In this complete guide, we will answer the question- “Are all INFPs creative?”. We will explore the creative side of the INFP, explore ways to nurture the INFP creativity, and understand other aspects of the INFP personality type.
INFP essentially stands for Introversion(I), Intuition (N), Feeling (F), Perception(P). The INFP personality type is considered to constitute naturally creative individuals. The INFP person has a vast imagination that fuels their creative pursuits. It is no surprise then that some of the stalwarts in the world of literature and music belong to the INFP personality type.
Are all INFPs Creative?
By virtue of their personality type, INFP individuals carry the creative streak. Their imaginative thinking allows them to devise possibilities in a situation. This imagination also fuels their creative pursuits. Sometimes, this creative nature can also encounter problems. The INFP person will gravitate towards myriad interests at the same time, often finding it difficult to consistently stick to one.
The INFP Creativity
In general, the INFP personality type is touted to be creative. However, many INFP individuals find themselves gravitating to a number of creative pursuits. From being fascinated by charcoal painting, to dipping their toes in creative writing to learning to master the piqué in ballet. While they may enjoy each of these, they lack consistency.
The lack of consistency is evident in varied aspects of their lives. From careers to interests and opportunities; the INFP person has a difficult time maintaining a persistence stance. The function of Introverted Feeling (Fi), drives the INFP person to seek new experiences and emotions. Due to this function, they gauge opportunities based on how they feel rather than its practicality.
The Extraverted Intuition (Ne) function leads the INFP person to be accommodating towards novel ideas and pursuits. Consequently, they continue to seek out alternatives, new possibilities, and myriad perspectives to the same situation. However, this results in a sense of dissatisfaction with their present choices. The INFP person wants to explore every other avenue that is there. This makes it difficult to persist in their choices.
Sometimes, investing their interests in different creative activities can also help the INFP person to evade the likelihood of creative burnout. Engaging in an activity for far too long can lead to a stump in the way of creative flow. In such instances, taking time off from a creative pursuit and engaging in a different one, can replenish them with the required energy. Imagine you are working on a book for the last month. You feel mentally exhausted and out of ideas. Chances are that if you spend some time painting a water-color piece of lilies or playing the piano, you are more likely to recuperate back to your creative self, than otherwise.
Avoiding Inconsistency
Schedule
Develop a schedule surrounding your hobbies. Devising a structure around your creative interests can help you infuse a sense of stability in your hobbies. Ensure this schedule is flexible and do-able. If you like painting, make it a point to paint something each week. This will ensure you are less likely to veer away from your interest completely. Engage in activities like clubs, classes, or discussions regularly to keep your interest simmering.
Take a Break
If you find your interests fading away, take some time off. Taking a step back sometimes can help rekindle your interests. Engage in new hobbies and old hobbies simultaneously. You may swing from the continuum of old to new, but ensure you continue to nurture them.
Nurturing the INFP creativity
Spend Time in Nature
A mental block prevents the smooth flow of creativity. This block usually arises due to constraints offered by pressure and time. Spending time in the midst of nature increases one’s brain function and improves mood. This improves one’s perception of time, from limited to constantly expanding. Consequently, this creates space for fostering creative ideas. Experiencing a creative stump? It’s probably time you step out for a nice evening walk by the sea.
Travel
Many individuals with the INFP personality type, enjoy exploring new places. Traveling and finding themselves in new environments stimulates Extraverted Intuition, which is the auxiliary function of the IFNP.
Challenge
For the INFP person, challenging the limits of their creativity can result in beautiful outcomes. For example, you may be used to creating artwork using watercolors. However, as an INFP you are likely to be trying out and experimenting with a more challenging medium like charcoal. Stretching the limits of your creative potential can work out very well for you!
Free-flow
In some instances, INFP individuals have been able to spin magic with their creative flow when they worked without a plan or expectation. Using their emotion and intuition as a compass, they have been able to discover new avenues with their creativity.
Music
Music helps change the mood, enabling one to feel relaxed. It has many benefits. For many individuals, music allows them to function more effectively. For the INFP person,it also acts as a tool to facilitate creativity. Maybe the next time you find yourself unable to progress with that story you’ve been working on, maybe turn on some soothing number and let your mind flow and expand its creativity?
Journaling
Carrying a notebook or a pad can come in handy to the INFP person. According to INFP persons, when an idea crosses their mind, they make it a point to note it down. Later on, they go back to these, reflect upon them, and generate plausible outcomes with these.
INFP Personality Type
Weaknesses
They often suffer in silence due to their tendency to neglect their own needs. To make others happy, the INFP person is likely to suppress their feelings.
The INFP person is led by the heart rather than the mind. For these deeply compassionate individuals, how they feel about something matters greatly. They easily trust. Sometimes this tendency takes a gullible turn, placing them in a position where they can be easily taken advantage of by others.
These individuals fiercely stand up for justice. This is an appreciable quality. However, some times, they adhere to their values strongly, unwilling to make any compromise. Even in situations where compromising is necessary to accomplish the goal, the INFP is unlikely to do so.
If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.
Strengths
The INFP person is deeply empathetic. The ability to comprehend their own feelings and emotions and that of others, place them high on the emotional intelligence rank.
Consequently, they believe in the potential of every human being and will not step back from uplifting and encouraging others.
They are mediators. In complex situations, the INFP personality will accommodate viewpoints from different angles. They will ensure that every person is given a fair chance to be heard.
Their creative intelligence allows them to chart out a number of possibilities for a situation.
They often epitomize qualities of kindness, empathy, compassion, and care. The INFP person will attempt to translate this into the real world, promoting a space for the improvement of every individual.
Creative Careers for INFP
INFP individuals are inclined to choose careers that enable them to express their individuality. While careers that demand compassion and empathy are a frequent choice, INFP persons are also drawn to careers that allow them to be artistic and creative. Some career options for the creativity-inclined INFP are :
- Fashion Designer
- Writer
- Editor
- Photographer
- Fine Arts
- Graphic Designer
- Film-maker
- Multimedia Artist/Animator
- Interpreter/ Translator
- Musician
- Dancer
The Creative Streak: Famous INFPs
William Shakespeare – From crafting characters that depicted a spectrum of emotions to stories that inspired plays and movies; the Bard’s writings continue to be read and performed with great fervor till date.
Alicia Keys – The “This Girl Is on Fire” singer began composing songs at the age of 12. In her illustrious music career, the American singer-songwriter has won 17 Grammy Awards, among many other accolades.
Julia Roberts – “The Pretty Woman” actress took the world of cinema by storm with her acting prowess, and the versatility of the characters she has portrayed over the years.
Why is this blog “Are all INFPs Creative?” important?
The level of creativity varies from person to person. The INFP person is typically considered to be the creative type. If you are an INFP person with their feet constantly dipped in creative pursuits, you may relate to it. You might also relate to the struggle of being consistent in your pursuits. This blog will help you understand the many nuances of creativity while being an INFP.
Conclusion
This blog answers the question : “Are all INFPs creative?”. It also explores the INFP creativity, problems with the INFP creativity, ways to nurture creativity and certain aspects of the INFP personality type.
FAQ: Are all INFPs Creative?
What Enneagram type are INFPs?
According to thoughtcatalog.com, a large number of INFPs chose 4 as their Enneagram type. This type correlates with the cognitive function of introverted feeling. Hence, this pairing makes sense.
Who should INFPs marry?
For the INFP personality type, ENFJ or the ESFJ turn out to be natural partners. The dominant function of Introverted Feeling in the INFP matches with the dominant function of Extraverted Feeling in the partner (personalitypage.com)
What’s the dark side of an INFP?
The INFP person tends to get sad very often (lostinfp.com)
What are INFPs afraid of?
INFPs experience a fear of disease, germs, physical helplessness or paralysis (psychologyjunkie.com)
How does an INFP show love?
The INFP person prefers quality time as a love language. This is followed by words of affirmation and physical touch (thoughtcatalog.com)
Are INFPs hopeless romantics?
The INFP person is often labelled a hopeless romantic. They are deeply passionate individuals, seeking meaningful connections. For the INFP personality type, romance gathers a far more deeper meaning as compared to how others perceive it (personalitygrowth.com)
References
INFP the Healer https://www.truity.com/personality-type/INFP/strengths-weaknesses#
Why the Creative Life Can Be So Hard for INFJs and INFPs
https://medium.com/@losapala/why-the-creative-life-can-be-so-hard-for-infjs-and-infps-1c6d6276bad7
Mediator Personality (INFP-A/INFP-T) https://www.16personalities.com/infp-personality
How to Focus Your Creativity When You’re an INFP Who Wants to Do All the Things
10 Ways to Spark Your Creativity as an INFP https://www.psychologyjunkie.com/2018/07/10/10-ways-to-spark-your-creativity-as-an-infp/