'I tend to be quiet around other people, not because it's what I want to be, but because I'm afraid of doing/saying something wrong.|||Good one. Love the X-Files. Never thought of Mulder as an INFP before, but he definitely seems to fit the more I think about it.|||I love The Outsiders and S.E. Hinton. I would highly recommend reading a couple of her others books: Rumblefish and That Was Then, This Is Now. They are excellent and Rumblefish is one of my favorite...|||Wow. That's a great way of describing the phenomenon. I've never thought about it like that before, but it struck me immediately. Thanks. :)|||I second The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney (I've never read Introvert Power. Might have to add that to my reading list, though.) This was a great book, and for maybe the first time, after...|||I think a lot of people feel like that the first time they realize they are INFP. I know I did! It's kind of strange and exciting at the same time to see yourself reflected back to you. Especially (I...|||TheOffspring Thanks for posting these descriptions. They are really interesting.  I see myself as a combination of The Hero and The Lost Child (I am the oldest). I would never want to give up my...|||Yeah, it is a push and pull sometimes. I know I feel very drawn to exploration and discovery, but sometimes when I realize I've lost sight of the shore I feel like I've missed out on something. I...|||One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.  - Andre Gide   I would say I've lost sight of the shore once or twice in my life. ;) But...|||I crave very vivid and intense experiences. Whether that's in the context of a relationship, or during the creative process or maybe out in nature, I'm always looking fora certain intensity to what I...|||I've been self-publishing my fiction to Amazon Kindle, as well as all the other major e-book retailers, just like questforself mentioned above. So far, I've got 2 novels and one short fiction...|||Late afternoons, when it's still bright, but the light is starting to die off. Nice and quiet then. Still. I guess because it's right before everyone gets home from work.|||refugee Yeah, I think it helps. It certainly makes the process feel better. I think that sitting down at (about) the same time of day, in the same room and sort of following a routine helps me get in...|||Every minute of every day? No. But often, I would say yes.  There are certain things that can provoke a strong emotional reaction in me. A problem at work, a new relationship, conflict with my...|||And for a single creative session - like sitting down to write for an hour or so - it feels fantastic! I don't think I ever feel more focused than when I'm writing, and I can really feel like I'm in...|||Oh wow, what a question. I'm not even sure where to begin.   I think at times I can perceive the world very realistically, in terms of how things actually are. But then I'll tackle a project or...|||As far as what to create - I usually get ideas that pop into my head. I write fiction, and for whatever reason, I tend to get a lot of ideas while I'm driving. They hit me in a certain way, with a...|||I remember when I first found out I was an INFP, I immediately felt relief. It was really cool to see my personality characteristics - which I always thought were a little weird - described on paper...|||It's funny. I actually tend to procrastinate when I need to buy a gift because I hate the idea of giving someone something that they won't use or like. I don't like just buying any old thing - I want...|||I think Harry Potter (the character not the series) is usually considered an INFP.|||I would say I need at least the same amount of time alone as I just had socializing. But ideally it would be closer to a 2:3 ratio socializing to alone time (I hope I'm doing the math right!) ...|||I was 19. It was with my boyfriend at the time, and I'm happy to say was a good experience overall.|||I'm definitely a lark. Although I dont like to wake up too early. My sleep preference is go to bed at 11pm and wake up at about 8am. I've settled into this though, when I was younger this skewed a...|||I'm going to second Ursula K. LeGuin. I'm reading The Left Hand of Darkness right now, and I've also read all the books in her Earthsea series, which starts with A Wizard of Earthsea.  Never read...|||I like this question. :)  I'm a writer, and I think finding my unique voice has to do with trusting what's popping into my mind when I'm writing (and actually writing that down!) I know it's my...|||I tend to be a bit of a procrastinator too, which feels great in the moment and then not so much when you actually have to get that thing done!  At this point, I would figure out everything you...|||I would consider myself overall to be a generally organized person. My P is actually fairly mild, so maybe that's where that comes from. However, my organization probably looks a bit different than...|||Hmmm, I don't know of any particular link between being an introvert and body image issues. What were you thinking the link might be? I'm just curious. :)|||Agreed. Certain situations call for letting ourselves feel any emotion that comes up.|||Yep, that's right. It does seem to be more under our control if its a choice. Interesting thought.  unico Good point about certain mental health conditions.  Michael82 Good find with the...|||Interesting responses - I had never heard anyone say anything like this before, but I wondered if that's what I had been doing during times when I felt lonely.  IAmOrangeToday Several people on...|||I heard someone say a few days ago that loneliness is a choice. The idea being that when you're lonely you've made yourself special, and therefore separated yourself from other people.  Something...|||aus2020 By the way, thanks for linking to my article. And, yes, I agree, there aren't a lot of positive things out there about INFPs. Many things I see are how to cope with/survive being INFP. :)|||I agree with some of the other posters who said that this has more to do with perception than reality. I think INFPs do tend to perceive things this way, which makes sense because it often feels like...|||Several years ago when I was finally finished with school and beginning a career, I really wanted to know what my passion was and, if possible, eventually turn that into a career so I did a lot of...|||If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased.  - Katharine Hepburn|||What about just asking a basic question? Especially if she is already making eye contact with you (like in your example above). Something obvious will do just fine, since it's just a conversation...|||I'll second (or maybe it's third now) making your own decisions. Nothing like being able to do what you want whenever you want to. :) And I think I'll add taking up new hobbies/projects/things you...|||I love this paragraph. I think you're right about the doing something part.  Blackbird Yes, a parent, therapist and romantic partner, and I'm sure I've had a few more roles added in there at...|||I think whoever told you this is probably right on. :)  I know in the past when I've felt the way that you describe, it's like I'm waiting for a rescuer (just like the person you talked to said)....|||For better or worse, I've spent plenty of time in my own imagination, sometimes enjoying that more than anything the real world had to offer me.   But the bottom line is that there is only one...|||I was thinking along the same lines. I have a friend who, when I first met her, used to worry that I was analyzing her all the time. (Of course, maybe she's just paranoid. :wink:) I think it really...|||Shopping. Not completely, clearly I have things that I need to buy, and things that I just want. But I've given up on buying lots of stuff that I don't need and (when I think about it) probably...|||what do you tend to write about?  Lately, I've been writing suspenseful, young adult contemporary fiction, though I have some ideas for adult novels too. I like writing about/exploring group...|||I have to say, this is something I haven't quite figured out myself, but I think I have a few thoughts to share.:wink:    Seek out things that you love/are passionate about. Spend some time...|||I can parallel park my car (even if it takes me a few tries), because I had an internship for a while where there was only street parking, so I had to learn fast!  I have however, ripped the side...|||I, RONNIE!, the great terror of terroville, had a dream last night; a dream that only I, RONNIE! can speak of. First of all I got to warn you: there will be some adult stuff so no minors lol!...|||That's an interesting observation, and something I didn't think of. Maybe (subconsciously) I picked the senses that would balance me out. My imagination is really active, so even if I didn't have...|||The Hero Within, by Carol Pearson: about archetypes and how they inform our lives The Maiden King, by Robert Bly and Marion Woodman: breaks down the story of The Maiden Tsar, and shows how the...|||I just turned 30 this past October, so my twenties are just barely behind me...  I think my best piece of advice is don't try to spend your twenties simply acquiring things. For instance - a...'