[INFJ] You know you're an INFJ when...

[lillyofthevalley]

Haha, yeah I was flipping around and landed on it, eww uncomfortable!



I forgot to remark upon this before... but yes... it's quite unbelievable. I used to really like it. But now I feel it puts me at a bit of a disadvantage sometimes. The last few people who opened up to me unexpectedly seemed to then get all freaked out... it made things weird. (I am like a vault with other people's info though. I hate feeling betrayed so wouldn't do that to someone else.)

Random people...just standing in line somewhere. Maybe they sense that I don't gossip. On the other hand - I could have everything in my life going crazy and I would never confide in anyone except those I know who can support me.

 

[lillyofthevalley]

Jackpot! got that about 3 weeks ago!I actually like the feeling,it makes me feel useful, I like being "useful" in that sense.
Even if at times people overdo in that "trust".I'm a human being, of course I'll slip sometimes.

The weird thing is that if these people are confiding in me a story that involves their interaction with other people I go into skeptic mode. I am acutely aware that I'm hearing their side only. I'm always trying to work their scenario out on how it might actually have gone down and I wonder if this person might have misunderstood what was said, etc.

Sometimes someone will be telling me something sad, like a death in the family or something, and I have to fight back tears. This is terribly difficult for me because public displays of emotion is something I avoid.

Also, and I don't know if this is INFJ, I don't like gossip and I never repeat it unless it's from a random person I know I'll never see again.

 

[Dali]

I've noticed that hell hath no fury like an INFJ hurt; when my two INFJ female friends were hurt by people they were really close to, they came to me and poured out all that they were thinking and basically ripped those people a new one including telling me so much that they'd clearly been told in confidence.

I empathised with them but, subconsciously, shared less and less of myself with them out of the fear thay they'd do the same to me if ever we had a misunderstanding.

Do any of you identify with this?

Or is it more of a situational thing whereby they trusted me?

 

[Scarfism]

On the contrary, I think it's a very Amelie-esque thing to say. My gf says she likes to smell people as they walk past her on the street. "Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad."

hahaha I tend to take whiffs at people too. Unfortunately 85% (which is practically 100% in my point of view) of the time it is a "not good" smell.

Also, I tend to categorize people as either rotten or stale (if they are one of those that you can smell by looking at them). One pattern that I am noticing is that usually, females tend to be rotten and males tend to be stale. However, males being rotten is more common than females being stale. This is a theory that I have always wanted to write a paper on, but it is so complicated since the words "rotten" and "stale" in this case are not in accordance to their literal meanings.

 

[lillyofthevalley]

You are INFJ when:

You’re talking to someone and they point out that you said a different word than the word you thought you were saying.

You won’t commit to things because your conscience won’t let you drop out once you are involved.

You aren’t a leader and you aren’t a follower.

Intense arguments between other people make you extremely uncomfortable.

Arrogant people make you want to slap them.

You can’t think of a come-back remark until long after it’s time. Then you can think of a million.

You are intensely interested in the quirky.

You feel a little self conscious in a waiting room, at the same time you are quietly observing everyone else there.

You question everything.

You are a natural skeptic and slightly cynical.

You use metaphors without thinking.

Sometimes you imagine funny scenarios about people in crowded places to pass the time.

Sitting for a long time in a place with loud, droning noise makes you sleepy but loud noise in general makes you antsy.

Looking at trees and hearing birds completely changes your mood.

 

[Sarcasticus]

hahaha I tend to take whiffs at people too. Unfortunately 85% (which is practically 100% in my point of view) of the time it is a "not good" smell.

Also, I tend to categorize people as either rotten or stale (if they are one of those that you can smell by looking at them). One pattern that I am noticing is that usually, females tend to be rotten and males tend to be stale. However, males being rotten is more common than females being stale. This is a theory that I have always wanted to write a paper on, but it is so complicated since the words "rotten" and "stale" in this case are not in accordance to their literal meanings.

What do they mean to you then, in this context?

 

[Scarfism]

What do they mean to you then, in this context?

It is the aura of a person that exudes either rotteness or staleness. Rotten usually accompanies someone who is either on the skinny side or above average side. It is strange. Sometimes it is in a person's mannerisms and sometimes even in the face.

I will have to think about stale because it is more difficult to capture (not that rotten isn't, as you can tell from my vague description above).

 

[Sarcasticus]

It is the aura of a person that exudes either rotteness or staleness. Rotten usually accompanies someone who is either on the skinny side or above average side. It is strange. Sometimes it is in a person's mannerisms and sometimes even in the face.

I will have to think about stale because it is more difficult to capture (not that rotten isn't, as you can tell from my vague description above).

I guess you'd say I have a rotten aura then. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Both of those words have a negative connotation, in normal usage. Is there a state of non-rottenness and non-stale-icity? Or is "stale" the state of non-rottenness?

 

[Scarfism]

I guess you'd say I have a rotten aura then. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Both of those words have a negative connotation, in normal usage. Is there a state of non-rottenness and non-stale-icity? Or is "stale" the state of non-rottenness?

Interesting...I think you just made yourself rotten by saying that you think you may be rotten.

No, I wouldn't say there is a state of non-rottenness or non-stale-icity. It's kind of like, if you are rotten or stale, then you are rotten or stale. If you aren't, then you are just "normal".

 

[Mondo]

: You view yourself as good and most of your peers as evil.
: You see the light to helping others- whether that light is true or false is irrelevant- whatever you can do to help, right?
: You value solitude but at the same time crave social interaction.
: When you easily make judgments and form opinions on the world.
: When your answer when people ask you how you made some of your judgments is, "I just know."
: Even though you think most of your peers are evil (unlike the INFP/ENFP who sees their peers as good), unlike the awesome NT's, you think that you can turn your peers from evil to good- if they believed in the same values you believed in.

Of course, most of this is out of jest.. but I've seen these traits in INFJ's.

 

[Sarcasticus]

Interesting...I think you just made yourself rotten by saying that you think you may be rotten.

Flattery will get you everywhere. Well, have rotten day and a stale week.

 

[Scarfism]

Well, have rotten day and a stale week.

 

[Skyward]

You are INFJ when:

You’re talking to someone and they point out that you said a different word than the word you thought you were saying.

I usually catch myself right after I say it. Which is annoying cause then when I try to repair what I said it sounds even worse!

You won’t commit to things because your conscience won’t let you drop out once you are involved.

My conscience it very lazy compared to other INFJs. I guess being a Enneagram 9 helps with this. It is very hard for me to start things, but if I'm in an environment of work, it helps put my mind into that mode. If I'm not in that kind of environment, I work in short bursts that aren't all that constructive.

You aren’t a leader and you aren’t a follower.

I'll follow when the leader is trustworthy, and I'll lead if I have to. I'm decent at both.

Intense arguments between other people make you extremely uncomfortable.

You mean throwing insults back in forth and the like? Yeah. I try and get out of the room. Or I try and be witty and lighten the mood, but then they just turn their deathrays on me.

Arrogant people make you want to slap them.

I totally practiced my backhand when I read that. Throw your body into it, focus more energy on the 'ceps and twist, let your forearm be flung by the force.

You can’t think of a come-back remark until long after it’s time. Then you can think of a million.

Boy do I know that one. Most of my impromptu comebacks are cludgey and really don't work.

You are intensely interested in the quirky.

Totally!

You feel a little self conscious in a waiting room, at the same time you are quietly observing everyone else there.

I think the fact that you observe everyone a lot makes one think that at least a couple other people are doing the same thing. I know it is that way with me, but usually I'm just listening to my iPod and zoning out.

You question everything.

Yup, but only if I think I didn't get it.

You are a natural skeptic and slightly cynical.

Definitely. I do NOT want to be misinformed. I hate it.

You use metaphors without thinking.

Mhm, it's hard for me to make metaphors otherwise. Then I get too wrapped up in the truth of the metaphor and then it gets too complex to be useful.

Sometimes you imagine funny scenarios about people in crowded places to pass the time.

More like, I imagine what their day was like before the moment I saw them.

Sitting for a long time in a place with loud, droning noise makes you sleepy but loud noise in general makes you antsy.

I never thought of it that way. Makes sense! I have a fan in my room for that reason, and I tend to listen to loud music. It helps me stay focused, especially if it blocks out other noises that would distract me. Though it has to be well constructed and melodic otherwise it just grates at me until it's turned off.

Looking at trees and hearing birds completely changes your mood.

Different environments, period, changed my mood. I love hiking, but I dislike having to go to the trail to do it.


I noticed I use a lot of 'I love...' and caught myself using 'I hate...' and changed that to 'I dislike...' Hmmm, might be an INFJ thing to soften negative things and heighten positive ones.


-----------------

Also, I tend to categorize people as either rotten or stale (if they are one of those that you can smell by looking at them). One pattern that I am noticing is that usually, females tend to be rotten and males tend to be stale. However, males being rotten is more common than females being stale. This is a theory that I have always wanted to write a paper on, but it is so complicated since the words "rotten" and "stale" in this case are not in accordance to their literal meanings.

I tend to categorize similarly, but instead of Rotten I use things like Untrustworthy, Tricky, Not-so-nice, and Sketchy (I love that word, why do so many people I know dislike it?)

Instead of stale I use Flat, Bland, Very-Hard-To-Get-To-Know, Sallow and Shallow.

 

[lillyofthevalley]

I usually catch myself right after I say it. Which is annoying cause then when I try to repair what I said it sounds even worse!



My conscience it very lazy compared to other INFJs. I guess being a Enneagram 9 helps with this. It is very hard for me to start things, but if I'm in an environment of work, it helps put my mind into that mode. If I'm not in that kind of environment, I work in short bursts that aren't all that constructive.



I'll follow when the leader is trustworthy, and I'll lead if I have to. I'm decent at both.



You mean throwing insults back in forth and the like? Yeah. I try and get out of the room. Or I try and be witty and lighten the mood, but then they just turn their deathrays on me.



I totally practiced my backhand when I read that. Throw your body into it, focus more energy on the 'ceps and twist, let your forearm be flung by the force.



Boy do I know that one. Most of my impromptu comebacks are cludgey and really don't work.



Totally!



I think the fact that you observe everyone a lot makes one think that at least a couple other people are doing the same thing. I know it is that way with me, but usually I'm just listening to my iPod and zoning out.



Yup, but only if I think I didn't get it.



Definitely. I do NOT want to be misinformed. I hate it.



Mhm, it's hard for me to make metaphors otherwise. Then I get too wrapped up in the truth of the metaphor and then it gets too complex to be useful.



More like, I imagine what their day was like before the moment I saw them.



I never thought of it that way. Makes sense! I have a fan in my room for that reason, and I tend to listen to loud music. It helps me stay focused, especially if it blocks out other noises that would distract me. Though it has to be well constructed and melodic otherwise it just grates at me until it's turned off.



Different environments, period, changed my mood. I love hiking, but I dislike having to go to the trail to do it.


I noticed I use a lot of 'I love...' and caught myself using 'I hate...' and changed that to 'I dislike...' Hmmm, might be an INFJ thing to soften negative things and heighten positive ones.


-----------------



I tend to categorize similarly, but instead of Rotten I use things like Untrustworthy, Tricky, Not-so-nice, and Sketchy (I love that word, why do so many people I know dislike it?)

Instead of stale I use Flat, Bland, Very-Hard-To-Get-To-Know, Sallow and Shallow.

I get so sleepy in airports and cafeterias, they're loud and at the same time the noise just melds into a general din. After half an hour I'm fighting to keep my eyes open.

 

[Skyward]

I get so sleepy in airports and cafeterias, they're loud and at the same time the noise just melds into a general din. After half an hour I'm fighting to keep my eyes open.

Same thing if it's a long car ride and I'm the passenger. This hasn't changed since I was a baby

 

[lillyofthevalley]

You know you're INFJ when:

You want to fit in but you don't find most people interesting anyway.

You are meticulous about your appearance and at the same time it doesn't seem natural to you to be that way.

You are a stickler for details and tidiness at work but you put stuff off at home.

You take your own car when joining friends to go out so you can leave when you want to.

Privacy is sacred.

When planning a trip, you spend almost as much time on the internet researching as it takes to get there. You do as much as you can to keep inconvenient surprises at bay.

It's overwhelming to make major purchases so you often put them off.

You are open-minded and at the same time cautious.

 

[Skyward]

You know you're INFJ when:

You want to fit in but you don't find most people interesting anyway.
It's not necessarily 'fit in,' but I do want to be approachable. I've never fit in in my life so I've figured I shouldn't bother using the energy to now.

You are meticulous about your appearance and at the same time it doesn't seem natural to you to be that way.
I can be, but I don't have the body that is so great for BEING meticulous in my appearance, so I do what I can... Though I find that comb my hair every time I find myself in the bathroom. Even if it is right before I shower or right before I got to bed.

You are a stickler for details and tidiness at work but you put stuff off at home.
My home is a land of clutter. I agree, I find that I work better in a work environment. Home is for being lazy!

You take your own car when joining friends to go out so you can leave when you want to.
Haha, exactly! Then you feel bad for leaving early, but you know they'll enjoy themselves more without your irritable self around.

Privacy is sacred.
Yes.

When planning a trip, you spend almost as much time on the internet researching as it takes to get there. You do as much as you can to keep inconvenient surprises at bay.
Mhm, though I'm planning on a road trip with a friend on a couple years. Those things are made FOR surprises!

It's overwhelming to make major purchases so you often put them off.
On the flipside, it's all to easy to make 'impulse buys.'

You are open-minded and at the same time cautious.
The best way to be

 

[Sniffles]

You are a stickler for details and tidiness at work but you put stuff off at home.

Ohhhhhhh yes!

You take your own car when joining friends to go out so you can leave when you want to.

Yes.

Privacy is sacred.

Definately.

When planning a trip, you spend almost as much time on the internet researching as it takes to get there. You do as much as you can to keep inconvenient surprises at bay.

True.

You are open-minded and at the same time cautious.

Yes.

 

[statuesquechica]

This thread may may be done, but I wanted to throw out my own two examples that show the dichotomy within this type.

You know you're an INFJ when:

You are voted "Most Likely to go to Heaven" in the highschool yearbook
AND
You are mistaken for a Russian prostitute while walking outside the casinos in Las Vegas.

Strange but true.

 

[mortabunt]

Your partner has to order you to have fun in bed.