How do you encourage an INFP? (3 ways)

This blog post aims to answer the question, “How do you encourage an INFP?” and explore the various dimensions of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality type named INFP that will help understand the answer. 

How do you encourage an INFP?

You can encourage an INFP in the following 3 ways – 

• Be present and acknowledge and validate the INFP. 
• Strengthen the INFP’s functions.
• Find motivating incentives.

These 3 ways you can encourage an INFP will be discussed in further detail below after taking a deeper look at what INFP means. 

Who is an INFP?

The INFP personality type was developed by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers, the authors of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®). INFP stands for Introversion, iNtuition, Feeling, and Perceiving, which are four key personality qualities based on C.G. Jung’s work.

Each of the four letters of the INFP code represents a significant personality feature of the INFP personality type. 

INFPs are stimulated by alone time (Introverted), focus on ideas and concepts rather than facts and specifics (iNtuitive), base their decisions on feelings and values (Feeling), and like to be spontaneous and flexible rather than planned and structured (Perceiving).

Because of their empathetic idealism and gentle concern for others, the INFP personality type is often known as the “Healer.” The INFP is also known by the following nicknames:

• The Thoughtful Idealist (MBTI)
• The Mediator (16Personalities)

An INFP prefers an unstructured and free-spirited lifestyle. INFP is an introverted and ultra-creative Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality type. The INFP is sensitive, creative, and loyal to their values.

INFPs are creative idealists who are guided by their primary ideals and beliefs. A Healer who is preoccupied with possibilities; the actuality of the time is merely a fleeting concern. INFPs see the possibility of a brighter future and seek truth and purpose in their own unique way.

INFPs are sensitive, loving, and compassionate people who are highly concerned with their own and others’ personal progress. INFPs are individualistic and nonjudgmental, believing that each person must forge their own path. 

INFPs like spending time investigating their own ideas and ideals, and they gently encourage others to do the same. INFPs are creative and frequently artistic; they like discovering new ways to express themselves.   

INFP Personality Type Characteristics Are –

• INFPs are introverts who are quiet and reserved. INFPs find that being in social situations depletes their energy, thus they prefer to connect with a small number of close pals. While they like being alone, this should not be mistaken for timidity. Rather, it simply implies that INFPs get energy from alone time. INFPs must, on the other hand, devote energy to social circumstances.

• INFPs rely on intuition and are more concerned with the overall picture than the finer points of a situation. INFPs can be quite thorough about things that are important to them or tasks they are working on, yet they tend to overlook little or insignificant details.

• INFPs value personal sentiments above everything else and their actions are affected more by these concerns than by objective data.

• INFPs prefer to keep their choices open when it comes to making decisions. INFPs frequently put off making key judgments in case the circumstance changes. The majority of judgments are made based on personal ideals rather than reasoning.

What are these 3 ways you can encourage an INFP?

Be present and acknowledge and validate the INFP. 

When INFPs are depressed, they tend to withdraw from their surroundings. They frequently require emotional space to digest what is occurring to them. Friends who make an effort to be there for them in their distress without pressing them to feel better are appreciated.

They don’t want to be “forced” to be optimistic, and they despise being hurried through their emotions. An INFP would welcome someone who invites them to express their emotions, even if they are unpleasant and assures them that they will not be criticised.

If an INFP needs support with a project or goal, it’s critical to affirm their vision verbally. Validate their ideas and efforts, and let them know you believe in them. Tell them in a personal way what their concept or initiative may mean to people.

Inquire if they require assistance in structuring the project so that it does not appear overwhelming. Many times, INFPs have large, complicated ideas but struggle to break them down into sequential stages.

When INFP is feeling overwhelmed, they need to know that they are completely supported by their loved ones. People who try to compel the INFP to overcome their melancholy will only make situations worse.

They need to feel free to be themselves without fear of being criticised or having someone try to push the INFP. When their loved ones are just present for them, the INFP feels secure to be themselves.

Strengthen the INFP’s functions.

Working on the INFP’s weaker functions is an excellent method for them to improve their motivation. Strengthening the functions they struggle with can sometimes be a fantastic approach to learning to be a little better at motivating oneself.

Te (Extraverted Thinking) is the INFP’s weakest function, although it is one that typically helps with motivation. 

The INFP may sometimes help with this by reflecting their sentiments in a more rational manner. Connecting their strengths to the attributes they have in far weaker ways.

INFPs may have to try to learn a new habit by taking it one day at a time. When it comes to strengthening Te, it is best if they devise small ways to organise their lives and stay on track.

While INFPs cannot do this all of the time, having specific days that are more structured might be beneficial. Setting alarms for certain chores, or even allotting themselves a set amount of time to daydream, might help people feel more organised.

While it might be difficult, having these criteria is frequently important for the INFP. Using a calendar to put things visibly in front of them is an excellent method to remind them of activities or chores they are forgetting or delaying.

INFPs might sometimes benefit by emulating the structure of others in order to identify strategies to gradually strengthen their weaker functions.  They can learn by witnessing or being around people who have higher Te and are willing to be patient while the INFP grows and learns.

They love the opportunity to grow and become a more well-rounded person, but it doesn’t mean the journey isn’t challenging. While they are unique individuals, this does not preclude them from using imitation to encourage and prevent procrastination in their life. 

Observing and mimicking how others accomplish things, especially those they respect, may be quite useful to the INFP.

Find motivating incentives.

Incentives can be a useful technique for the INFP to motivate oneself at times. Incentives can be used to assist the INFP in completing a task that is actually essential to them.

They may be having difficulty motivating themselves, but it doesn’t imply they don’t want to do this work. So devising a rewards system and items they can’t have until the activity is completed might be unexpectedly effective at times.

Putting off their gratification until they can accomplish things is a good strategy for them to avoid delaying until the last minute. The main thing for the INFP is to strike a balance with their motivation and not overdo it. 

While they should strive to improve their weaker functions and focus more on topics they must adapt to. Pushing too hard in this way can soon exhaust the INFP, as focusing on weaker functions can do for anybody. 

INFPs may undoubtedly improve their motivation, but they don’t have to try to accomplish it all in one day and end up collapsing as a result. Balance is essential, therefore they require plenty of time to themselves to daydream and, sometimes, postpone.

Conclusion – 

This blog post aimed to answer the question, “How do you encourage an INFP?” and reviewed the features and functions of the introverted and extremely inventive Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality type named INFP to help determine how to encourage INFPs. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments you may have.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How do you encourage an INFP?

How do you support INFP?

3  Ways to Support INFP – 

• Be sincere – INFPs despise those who play games in their relationships.
• Make yourself available – INFPs aren’t interested in those who play hard to get.
• Slow down and enjoy your spare time with your INFP.

How do I make my INFP happy?

Things INFP Personality Needs to Be Happy –

• New concepts to investigate.
• A deep grasp of who they are.
• Not social interaction, but human contact.
• They have a goal in their job.
• A source of motivation.
• A place for them to express their creativity.
• Time to be alone.
• An emphasis on significance rather than on material objects.

How do you get an INFP to like you?

7 things you should do to get closer and make an INFP fall in love with you –

• Be true to yourself.
• Before confessing, make a relationship.
• Maintain the privacy of your connection.
• Allow them time to consider their options.
• Don’t put any pressure on them with material items.
• Don’t beg for favours.
• Maintain consistency.

What is the love language of INFP?

INFPs prioritise quality time as a love language, followed by words of affirmation and physical contact. Though they have exceptionally powerful feelings on the inside, INFPs prefer to express their love by spending time with persons they care about and participating in things they like with them.

What do INFPs do for fun?

INFPs frequently love creating poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. It’s a terrific opportunity for INFPs to show their artistic side in their own unique way. They might also take up journaling as a pastime.

References-

INFP Motivations, The Empath Type. Crystal. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.crystalknows.com/personality-type/infp/motivations#:~:text=When%20INFPs%20have%20plenty%20of,way%20to%20look%20at%20things.

Baker, M. 21 Hobbies That INFPs Love. Psychology Junkie. (2020, July 15). Retrieved from https://www.psychologyjunkie.com/2020/07/15/21-hobbies-that-infps-love/

Storm S. Here’s How You Want to Be Encouraged, Based on Your Myers-Briggs® Personality Type. Psychology Junkie. (2019, July 6). Retrieved from https://www.psychologyjunkie.com/2019/07/06/heres-how-you-want-to-be-encouraged-based-on-your-myers-briggs-personality-type/

What is the best way to encourage an overstressed INFP? Quora. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-way-to-encourage-an-overstressed-INFP

36 Ways to Make Your INFP Happy. Psychologia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://psychologia.co/make-infp-happy/

Stafford, S. INFP Motivation: How the INFP Can Overcome Procrastination. (2019, June 3). Retrieved from https://personalitygrowth.com/infp-motivation-how-the-infp-can-overcome-procrastination/

Moodie, K. Here’s How to Best Encourage Each Personality Type. (2017, October 9). Retrieved from https://personalitygrowth.com/heres-how-to-best-encourage-each-personality-type/

Chea, C. 4 Ways INFPs Can Make the Most of Their Cognitive Functions. Introvert, Dear. (2016, June 6). Retrieved from https://introvertdear.com/news/infp-personality-type-make-the-most-of-cognitive-functions/

Guide on how to motivate an INFP! Personality Cafe. (2016, December 25). Retrieved from https://www.personalitycafe.com/threads/guide-on-how-to-motivate-an-infp.973498/

INFP Personal Growth. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.personalitypage.com/html/INFP_per.html