What Does a Healthy INFP Look Like?

People say a lot of different things about the INFP personality type, some good and some bad. The reason I felt compelled to write this article is due to one very specific thing that INFPs are associated with. Namely, people often seem to think that INFPs will be chronically depressed, maladjusted, or unhealthy in some way. So, to counter that, I’d like to address the topic of the healthy INFP. (Yes, they do exist).

Ryan actually started this series some years back with his article on What Does a Healthy ISTJ Look Like? The idea is to describe each personality type in a realistic but healthy (or balanced) way. You see, most type descriptions depict an idealized version of that type, or one riddled with stereotypes. (Our general INFP description strives to maintain a neutral outlook on the type, focusing on thought processes and standard tendencies.) So, in this article, I’m going to specifically build the profile for a healthy, well-adapted, and successful INFP. I’ll walk through each of the INFP’s cognitive functions and explain how its use can contribute to a charismatic, healthy, and likeable individual.

The Healthy INFP

Introverted Feeling (Fi):

Fi is a judging function that focuses on subjective emotions to form a unique identity. While INFPs are often described as melancholy, healthy dominant Fi need not be. These types analyze their emotions to form a framework for judgements and decisions that will keep them perfectly in line with who they are or who they want to be. When Fi is healthy, INFPs will have their feelings and their values completely in sync, resulting in a stable, but not overly rigid, sense of identity. They’ll know when to reassess their values or sense of self, and when to stubbornly cling to who they are and what they know to be true. They won’t sacrifice their authenticity, but they won’t become close-minded either.

INFPs with a healthy Fi will be confident in their decision-making, because they’ll know how to make effective decisions in line with who they want to be. They won’t get so caught on self-analysis that they’ll be unable to act. Their minds will be fine-tuned to find what ignites passion in them, allowing them to find meaning or purpose. Even when their life situation isn’t perfect or what they imagined it would be, healthy INFPs find a way to derive purpose from what they have to work with, allowing them to emotionally commit and give it their best efforts.

Extraverted Intuition (Ne):

Ne in INFPs will take into account the parameters or boundaries created by Fi, and generate possibilities in line with that framework. When Ne is healthy, these possibilities won’t just be pointless fantasy or paranoid worst-case scenarios. Instead, Ne will provide options that are plausible and actionable, ones that the INFP can use to either work toward a dream or further explore their sense of self. Ne will compel them to dabble, and explore, to take in new information rather than fixate on (and hyper-analyze) what they already know.

Ne will keep the INFP flexible, rather than overly fixated on a rigid sense of self based on a specific internal ideal (Fi-Si). As dominant judgers, these types might feel compelled to instantly reject certain ideas about themselves, possibilities for their lives, etc. An INFP that’s really in touch with Ne will be willing to open their mind and reconsider, in spite of their initial feelings. They’ll see new ways to express themselves, new ways to define themselves, new ways to fulfill their dreams and/or new ways to live their lives.

Introverted Sensing (Si):

Tertiary Si in a healthy INFP will allow them to look back on the past in an analytical way (rather than for purely sentimental or comfort-related purposes). They’ll be able to recognize practically how certain decisions and actions impacted them or those around them. Subsequently, this will enable healthy INFPs to perceive useful patterns and learn from their mistakes (or the mistakes of others), so that they can make better and more impactful decisions.

In addition, when working seamlessly with Ne, Si will help INFPs narrow down possibilities (using their accumulated and internalized concrete experience) to only those possibilities that are realistic, and achievable. They’ll be able to perceive which possibilities will have a desirable impact on their future. This may also help them with forming expectations that are more realistic, rather than overly idealized. In other words, healthy INFPs will be able to think practically, when they need to.

Extraverted Thinking (Te):

Healthy INFPs will not automatically view external structure or hierarchy as a threat to their identity, as is a common pitfall of low Te. Instead, they will know how to recognize when it’s time to fight the system, and when it’s time to work within it. The healthy INFP will not be against learning how to work within the established structure to achieve their ideals.

Healthy INFPs will see the value in structure. They will observe effective uses of Te, from those who have mastered the function (IE: the TJs), and implement aspects of it in their own lives. When combined with Si, this will result in consistent, daily routines that keep them progressing little-by-little towards their goals. Essentially, they learn will how to structure their lives in a way that encourages productivity. In addition, they will use Te to form actionable, step-by-step plans to reach their long term goals. (Te is basically what enables INFPs to make their dreams a reality.)

In Conclusion…

My goal in this article was to present a realistic picture of how Fi, Ne, Si, and Te could all work together in the most optimal way to form a well-adapted and impactful individual. If you’re an INFP and you don’t fit the profile above, please don’t assume that I’m accusing you of being a terrible INFP. A large majority of people do not fit the ideal description of their type, myself included. We all have areas that we can improve. If you’re interested in learning more about INFP growth, check out 5 INFP Struggles and Development Tips. Otherwise, please share any feedback you have in the comments. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!