10 Things You Crave Every Day as an INFP Personality Type
In the responsibilities and commotion of everyday life, it’s all too easy for us to become consumed by our tasks, leaving us drained of energy and inspiration. Many of us find ourselves running on empty, just going through the motions without really feeling fulfilled. I wrote today’s article in a hope to shift that focus, particularly for INFPs, who seek out deeper meaning and self-awareness. By understanding what truly inspires you and the experiences that make you feel aligned with your inner self, you can discover what fills your soul and brings you a sense of purpose. Today I want to look at 10 things that INFPs need to reignite their passion and improve their overall satisfaction in life.
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10 Things That INFPs Crave Every Day
1. Doing Things That Align with Their Values
For an INFP, integrity is everything. Each day, you crave activities that resonate with your deepest values. Whether it’s volunteering for a cause you believe in or making decisions that reflect your moral compass, staying true to yourself is paramount.
But what are your values?
Take some time to write down the things that you would live and die for. Consider what you’ll look back on your life and wish you’d done when you’re at the very end of your life. Will you wish you’d gotten that promotion? Will you wish you’d spent more time in nature? Think about it! This exercise can help you figure out what really matters to you on a personal level.
2. Time for Self-Expression and Creativity
INFPs are happiest when they have the freedom to express their inner world. You might find joy in writing poetry, painting, or even crafting a heartfelt letter to a friend. This time for creativity isn’t just a want—it’s a need that nourishes your soul.
3. Meaningful Learning
Curiosity is one of your driving forces as an INFP. You seek out meaningful learning experiences, like watching a thought-provoking documentary or reading a book that dives deep into topics that fascinate you. You hate stagnation and constantly want to be expanding your mind and your sense of what’s possible.
Linda Berens, a psychologist and author of The 16 Personality Types, Descriptions for Self-Discovery, says of INFPs: “For Harmonizer Clarifiers (INFPs), life is a process of uncovering mysteries, the mysteries of life – personal values and meanings and the meanings of life in general. They like learning about people, why they do what they do and who they are. They want to relate on a deep level, to be touched deeply and to resolve issues. Exploring moral questions like what is right and wrong and the battle between good and evil fascinates them.”
4. A Friend to Communicate Authentically With
Authentic connections are like oxygen for INFPs. Having a friend with whom you can share your true self, without any masks, is invaluable. It can be hard to find in a world that sometimes focuses on image more than authenticity, but it’s worth the work to pursue.
5. Doing a Task That Feels Meaningful
Tasks that serve a greater purpose can transform a mundane day into something magical. Whether it’s working on a project that helps others or simply organizing your space to create a more harmonious environment, meaningful tasks help you bring your inner values out into the real world.
6. Musical Exploration
Music is the language of the soul, especially for INFPs. In fact, in a survey I’m conducting about personality type and leisure time activities, listening to or playing music is ranking as the INFP’s favorite leisure activity (so far, the survey isn’t done yet!) You crave the experience of discovering new tunes, artists, and genres. Music has the power to evoke emotions, inspire creativity, and provide a sanctuary for your thoughts and feelings.
7. Time to Generate Ideas or Swap Ideas with Friends
Your mind is a treasure trove of ideas. You love to imagine, find connections, and brainstorm, whether alone or with like-minded friends. Swapping ideas and nurturing your imaginative side keeps your spirit alive and inspired. You always want to know that there’s more out there to discover, create, explore, and pursue.
8. Interpersonal Peace
Conflict and disharmony can be incredibly draining for INFPs. You crave inner as well as outer harmony, whereas conflict and harsh criticism can make you feel like everything is all wrong. It can be difficult for you to think clearly and stay in touch with yourself when there is fighting, unkind words, shouting, or nonconstructive critiques being spread. Maintaining interpersonal peace helps you stay grounded and centered.
9. A Sense of the Profound
INFPs have an innate hunger for experiences that touch the soul. Whether it’s a beautiful sunset, a moving piece of art, or a profound conversation, you seek moments that remind you of the deeper meanings in life. Without these moments in a day you may find yourself going to bed at night feeling like something is missing and you didn’t quite “live.”
10. A Great Story
Storytelling is a powerful way to connect with the human experience. You crave the magic of a well-told story, whether through books, movies, or even your own imagination. Great stories transport you to other worlds and provide a safe haven for your dreams and deeper feelings.
What Do You Think?
Do you need these 10 things every day? Is there something else you would add? Share your thoughts and insights with us and other readers 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, The INTJ – Understanding the Strategist, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can also connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
Other Articles You Might Enjoy:
21 Songs That INFPs Will Relate To
The Lonely INFP: How to Cope When You Feel Alone
10 Famous INFPs Who Changed the World
References:
The INFP: Understanding the Dreamer by Susan Storm (Susan Storm, 2020)
The 16 Personality Types: Descriptions for Self-Discovery by Linda V. Berens and Dario Nardi (InterStrength, 1999)
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As an INFP I definitely agree with this post. If I am not reading or watching to shows or films, I will be listening to music. I like a wide selection of genres from Rock to Heavy metal, from funk to rap as well as New Age stuff. I even recently had a friend who commented on seeing my music collection for the first time say that it made his collection look boring.
As I also said I love reading books of most genres, although do tend to prefer thrillers and crime novels, stories with exciting plot twists. I also find I prefer reading books that are part of a series rather than just one offs, as I like to get to know the characters I read about. In some ways they almost feel like friends. This is also probably why my TV box set collection has now surpassed my movie collection. Just like with my musical taste my dvd collection is also very broad. I will watch pretty much any genre, the only thing I do avoid is scary, gory horror films or anything with too much violence. I have never been able to stomach anything like that, as it tends to haunt me for days after.
INFP. Yes. I would agree, it reads me like a book. A friend of mine said that they would like to take a tour inside my head…they said that if it was ever really possible, I could charge admission for people to enter. I guess what comes out of me creatively or expressively is just a taste of my inner world. There are many works up there, inventions, songs, recipes, a new theory on the origin of dark matter, characters and worlds that are rich in themselves and once in a while, I bring it to this world for myself to see and to see if it inspires anyone or makes a connection with a kindred spirit.