10 Things That Excite the INFP Personality Type
INFPs are one of the rarest Myers-Briggs® personality types. They make up a mere 4.4% of the U.S. population and are known for being sensitive, caring, and idealistic. People with this personality type are energized by inhabiting their inner world, creating new ideas, empathizing with people, and being free to explore and imagine. In this article, we’re going to discover some of the many things that bring INFPs joy.
Not sure what your personality type is? Take our new personality questionnaire here. Or you can take the official MBTI® here.
10 Things that Excite the INFP Personality Type
#1 – Reading
In a study I conducted about personality type and amount of books read per year, INFPs came in 1st place! 287 INFPs participated in the study and they read an average number of 68 books per year! Reading gives INFPs the chance to imagine, empathize, and connect with diverse and varied characters.
#2 – Art
According to the MBTI® Manual, INFPs are over-represented in the leisure activity, “Appreciating Art”. This comes as no surprise because through artwork INFPs are able to express their deeply-held inner values, emotions, desires, and feelings. Many times INFPs feel that artwork gives tangible expression to what they feel inside. It can be difficult for them to just speak about their feelings or values – art is more indirect and provides a therapeutic outlet for self-expression.
#3 – Music
As with artwork, INFPs find tangible expression for their feelings, values, and emotions through music. In fact, many of our greatest musicians have been INFPs! Kurt Cobain, Tori Amos, Bjork, Thom Yorke, Regina Spektor, Chris Martin and Matt Bellamy are all rumored INFPs.
#4 – Writing
INFPs love to bring their imaginative inner worlds to life on the written page. Through writing, they can explore ideas, characters, and creative visions in an in-depth way. In fact, according to Isabel Briggs-Myers, INFPs “have a gift for language…The literary tendency evident in this type derives from the combination of intuition and feeling. Intuition supplies imagination and insight, feeling supplies the urge to communicate and share, and the command of language is apparently a joint product of intuition’s facility with symbols and feeling’s artistic discrimination and taste.” (Quote taken from Gifts, Differing).
#5 – Unstructured Time
Being able to wake up and experience a whole day of unscheduled time is extremely invigorating for the INFP. These types love an empty schedule and the freedom to fill it up with creative opportunities, possibilities, books, musing, or whatever inspiration piques their interest. If you know of an INFP mom, one of the best things you can do for them during a holiday is give them a block of unstructured time by offering babysitting services or taking care of some of their responsibilities!
#6 – Intimate, One-on-One Conversation
INFPs tend to dislike small talk or big group conversations where one has to be rather aggressive to get their voice heard. However, they love intimate conversations with someone close to them. They enjoy discussing their deeper ideals, their vast, far-reaching visions of the future, or their creative endeavors. They enjoy getting to the core of someone else’s psychology and inspiring them and being inspired themselves.
#7 – Brainstorming
Exploring connections, ideas, possibilities, and solutions is inspiring to INFPs. They love being able to jump from idea to idea to see unusual and random opportunities. The spontaneity of discussion, the lack of boundaries, and the creativity involved in brainstorming is all very stimulating to them!
#8 – Traveling
Exploring new cultures, environments, or obscure parts of the world is deeply inspiring for INFPs. The newness of everything helps them to feel creative and opens their mind to new ways of living life. They enjoy getting to know how other people live and the unique values of different cultures. They enjoy wandering in tranquil, unexplored regions and simply enjoying the freedom it offers.
#9 – Daydreaming
INFPs don’t need a lot of outward stimulation to be inspired creatively. Daydreaming allows them to explore any world, any topic, any possibility from the freedom of their own mind. Many INFPs have created lush imaginary worlds, pivotal relationships, or imagined some of their greatest ambitions while daydreaming.
#10 – Animals
Many INFPs have a soft spot for animals – especially animals that have been abandoned or neglected and are in need of love. As introverted feeling types, INFPs have a special place in their hearts for the struggling and vulnerable creatures of the world and they enjoy being able to nurture them and give them a place they can call home.
What Are Your Thoughts?
Do these things bring you joy? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments!
Find out more about your personality type in our eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Power of Personality Type, The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
Other Articles You Might Enjoy:
Here’s Why INFPs and INTPs Get Misunderstood
25 Quotes that INFPs Will Instantly Identify With
7 Things That INFPs Experience As Children
10 Ways to Spark Your Creativity as an INFP
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This article is so true?. I’m exciting just by reading this! Till today, I, being an INFP, have related to all of your INFP articles.
I’m really glad you enjoy the article! Thank you! 🙂
Yep.. It’s me.
Freakingly accurate, every single point and their order XD
My only child,he is 34 Extreme empath,feels others emotions,anger etc. Without even speaking to them.
So this is why I am attracted to photography, singing karaoke, learning to draw or just doodling, and, of course, reading and writing. When I learned to read, it was one of the best things that ever happened in my life. This all fits my personality to a “T”.
Spot on!
Wow, this fits me almost to T! The only things that don’t apply to me are writing and brainstorming.
So far, everything you write, has been right on. You are very good at what you do. Thank you for creating Psychology Junkie. I love reading your articles.
You have just listed all my passions ????????
How can these passions fit into an adult world that requires a job? I’ve found all these passions are something I share, but cannot quite equate to a functional job or part in society. I have so many ideas and passions and just when I feel like I can monitize and use that to make my life, I sputter.
Making a business out of my passions is so hard for me… however, doing normal jobs is even harder. I get depressed, anxious, sick, panicky and more. Sometimes, being an INFP-T personality is exhausting.
I feel like someone opened my head and checked out its contents! LOL
Literally ALL of my passions. ???????? Funny how reading this still makes me feel good tho. ????
That’s awesome! I’m really glad you enjoyed this 🙂
This is a flawless article.
YES to every one them! Those are my favorite things!
I’m surprised that being in nature is not on the list.
Amen to that! When I was a child, my happiest place on earth was either at the frog pond or deep in the woods–my best friends were frogs and trees.. A fortuitous marriage late in life (i.e., after my kids were grown) coincidentally brought me three frog ponds (well, two ponds and an actual LAKE!) and 84 acres of woodland.
I happily took early retirement from academia and now spend my days where I was always meant to be.
Yeah nature is the best thing in life we can’t just unlook it
That’s like really me i love travelling
Yes, yes, and yes!!!
Yes very true we can add also social work and volunteering
This article relate a lot. Those 10 things are so true for me. It is exciting to be finally understood by someone, event hough we never meet face to face ♥️ thanks and love you