figure out what I want to do with my life (no biggie, right… right?), and I’m not asking for you to have the miracle answer to my life based off one post, but I would love to hear your input. And do you have any suggestions about INFJ-related fields that won’t have me living at my parent’s house?
On a different note, I loved your assessments about the INFJ personality. It seemed like your motto for most of the INFJ problems was to listen to our auxiliary function. In fact, maybe you should post a banner saying: “But, you have to start at extraverted feeling. You hear that. YOU HAVE TO START AT EXTRAVERTED FEELING.” on all your INFJ posts, because that was hilarious. Something that resounded with me was when you spoke of how the INFJ’s way of “participating in reality” was to understand it and even dream about what we might do to change it, but more often than not, we would never directly take action to make that reality true. Do you have any advice on how to break that cycle? Also, I totally agree with practicing the “work fast” method to keep our creativity flowing — I’ve been guilty many times of searching the dictionary for the right word to express whatever emotion I’m trying to convey. If you’re working quickly you only have time to express what you truly feel, and then after you’ve completed something, you can go back and modify little things.
P.S.
I know you’ll never admit your MBTI type, Blake, but my my bets are on either INTP or INFJ. You claim to be a ninja as well. What three letters are in ninja? IN_J. And I’m sure if you broke some of the pieces off the letter “a” and “n”, you could form an “F”, making INFJ. Conspiracy? Illuminati? Or idea so crazy it just might be true? Or are you just a time-traveling wizard who reads the diaries of every MBTI type so you know exactly what to say about us?
Well, first off you seem like a very intelligent and together young man. It seems like you have given this major life decision of yours quite a bit of balanced thought. You make a good case for pursuing the double major of English and Computer Science. The only question I would have is how realistic it is (like you pointed out) because if you get into Computer Science, that is rigorous enough by itself workload and study-wise. You say you are already knowledgeable enough with computers compared to the average INTJ. Have you ever been immersed in an intensive environment of computer and programming training? I have some idea of the math and science levels you have to have for universities and it seems daunting. This is not to say that if you have an interest and aptitude that you shouldn’t pursue it. I really don’t know without talking to you and observing you over time.
You do know that I would generally advise against it if you are an INFJ. But, that doesn’t mean that I know everything and I certainly don’t in all cases. There are some INFJs that do go into scientific fields. But, they would certainly be in the minority. And science itself isn’t the biggest problem. It’s the technical aspects that are particularly a bad fit for an INFJ temperament. I think an INFJ can think scientifically but it tends to be in a high-level theoretical way, and even here, as you can imagine, this would tend to put too much burden on the tertiary, which is not strong or efficient enough to handle heavy workloads in the INFJ temperament. Not to say there aren’t outlier INFJs who haven’t gone onto have fulfilling, and even spectacular, careers in the realm of science, but my advice is meant to be in a general sense. Also, temperament isn’t everything. And really in the final analysis we must make our own choices based on what we feel makes sense to us at the time. Self-knowledge is good but it can’t necessarily substitute for the knowledge that comes from experience. Sometimes we make bad choices but often we cannot tell beforehand what the outcome will be. I tend to err on the side of where a person’s passion lies.
You say that your passion (or thereabouts) lies in writing and that the prospect of supporting yourself in this manner would thrill you. Yet, you are a realist. Well, can’t argue with that. Writing is certainly not a practical career choice. The real cutting edge of the whole matter really revolves around how badly you want that. As I have said before, I think that INFJs have more ability to succeed in an artistic career than any other type, barring perhaps an ENFJ. But, if we are talking about writing alone, I think that an INFJ, all other things being equal, has the best chance of being a successful and great writer of all the sixteen types, bar none. I would even go so far as to say that writing is the activity where an INFJ is most like a fish in water. Maybe not all INFJs, but on average, INFJs have a magic with writing (when they develop their natural proficiency for it). So do INTJs, especially in critique. If we are talking creative writing of any sort such as poet or novelist, well, some of the greatest poets and novelists have been INFJs, and by a far margin. I can’t neglect INTJs here either. They rule like a motherfucker with “the word” too.
When I said that INFJs are in “high demand”, what I meant is many people need what INFJs can offer, and actually want it. But, it is the INFJ who has to give it. And many INFJs hide their light under a bushel, not exposing themselves or developing themselves because they become cynical about the world, they have suffered ridicule and been ostracized and alienated. You name some negative emotion that a person can feel and many INFJs have experienced the full gamut of them, especially if they are older.
It is difficult for them in the current work force because of the great expansion of technological careers, which don’t suit INFJ temperaments that well. Though some are likely to have more than a passing interest in these type of careers because of their lovely tertiary introverted thinking where they start thinking they can turn into computer nerds and the like. This can be dangerous because there is some capacity there, but in the long-term and under a heavy workload the tertiary would falter, and yes, there would probably be a drying up of interest in the things of the tertiary. In the case of a university education, it could mean wasting your money and your time pursuing something that is foolhardy. But, then again, maybe it is not a waste at all if you learn through experience what is or isn’t for you. There really is no substitute for experience. And that is one thing that INFJs often try to forestall by looping over their options again and again. Any introverted intuitive would prefer to find out something before they have to have the experience. Sometimes this is feasible (and wise) and sometimes it isn’t.
Why not just go for the English degree? You know you would love to write. You are already having doubts deep down about pursuing computer science (I don’t know if that is because of something you read about INFJs or something aside from that). And you may make less money right off the bat, but if you don’t have a family (which I know you don’t if your 18), then now is the time to take these type of risks. If you decide to marry at some point, and especially if you have kids, it will be a different ballgame.
Also, you are probably right about not having that much time for writing on the side if you have made a career out of computer programming. Computer programming is pretty intense for all except those who have the most natural aptitude for it. And INFJs, to put it baldly, probably don’t. But, if you honestly think you do, don’t let me discourage you. Like I said, I don’t know everything about everyone in every case. I am only speaking in generalities.
Hope that helps.
And yes, I am a time-traveling wizard. Of course I fucking am.
Since I learned that I am an INFJ and that I may… focus too much on the feelings of others I’ve been trying to focus more on the here and now and it really has helped my life so I kinda get what you are saying.
so.. you seem to have love/hate thinking about INFJs… lol
“Nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
“The tertiary function for all types is dessert. What do you have to do in order to get dessert? That’s right, you have to eat your meat. Or whatever you crazy fucks eat for dinner. The auxiliary function is the main course. The dominant function is the plate holding all the courses.”
that’s great explanation, I’m starting to understand it, I think. so, would it be safe to say that the dominant function is your purpose in life, what you’re destined to do: like Te – you’ve been born to get shit done in a rational fashion, Ne – your purpose is to bring dots together and create new insight or open a broader perspective etc, Fe – you’re here to bring people together, create harmony , Ni – you’re here to bring vision, Se – to interact with the material stuff, to mold material reality or use your body to do stuff, Si – to organize data, Fi – to … I don’t know, be a moral agent, make the world better by just being nice? not sure, Ti – don’t know, think things through?
approximately.
anyway, then the secondary and tertiary are the instruments to enact this mission, with the secondary being the primary instrument, and the tertiary the auxiliary, ie. helping the secondary and amending its failures.
something like that?
nah, that’s probably too simplicistic … I guess you have to look at functions in dynamic correlation.
but let me know what you think, if I’m on the right track at least
Yeah, it sounds like you more or less get it. The dominant is relatively neutral in orientation. It is like water to a fish. A fish doesn’t really do anything with water as such, they just need it in order to exist. If you asked a fish about the water about them, they would probaly say something like, “What is water?” They can’t see it. It just is everything to them. Only some one coming from some outside orientation may notice it, like, “Hey you sure know how to move around in water there little fish.”
So, I don’t know if I would call the dominant the “purpose in life”. I would actually say the purpose in life is the auxiliary function. The dominant function is just you. Regardless of any purpose. It is your way of being a self. Or simply the world one lives in. I think the best way of referring the dominant function is to call it “the ego” in the psychoanalytic sense of that word. Without some form of ego-containment, there is no self, much less any purpose in life that self might have.
But, yes, you are right about the auxiliary and the tertiary being alternated in tandem, with the auxiliary leading and beginning. And these are also the primary functions that you can do something with, to enact, or cause change, or express a particular gift of that type (which is primarily the auxiliary). The tertiary should always be viewed as being on an axis of opposition with the auxiliary function. The tertiary is a function that is a finishing function. But, it can only be appropriately used by using the auxiliary function. And it is something that will come as a natural result or reaction of using the auxiliary function, like Newton’s law of for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This is not true for the dominant-inferior axis because you don’t use them as such. You do not take action with the dominant function. You inhabit it. The same is true for the inferior. Your opposite inhabits it. They are function of self and not-self. They have nothing to do with direct action or doing.
thanks, that’s a great explanation!
so, basically, what you’re saying is: focus on the auxiliary. don’t worry about the dominant, cause that’s you, that’s never gonna be eclipsed, while the tertiary will be activated by the auxiliary anyway.
the main dangers would then be either bypassing the auxiliary too often, or enter in that inferior function mode that you hinted at in the Ni-Se post (I hope you’ll write sth. analogous for the other inferior functions, as well, say Te-Fi for the ENTJs & ESTJs, Ne-Si for ENTPs & ENFPs, or the Fe-Ti for ENFJs & ESFJs … that would be extremely interesting … I sense there’s something crucial going on with the dominant-inferior dynamics, but I haven’t gotten it yet)
So how do you specifically advise INFJs to engage their Fe function. I admire the way you present this issue and one could overcome it, but I think you’re talking about the functions as if having an on/off switch to them, unfortunately I am quite inept at finding such switches. Any guidance?
Be more specific about the problem you are having and that might tell me how to best engage your auxiliary Fe and if that is in fact the issue for you.
“When I said that INFJs are in “high demand”, what I meant is many people need what INFJs can offer, and actually want it. But, it is the INFJ who has to give it. And many INFJs hide their light under a bushel, not exposing themselves or developing themselves because they become cynical about the world, they have suffered ridicule and been ostracized and alienated. You name some negative emotion that a person can feel and many INFJs have experienced the full gamut of them, especially if they are older”.
I am older and can attest to this, thank you for clarifying this.
I also agree with your observation that “It is difficult for INFJ in the current work force because of the great expansion of technological careers, which don’t suit INFJ temperaments that well”. I used to be a secretary which involved some subjective interaction. But when I left that career it was becoming more-and-more ‘computery’ even for the simplest acts! which just did my head in! I love the benefits of technology such as they are, and very occasionally engage with pleasure, but there are many negatives I believe for INFJ.
Yes, I agree with what you quoted in the first paragraph. Could be because I wrote it, but, maybe that is too obvious.
So, yeah, INFJs often hide out from the world and don’t offer what only they can give because they cease to care about the world or they have been given so little validation for who they are and what they have to offer that they figure they have nothing to offer that the world would want.
They basically in essence can say, “What’s the use of all the stressing and straining when it will all come to naught anyway? In the eternal what difference does it make? It will all come right in the end anyway. So why should I expose myself to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune?”
They actually say a lot of the stuff that Hamlet would say.
And, yeah, regarding INFJs and technology. Well, let’s just say it is not a match made in heaven.
And INFJ, being the heavenly type, can’t really excel in jobs and careers that are made for Teutonic gnomes.
I think INFJs CAN go into scienc-y/technical careers so long as it’s in the service of some Fe-driven vision. The goal has to be people-oriented and humanistic, even if the means to get there is sometimes a bit dry.
I actually think INFJs might be great at programming if the ultimate product is visual, creative, or human. Multimedia/entertainment industry stuff as opposed to making processors run faster.
I’d love for you to write more about ENTPs! I’ve been thinking a bit about my husband’s tertiary function, Fe. He definitely tries to help everyone he meets: close friends, strangers, wives are sometimes all equally worthy of his attention. He’s very good at giving (much better than me!) but often does so in a way that really undermines his own goals and natural energies. He feels like he needs to be the life of the party and yet also secretly wants to hang back. The longer we are together the more he is realizing that he has a hard time withdrawing from the world, but is much, much happier when he does, and wants to put more physical boundaries between himself and others (e.g., by escaping to the middle of nowhere to focus on his mad scientist ideas). In other words, I think he’s learning that he needs to make his Fe take a backseat to his Ni.
Anyway, hope you write more about ENTPs! I’ll even donate. And I think in general, writing about each type in relation to their tertiary function and their need to kick up the auxillary (but what prevents them from doing so) is probably the most useful thing you can do. It answers that question for each person (and the ones who love them) of why are you not living your life as well as you could? What’s holding you back? How can you move forward?
I hope you play with your ideas on this blog and eventually turn it into a book. Especially with your hilarious take the piss out of everything voice. So much of MBTI is too moody (especially INFJ sites!) or self-serious. I think it would sell very, very well. I’d buy a copy and send one to everyone I know.
I think it would kill you (it would kill me) but in some ways you need one book, even a short one, for each type. A lot of the information would repeat, but you really want to tell the story from the POV of the type of your reader: here’s how you see the world, here’s how you fuck it up, now let me explain how you relate to everyone else.
Thanks for the encouragement to kill myself! Yeah, I might eventually write a book but right now I enjoy the blog/article format because it is spontaneous and off-the-cuff. I’m sure I could write a book on each of the types but this is more fun to me as of now. And in the event I do decide to write a book(s), this whole process of blogging will have aided in that anyway.
I will likely write more about ENTPs in the future days of Stellar Maze. I mean, no, I definitely will. What am I saying? Of course I will write more about ENTPs. I could hardly not do so. Actually, I think Douglas Adams beat me to it when he wrote a book entitled, Life, The Universe, and Everything. Yes, that about sums up the ENTP nature very succinctly. Just everything on until infinity more of less.
And yes, I absolutely agree with your opening statement that INFJs can go into scienc-y/technical careers as long as it is in service to some Fe (and Ni) vision. So, yes, multimedia/entertainment industry stuff that employs visual, creative, and humanistic elements.
Basically, as long as INFJs are using technology to aid them in this, the world of technology is a great blessing and leverage-producing agent for them. Just beware the tertiary temptation towards Ti things as a thing and end of themselves! It is subtle and tricky, this Ti tertiary function.
I think it is a great idea that you have to write about each of the types from the tertiary perspective and the need to engage the auxiliary. I agree that it is probaly the most useful thing to mention for each type as I have noticed such a pull to the tertiary for each type, and it tends to be a very common way to get one’s priorities mixed up, literally reversed, as it were. As some Si type might say, it is like putting the cart before the horse.
First of all, you sooo rock. Im so happy i found this website.
As an INFJ that has been through evvveerrryything as a kid, I have made it my mission to grow and better myself. It has served me well…
Question: I focus so much on others, I have this intense sort of tunnel vision only focusing on one thing as a time. I focus on my kids or either my relationship and i end up neglecting myself.
How do i stop this only focusing on others thing???? (I f’in sick of it. Im always giving giving giving)
Question: Im writing a book and I find it hard to make myself write ( its mainly the stuff that I wrote on paper a year ago that I need to type up). I keep pushing and pushing myself mentally and then I dont want to do it. When i get bursts of inspiration I write for hours on end about it. But trying to make myself type up the things I wrote a year ago for this book …..I hate it. But then Id feel like a failure if I didnt do it.
How do I get out of this “inactivity” stage and make myself do it? Its like inside im just a rebellious child that wants to be outside and look at trees all day!
PS. your site + my brain = amazing sex.
My mind loves all this mbti stuff to no end!!!
I’d have to talk to you more in depth to answer either of those questions. It really depends on your particular situation how I would answer either of them. I will be writing more about how mobilizing Fe auxiliary in the INFJ can really help them solve many of their seemingly intractable problems. If you want to consult contact me at blake@stellarmaze.com. I offer consultations via Skype voice at the rate of $60 an hour. I have a lot of experience finding custom-tailored solutions for INFJs to help them get and stay on track.
I’m glad that my site is having amazing sex with your brain. It’s a bit slutty that way.
This whole blog is galvanizing….but the topic of (flow) Fe versus (be impartial and accurate and always cite your sources!)Ti has produced audible clicking-into-place-aha-I-get-it-now sounds.
I recognized the need to “work fast” after reading your post last Friday. And I did. I worked fast; I surveyed, synthesized, visualized, and vomited it all back on the page, adding delicious flavor. Today, Monday, my hard-ass director, my boss’ boss’ boss, came to my desk with my boss and my boss’ boss in tow, to tell me how my work on the shareholders’ report was outstanding? This doesn’t seem real.
It’s real though. Corporate reports aren’t worth writing about. They are petty and lame…yet a) they are the bane of my existence b) they are a humiliating time waste c) I am judged on how well or poorly they are done.
And I share my embarrassing need for external validation with all of you to demonstrate that Blake’s advice to INFJs to “work fast” was spot-on and to a scary degree.
I’m looking forward to reading more about Fe.
Yes, I think we could all use a little more Fe in corporate reports. At least if just for the reason that doing them in this manner makes them a hell of a lot more engaging to the doer of them. Especially, if they are an INFJ because INFJs and corporate reports do not go together at all. So, Fe the hell out of them. Good job! I think if an INFJ can find a way to make something interesting to them and get in the flow state about it, they will do a good job on it.
I’d like to tell my tale as an INFJ who followed her Ti and ended up in a 22-year career in a technical field (computer modeling and simulation for the defense industry) and how I coped.
For one, I convinced myself that I was an INTJ, even scored as such on a professionally-administered test. So I believed myself to be a “thinking” type. I certainly wanted to be given what I observed about emotions in my childhood. You can do what you believe. I was inspired into a scientific career by Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos” series on TV, and did well in my physics classes at the University, so I thought I should be a physics major. I graduated and took a job in the defense industry (the country was still in the cold war, so only defense organizations were hiring physics majors).
It wasn’t long before I turned to plethora of hobbies outside of work to satisfy the more basic needs that drove me–marriage, art, music, raising dogs, sports, photography. I really got into spiritual growth ideas and metaphysical books, groups, and practices at that time. (I should mention that during part of this time I did entertain the idea that I was an INFJ, but after awhile told myself I’m probably an INTJ. It is only recently, upon studying the cognitive functions that I finally do see myself as an INFJ).
I still did well in my work, though, got good performance evaluations and was well-regarded by bosses and peers. One thing as I reflect on my work life was how much I enjoyed Fe’ing with my work-mates in conversation.
So I have brought up two coping mechanisms so far: believing myself to be a thinker, and finding Fe outlets in my hobbies and my relationships with my work-mates. And of course, the pleasure of a great marriage throughout this time! But there is also a third important one, the fact that my husband and I were able to retire from our jobs when I was 43, he 45, because we lived frugally and aggressively saved our money for almost the entirety of our careers. I have been independent of the need to work for money for 9 years now, completely free to pursue artistic and musical pursuits full time. And amazingly enough, the world seems receptive to what I have to offer!
So I just want to offer a potential path for INFJs considering a technical career–live frugally, save your money, and retire early!
Blake, I really want to thank you for such an intriguing set of articles, particularly on the nature, care, and feeding of an INFJ. You have inspired me to follow my Fe more and not get so caught up in the lure of Ti.
Thanks so much for writing this enlightening piece. I do get entangled in the tertiary function from time to time. I currently have trouble deciding whether to pursue higher studies in economics (I have an undergraduate degree in the field) or to change my career path towards landscape architecture. I like how economics is more focused on bettering the lives of the poor but lacks “soul” and its mainstream practice, especially in journal articles, encourages a more objective, rational tone rather than a more humanistic and emotive one. Landscape architecture on the other hand sometimes accommodates a tone that manifests my extraverted feeling function and introverted intuition but the actual making of the product involves extraverted sensing, my inferior function, which I really love yet from which I easily burn out (and I also obsess over details in a tertiary Ti way). Given these pros and cons from each field, where do you think I’ll be more suited or would best use my extraverted feeling function for the good of others? Thanks so much!
i just came by your article and it actually does a pretty good job giving some proper guidance regarding INFJ’s career choices. I am going to complete my law studies by next year and have already completed my piano studies up to the bachelor level. As an INFJ, I would love to have a job which provides me with a forum to express my thoughts and theories as well to shape personalities and directly/indirectly mentor them; Academia seems like a suitable destination, as well as journalist/article writer in acclaimed newspapers. (Writing and composing is another medium which I love and is suitable, yet not financially realistic atm). My main worry is in what field should I make a research, teach and mostly, can express the most of my interests. I love psychology as a field, especially social psychology, I certainly am skilled at analyzing and helping people; however, the latter, while it comes natural, it does not give me the freedom to fully express myself (as the center of attention is the healing of the patient) and does not truly reward me emotionally I think. I would prefer to more actively influence larger audiences, or an audience in general. That begs the questiion, which professions could help me express myself more holistically and authentically.
Last but not least, Id like to note truly love phliosophy and I have been told that I am talented at coming up with innovative (and consistent) theories regarding F (human) studies -there seems to be some evidence that my Ti is at least partially developed. Research in inexact sciences, such International Affairs and World History, Politics, Social Psychology, Sexuality and Identity Issues are my 4 top guesses regarding my PhD at the moment. Have you any more ideas to offer (as well objections and suggestions)? Is there anything in Art you would consider? Another profession I havent thought of?
I would sincerely value your insight,
A.
If you want to explore career options or advice we’d have to schedule a consult. Check out my Consulting Services page if interested 😉