With planning and predictability at the forefront of every INFJ decision, it’s fair to say that they’re not exactly the most exciting personality type. Through their unique interests and habits in day-to-day life, they may even be considered ‘boring’ in the eyes of some. So, why does the INFJ thrive in this ‘boring’ approach?
Number 1: The things they find interesting aren’t materialistic
INFJs would much rather be considered boring by the world’s standards than succumb to the habits the world considers exciting. With gossip, drama, substance use, and ingenuine connections being at the root of most excitement, INFJs are quite content with the idea of being uninteresting in the eyes of others. This personality type isn’t interested in these “exciting” pastimes at all.
When it comes down to it, the things the INFJ is genuinely interested in have much more to do with life’s deeper discoveries. They would rather spend their time in nature or people-watching through a small coffee shop window. They prefer to connect with strangers and learn about their life lessons rather than listen to the same friend gossip about others.
They would rather use their weekends to pick up a new hobby or better their skills in a current talent than drink themselves numb. INFJs crave to feel more connected to things rather than spend their precious currency of personal time contributing to the surface-level materialism and ego the world seems so focused on.
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Number 2: They’re always self-improving
Speaking of self-betterment, let’s just say this endless road involves no one but the INFJ themselves. Because of this lifelong solo venture of self-improvement, INFJs can be considered rather uptight and strict with what they allow for themselves.
Whether it be turning down a night of drinking with friends to work on a solo hobby, leaving a job with all the perks to find something more rewarding, avoiding certain foods for the sake of their health, or door-slamming certain people to save their mental health, INFJs can seem pretty boring in some regards.
Most INFJs believe that being on their best behavior allows for more opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery, as they can focus on their values and goals without constant distractions. Some may think this type needs to ‘loosen up’ a little or live on the edge from time to time, but for the INFJ, nothing makes them feel better than feeling better than they once did.
Not to mention, the self-critical nature of this type doesn’t let them off easy. When they leap to be a little less strict at times, they’re usually met with an inner voice that holds them to it for days or weeks to come.
Number 3: They naturally tend to avoid over-stimulating environments
Known to be considered HSPs (or highly sensitive people), the INFJ is often challenged with over-stimulation. Through their extroverted sensing and feeling cognitive functions, every INFJ hears, sees, feels, and even smells their outer environment on a heightened level.
On a positive note, this ability allows them to pick up on the small details of their external world, allowing them to utilize their observation skills on an enhanced level compared to most. However, when their environment becomes overly stimulating, the INFJs can become overwhelmed, leaving them with no choice but to shut down for the sake of their mental sanity.
Therefore, while it may not be easy to avoid this hyperstimulation at all times, they tend to naturally try to stay away from certain people, places, or scenarios that may send them into this distracting headspace. In simple terms, this means that INFJs will most likely turn down an invitation to go clubbing, hang around overly exaggerated people, or even drive to a destination that involves navigating through heavy traffic. Boring? Maybe. Sanity-saving? Certainly.
Number 4: They thrive through predictability
Despite every INFJ’s longing for a little spontaneity in their lives, the real truth is that they feel best when their coming days, weeks, and months are rather predictable. Predictability offers this organized, future-predicting type a sense of emotional stability and security.
For the INFJs who value harmony and balance, need to know the details of an upcoming situation to truly enjoy it once it’s in front of them. Of course, to some people, this need for consistency, routine, and knowing what to expect can seem unbearably boring. Those who get a thrill from experiencing the unknown may see this habit as tedious, but for the INFJ, it’s their only way of processing the possibilities of a future scenario prior, to being in the moment when it comes.
The unfortunate aspect of this preference for predictability comes when things don’t go as planned, ultimately leading the INFJ to be overly distracted and sometimes even frustrated.
Number 5: They are introverted after all
Speaking of predictability, it’s no secret that the INFJ much prefers a quiet life. Whether some find it boring or overly planned, the introverted INFJ simply sees it as a means to their satisfaction in life. Being the introverts that they are, it’s fair to say that most extroverts wouldn’t agree or at least wouldn’t understand the enjoyment of their ‘boring’ preferences.
Their need for alone time ultimately takes precedence over everything else in their life once they realize just how important rest and recharge are for their mental health.
So, while the INFJ imagination can convince them that living a life full of socializing, adventuring, and spontaneity would be the most fulfilling, the more stable the better for the INFJ. Although a little adventure in life doesn’t hurt an INFJ, it’s in the rather uneventful stretches in their life that they thrive in the ways they desire, especially when it comes to self-improvement and goal-reaching.
Number 6: They’re not exaggerated in their reactions
Calm, mellow, and understanding, there’s not much you can say to the INFJ that would provoke an exaggerated reaction. This inexpressive demeanor serves to be the main reason why the INFJ is often deemed emotionless. Of course, through their extroverted feeling cognitive function, they tend to feel the emotions of others on a whole other level, especially when they’re being confided in.
However, despite what’s going on internally, INFJs are so good at holding their ground that they sometimes come off as being boring and serious. It pays to be able to provide others with a sense of calm within their storm, but when people are looking to the INFJ to match their excitement, sadness, worry, or anxiousness, a blank face can make matters worse. This unreactive approach helps the INFJs to disconnect their own emotions from those of others, something they must practice early on to avoid extroverted feelings of burnout.
Number 7: They think the rest of the world is boring
With such a vivid imagination and never-ending curiosities, the INFJ mind is far more interesting than its external reality. To this dreamer personality type, the world tends to seem far more mundane and dull in comparison to what’s going on within their brains. With introverted intuition to blame, they love ruminating with ideas, perspectives, theories, visions, stories, symbols, and metaphors.
Sure, they use their extroverted functions to absorb new material from the world and people around them, but ultimately, these details are only observed for the enjoyment of their later ponderings. They find the world interesting but not in a way that urges them to necessarily experience all it has to offer but rather to observe others enjoying the things life has led them to experience, and then analyze the interaction with deep inquisitiveness.
This is the process that allows them the deep intellect and understanding of human emotion, as well as the factual sides of different endeavors, even the endeavors they have never practiced.
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