[INFJ] INFJ -Your heart is on your sleeve

[quietmusician]

Yeah, I'm in the same boat as most of you. I haven't been told that I wear my heart on my sleeve, per se. People just tell me what they assume that I'm thinking. And they are usually correct. Sometimes I play it off and scoff, but yeah, they pinned me.

 

[Siúil a Rúin]

People come to strange conclusions about my expressions. In some ways I have been told I have an expressive face and in other ways I have an unusual ability to hide my feelings. I guess the intersection between those two features leaves unexpected impressions.

 

[harmonyizmine]

People come to strange conclusions about my expressions. In some ways I have been told I have an expressive face and in other ways I have an unusual ability to hide my feelings. I guess the intersection between those two features leaves unexpected impressions.

I find this really interesting. I never thought of it this way. I would love to see what everyone sees and if I am in fact expressing what I'm feeling or if it's some other odd expression.

Have you ever been told that you look angry when you are really deep in thought?

 

[Sniffles]

Have you ever been told that you look angry when you are really deep in thought?

Yes all the time. One co-worker even thought I hated him or something because of the look on my face when in fact I was actually contemplating something completely different.

 

[Glycerine]

I don't think it's just an INFJ thing. I have known many INFPs, EXFJs, and 1 ISFP that wear their emotions on their sleeve. I think Fi can be just as expressive as Fe in that department sometimes. But it probably has to do w/ many factors outside of MBTI.

 

[Siúil a Rúin]

I find this really interesting. I never thought of it this way. I would love to see what everyone sees and if I am in fact expressing what I'm feeling or if it's some other odd expression.

Have you ever been told that you look angry when you are really deep in thought?

Yes I have. For me intense thought can be misconstrued as anger as can an attempt to muster the strength to get cleaning done when I need to run on adrenaline. Deep depression is misconstrued as peacefulness, and anxiety as whatever suits the person observing. I guess happiness comes off fairly straight unless it is a deeper form in which case I seem more reserved. The worst one is when I am socially shy and people take offense as though it means something negative. I've been told I had the sweetest face someone ever saw, that I was the toughest one in the department, that I was sarcastic, fragile, narrow, tenacious, judgmental, broad minded, too nice, a stick up my butt, a fun girl, peaceful and tranquil presence, seemingly anxious and lost, etc. There are so many contradictory things people have accused me of being, that I have mostly just given up about it.

The best theory I came up with is that I am mostly a blank canvass, with an underlying expressive tone which brings out other people's imaginations and fears. They each paint their own ideas onto me. I came up with that idea when studying Freudian psychology (which I don't fully subscribe to) because in that process the counselor deliberately makes themselves a blank canvass to draw out the patient's tendency to project and therefore self-discover.

 

[William K]

I don't think it's just an INFJ thing. I have known many INFPs, EXFJs, and 1 ISFP that wear their emotions on their sleeve. I think Fi can be just as expressive as Fe in that department sometimes. But it probably has to do w/ many factors outside of MBTI.

Oh yeah. Having a fair complexion and blushing easily is not a good thing, especially if you have friends and colleagues who enjoy teasing you about it

 

[harmonyizmine]

Toonia & Peguy:
I too get asked why I am angry when I'm seriously contemplating something.

I wonder why it gets perceived as being angry? Is the look too intense? Have you thought about this?

Oh, to be like a video game and be able to view things in third person

Yes I have. For me intense thought can be misconstrued as anger as can an attempt to muster the strength to get cleaning done when I need to run on adrenaline.

Wow, so this might be why my husband asks me why I am angry or stressed out while cleaning when I am really on a mission to get it done so I can relax.

 

[harmonyizmine]

I don't think it's just an INFJ thing. I have known many INFPs, EXFJs, and 1 ISFP that wear their emotions on their sleeve. I think Fi can be just as expressive as Fe in that department sometimes. But it probably has to do w/ many factors outside of MBTI.

I've wondered this. I mentioned earlier I wonder how much of it is nature and how much is nurture and environmental factors during your life.

 

[harmonyizmine]

I've been told I had the sweetest face someone ever saw, that I was the toughest one in the department, that I was sarcastic, fragile, narrow, tenacious, judgmental, broad minded, too nice, a stick up my butt, a fun girl, peaceful and tranquil presence, seemingly anxious and lost, etc. There are so many contradictory things people have accused me of being, that I have mostly just given up about it.

The best theory I came up with is that I am mostly a blank canvass, with an underlying expressive tone which brings out other people's imaginations and fears. They each paint their own ideas onto me. I came up with that idea when studying Freudian psychology (which I don't fully subscribe to) because in that process the counselor deliberately makes themselves a blank canvass to draw out the patient's tendency to project and therefore self-discover.

You edited your post while I was responding

I've heard a lot of those terms too.

Your theory is really interesting. So it is possible that people are viewing your expressions through their lens of life experiences, etc.

 

[Glycerine]

I've wondered this. I mentioned earlier I wonder how much of it is nature and how much is nurture and environmental factors during your life.

I am not sure. i am guessing both play big roles.

 

[Qre:us]

just roll up that sleeve. tada!

 

[harmonyizmine]

just roll up that sleeve. tada!

Great Idea!