Comments on: Five Stages of INFP http://www.infpblog.com/being-infp/five-stages-of-infp/ Thoughts on the INFP Personality Type from an INFP Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:03:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Corin http://www.infpblog.com/being-infp/five-stages-of-infp/comment-page-1/#comment-2554 Corin Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:39:31 +0000 http://www.infpblog.com/?p=578#comment-2554 Thank you so much for sharing. I think INFPs sharing their experiences and struggles is much more valuable in getting people to change than my posts. I give deduction and explanation. But people commenting about going through the same thing, gives other INFPs hope. I think that the routine suck up you life at any stage. Deliberate change is the only way to rebel against the tyranny of the routine. The monotonous day-to-day takes a time to become a vicious cycle. It's has to allowed to grow to get to that point. I've been starting to interrupt routines by driving different routes home. I just have to do one thing different in my routine each day in order to force a shift. It's kind of like rocking your car back and forth when you're stuck in snow. Sitting in a different chair at dinner or eating outside instead, each little change is me rocking the car of my life out of that snowy rut of routine. Thank you so much for sharing. I think INFPs sharing their experiences and struggles is much more valuable in getting people to change than my posts. I give deduction and explanation. But people commenting about going through the same thing, gives other INFPs hope.

I think that the routine suck up you life at any stage. Deliberate change is the only way to rebel against the tyranny of the routine.

The monotonous day-to-day takes a time to become a vicious cycle. It’s has to allowed to grow to get to that point. I’ve been starting to interrupt routines by driving different routes home. I just have to do one thing different in my routine each day in order to force a shift. It’s kind of like rocking your car back and forth when you’re stuck in snow. Sitting in a different chair at dinner or eating outside instead, each little change is me rocking the car of my life out of that snowy rut of routine.

]]> By: ruby http://www.infpblog.com/being-infp/five-stages-of-infp/comment-page-1/#comment-2549 ruby Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:12:28 +0000 http://www.infpblog.com/?p=578#comment-2549 Wow. Thanks for this post! I feel like I'm gearing to self-improvement with your posts. ;) I can now associate this one to the 6 needs in your other post and try to trace back on why i am shifting from stage 4 and stage 5 but mainly staying on stage 4 most of the time. Then I try to think on what need i am lacking (the probable reason on why i am depressed) and try to make up for it and do something about it. although most of my plans backfire, i will think that at least i made an effort in trying to make up for that lack of need which made me depress. but sometimes i've noticed it's force of nature that fulfills that need. i dunno if its just me or does this happen to anyone as well. especially if you are like caught in a vicious cycle of monotonous events and then you're exhausted and then suddenly something good happens. this usually happens after i pray. it's as if my prayer has been answered. which makes me really happy. also, i've noticed when i read my past journals in high school, it was full of anger..i was like blaming everyone for the bad results happening to my life..geeh this is truer than i expected...i've been through stage 2 during my high school days..probably stage 1 during my elem..then in college i went through stage 4 and a little of stage 3..and then right now shifting from stage 4 and stage 5...but maybe i'm shifting through all the stages right now..i'm probably not aware of it... i'm thinking that stage 5 can be achieved when you have a lot of time for yourself alone which can go back to your other post about finding time for solitude...not only for authenticity but for learning acceptance... Wow. Thanks for this post! I feel like I’m gearing to self-improvement with your posts. ;) I can now associate this one to the 6 needs in your other post and try to trace back on why i am shifting from stage 4 and stage 5 but mainly staying on stage 4 most of the time. Then I try to think on what need i am lacking (the probable reason on why i am depressed) and try to make up for it and do something about it. although most of my plans backfire, i will think that at least i made an effort in trying to make up for that lack of need which made me depress. but sometimes i’ve noticed it’s force of nature that fulfills that need. i dunno if its just me or does this happen to anyone as well. especially if you are like caught in a vicious cycle of monotonous events and then you’re exhausted and then suddenly something good happens. this usually happens after i pray. it’s as if my prayer has been answered. which makes me really happy.

also, i’ve noticed when i read my past journals in high school, it was full of anger..i was like blaming everyone for the bad results happening to my life..geeh this is truer than i expected…i’ve been through stage 2 during my high school days..probably stage 1 during my elem..then in college i went through stage 4 and a little of stage 3..and then right now shifting from stage 4 and stage 5…but maybe i’m shifting through all the stages right now..i’m probably not aware of it…

i’m thinking that stage 5 can be achieved when you have a lot of time for yourself alone which can go back to your other post about finding time for solitude…not only for authenticity but for learning acceptance…

]]> By: ruby http://www.infpblog.com/being-infp/five-stages-of-infp/comment-page-1/#comment-2548 ruby Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:03:58 +0000 http://www.infpblog.com/?p=578#comment-2548 this makes me cry...really...the pain that you went through is too much...i even don't think i could handle that...but your reaction towards it is so brave...not many people can do that...to stood amidst the storms of life with positivity regardless of deep past hurts... this makes me cry…really…the pain that you went through is too much…i even don’t think i could handle that…but your reaction towards it is so brave…not many people can do that…to stood amidst the storms of life with positivity regardless of deep past hurts…

]]> By: Colleen http://www.infpblog.com/being-infp/five-stages-of-infp/comment-page-1/#comment-2544 Colleen Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:30:24 +0000 http://www.infpblog.com/?p=578#comment-2544 I have lived in my INFP skin for almost 60 years and I have found it to be a blessing not a curse. I have a successful career providing the education and support necessary to help others achieve their dreams. I believe in both miracles and magic. Other people value my insight and point of view. They say I bring peace into the room. I have seen the world through rose colored glasses all my life even though, my life, like yours, has had challenges and pain. I have been sustained by love, hope and faith. Like the toys in the "Velvetine Rabbit", I have been loved, worn and emerged "real" but always uniquely different. Celebrate all that is INFP. You may never be deeply understood by anyone but yourself but you have been given the gift of empathy. That gift will help you identify who has the capacity to understand you and allow you to forgive those who don't so you won't be hurt. Enjoy your quest to understand the secrets of the universe, listening to whispers, and seeing what is invisible to others. How cool is that! I have lived in my INFP skin for almost 60 years and I have found it to be a blessing not a curse. I have a successful career providing the education and support necessary to help others achieve their dreams. I believe in both miracles and magic.

Other people value my insight and point of view. They say I bring peace into the room. I have seen the world through rose colored glasses all my life even though, my life, like yours, has had challenges and pain. I have been sustained by love, hope and faith. Like the toys in the “Velvetine Rabbit”, I have been loved, worn and emerged “real” but always uniquely different.

Celebrate all that is INFP. You may never be deeply understood by anyone but yourself but you have been given the gift of empathy. That gift will help you identify who has the capacity to understand you and allow you to forgive those who don’t so you won’t be hurt.

Enjoy your quest to understand the secrets of the universe, listening to whispers, and seeing what is invisible to others. How cool is that!

]]> By: Corin http://www.infpblog.com/being-infp/five-stages-of-infp/comment-page-1/#comment-2382 Corin Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:38:49 +0000 http://www.infpblog.com/?p=578#comment-2382 For me, if I do something, if I keep busy, I stop thinking about it. I try not to dwell on my life. I rarely look at the past specifically, ie I should have done this this and this. I look at the past generally, in 5 years chunks where I remember where I was and where I went. I focus on doing things that I enjoy. I focus on being present and aware of myself as I'm doing it and try to stay in my body instead of just in my head. It's always the next step and thinking what's the one thing that I can do today that makes me better. Sometimes, that one thing is part of a long-term goal. Right now, I've been really down on myself for not failing more - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45mMioJ5szc When I'm not failing then I'm just coasting and playing it safe. For me, if I do something, if I keep busy, I stop thinking about it. I try not to dwell on my life. I rarely look at the past specifically, ie I should have done this this and this. I look at the past generally, in 5 years chunks where I remember where I was and where I went.

I focus on doing things that I enjoy. I focus on being present and aware of myself as I’m doing it and try to stay in my body instead of just in my head. It’s always the next step and thinking what’s the one thing that I can do today that makes me better. Sometimes, that one thing is part of a long-term goal.

Right now, I’ve been really down on myself for not failing more – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45mMioJ5szc

When I’m not failing then I’m just coasting and playing it safe.

]]> By: Prachee http://www.infpblog.com/being-infp/five-stages-of-infp/comment-page-1/#comment-2381 Prachee Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:23:53 +0000 http://www.infpblog.com/?p=578#comment-2381 I think you are right about everything. I was thinking about that last stage. I think it's the most painful stage. I do think "It's my fault" and "I'm responsible" are different. The difference is very subtle, but significant. I think the former is not complete acceptance, but an emotional realization, whereas the latter is mature acceptance, it's learning to live with the realization. The problem is that I always get stuck on "It's my fault," which leads to self loathing and all kinds of negative emotions. How does one break that barrier and look to the future? I think you are right about everything.
I was thinking about that last stage. I think it’s the most painful stage. I do think “It’s my fault” and “I’m responsible” are different. The difference is very subtle, but significant. I think the former is not complete acceptance, but an emotional realization, whereas the latter is mature acceptance, it’s learning to live with the realization.

The problem is that I always get stuck on “It’s my fault,” which leads to self loathing and all kinds of negative emotions. How does one break that barrier and look to the future?

]]> By: Corin http://www.infpblog.com/being-infp/five-stages-of-infp/comment-page-1/#comment-2204 Corin Sun, 18 Jul 2010 07:01:01 +0000 http://www.infpblog.com/?p=578#comment-2204 I find that personal achievement is a really bad measure of progress. You may achieve a goal but still feel like your life isn't any different that before. Life is about moving from one set of problems to a better set of problems. In your 20's, your problem might be deciding between ramen noodles vs mac and cheese for dinner. Or your problem might be trying to get your parents to let you live your life the way you want to. Progress can be best measured if you still have to same problems 5 or 10 years later. If you've moved to a better set of problems even though you haven't really accomplished your goals, it shows that you're moving forward. I find that personal achievement is a really bad measure of progress. You may achieve a goal but still feel like your life isn’t any different that before.

Life is about moving from one set of problems to a better set of problems. In your 20′s, your problem might be deciding between ramen noodles vs mac and cheese for dinner. Or your problem might be trying to get your parents to let you live your life the way you want to.

Progress can be best measured if you still have to same problems 5 or 10 years later. If you’ve moved to a better set of problems even though you haven’t really accomplished your goals, it shows that you’re moving forward.

]]> By: Nakieda Massey http://www.infpblog.com/being-infp/five-stages-of-infp/comment-page-1/#comment-2195 Nakieda Massey Sat, 17 Jul 2010 01:33:13 +0000 http://www.infpblog.com/?p=578#comment-2195 Just read this and I have to say that this is right on the money. Everything you've written I've said and done. I've gone through all the phases but with me it doesn't end with acceptance, the cycle just starts all over again. It's like I'll be on track for a while then I get a little bad news and boom, I'm right back to the beginning. It sucks and I'm trying to make the best of it...well trying to get through it, but I seem to be in a rut and not able to pull myself out. I mean I'll pull myself out eventually but it takes a while and it seems that I'll never accomplish anything and will just be satisfied with being an overachieving underachiever. (That's a group my friend and I came up with she's INTP). Just read this and I have to say that this is right on the money. Everything you’ve written I’ve said and done. I’ve gone through all the phases but with me it doesn’t end with acceptance, the cycle just starts all over again. It’s like I’ll be on track for a while then I get a little bad news and boom, I’m right back to the beginning. It sucks and I’m trying to make the best of it…well trying to get through it, but I seem to be in a rut and not able to pull myself out. I mean I’ll pull myself out eventually but it takes a while and it seems that I’ll never accomplish anything and will just be satisfied with being an overachieving underachiever. (That’s a group my friend and I came up with she’s INTP).

]]> By: slughog http://www.infpblog.com/being-infp/five-stages-of-infp/comment-page-1/#comment-2045 slughog Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:24:18 +0000 http://www.infpblog.com/?p=578#comment-2045 i've often considered another way to achieve a lifestyle of "read, sleep, and eat" - prison! and it's easier to get there than becoming a multi-millionaire and could possibly be fun! i'm thinking some fraud scheme to scam the credit card companies and travel the world and then chill in white-collar prison and read for years! paradise! i’ve often considered another way to achieve a lifestyle of “read, sleep, and eat” – prison! and it’s easier to get there than becoming a multi-millionaire and could possibly be fun! i’m thinking some fraud scheme to scam the credit card companies and travel the world and then chill in white-collar prison and read for years! paradise!

]]> By: ockhamdesign http://www.infpblog.com/being-infp/five-stages-of-infp/comment-page-1/#comment-1676 ockhamdesign Mon, 10 May 2010 20:55:31 +0000 http://www.infpblog.com/?p=578#comment-1676 I changed my entry from "it's my fault" to "I'm responsible." I'm starting to realizing that fault is past focused while responsibility is future focused. Some things are beyond our control when they happen. However, it's taking responsibility is about us focusing on what we can do from this moment forward. I changed my entry from “it’s my fault” to “I’m responsible.” I’m starting to realizing that fault is past focused while responsibility is future focused. Some things are beyond our control when they happen. However, it’s taking responsibility is about us focusing on what we can do from this moment forward.

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