INFJ Cognitive Type Notes

I. Introverted Intuition

Problems

Overextension of Ni leads to problems in intimate relationships as I try very hard to figure out who someone is and whether they can be trusted; I twist them and the "evidence" that they can be trusted or not, and my feelings swing up and down as a result .

• Jumping to conclusions (Ti): You can sometimes take one or some data points and jump to conclusions (Ni seeing a possibility and acting as if it is true, Ti judging too soon, Se being out of touch with the concrete facts of reality), getting emotionally triggered based on assumptions. Often fueled by my fears (mistrust, rejection). E.g... Remedies: Check the facts, evaluate evidence, brainstorm alternatives
• Uncertainty (Ni): Due to looking at so many data points and perspectives (Ni data gathering), I'm always open for more information and I keep twisting things around in my head until I'm uncertain about what anything is. I don't trust my own intuition (often with good reason as it jumps to very emotionally triggering conclusions).
• Black and white judgements (Ni - Ti): You can have a tendency to look at one or some data points and then make gross generalizations and judgements, ignoring the other side of the coin, especially as it relates to other people. E.g. thinking about something selfish someone did and concluding that they never cared about me, but ignoring all the ways that they've showed they cared.

• Pessimism: Using previous negative patterns and events as evidence that things never will work out; finding problems and obstacles as reasons that things just won't work and I give up before even trying. E.g. I want good relationships but struggle with social anxiety, so fuck it; I want a nice job but I don't know which one and I ended up in unhappy job situation before so fuck it.
• Pointlessness:
• Indecisiveness:

Remedies

To cognitive shortcuts:

• Check the facts (Ti-Se): Describe only the facts of the situations, removing all interpretation. Acknowledge that interpretations are just assumptions.
• Evaluate the evidence (Ti-Se): What concrete evidence do I have that this is true? What is the counter-evidence? How likely is it that what I'm thinkig is true?
• Brainstorm alternatives (Ni): What are alternative explanations, reasons, ways to look at what I'm thinking? Are there other explanations that are more likely or just as likely?
• Nuance thinking (Ni): Look at all sides of the case. If someone acted mean, how have they been nice? If someone is acting selfishly, how have they cared for you? Get comfortable with nuance, stop resorting to childish black and white thinking in a pursuit for emotional certainty.
• Wise mind (Ni): After objectively checking the facts and consulting my feelings, settle into my wise mind to make a decision and trust myself.

To pessimism (look into the future):

• Envision future potential: Instead of giving up due to past and current circumstances and the belief that I can't change anything, envision potential positive futures and see what feels fulfilling. Just as an experiment. No pressure. Then, break down steps to see what could potentially lead to these future.
• Optimism: Instead of just looking at the problems and hindrances, look also at possibilities and potential. How could things turn out right?
• Connect present action and future potential: Instead of just looking at how the past led up to this moment, and how the future will turn out negatively because of how this moment in time is, flip it on its head. Look at how what I do today affects the future, both the negative and the positive. Then ask: what could I positively do today to invest in a better future?
• Reflect on why things matter, their purpose: If things seem pointless or I ask "what's the point?", connect them to something deeper. Figure out the fucking point. Figure out the why. How can small actions help me develop something I care about? How can small actions help to contribute to something better for myself?
• Reflects on needs, wants and desires:
  • What do I want my days to look and feel like, both the ordinary, mundane ones, and the grand, exciting ones?
  • What was life like at its best, and why was it so good?
  • When do I feel the most fulfilled?
  • What do I dream of in my heart of hearts, and why?
  • What feels important to me and why?
  • What matters in life?
  • What is worth investing my time in?
  • How can I be an important figure for others?
  • How do my actions and tendencies and patterns affect others?

Why Develop Ni?

Positive relationships: Instead of jumping to conclusions and black and white judgements, I can be very understanding and accepting of other people. Perhaps even some healer. I can look deeper into them and help them understand and heal themselves from their neurosis.

Understanding others:

Caring about a positive future: Instead of being stuck in negativity/pessimism and resigning myself to an unhappy and unfulfilling life, I can make a future for myself which seems better. I have that power. Do I want years of unhappiness and unfulfillment and feeling like an incompetent failure, or do I want my life to be something I'm proud of? Do I want my future to be something I dread or something I'm excited about? Do I want to wake up everyday feeling unmotivated or do I want the drive to do something that matters to me and others?

IV. Extraverted Sensation

II. Extraverted Feeling

III. Introverted Thinking

Looping

Getting stuck in my introverted functions. Obsessively analyzing. Doubting their vision, understanding, ability to comprehend, perceptions, and tearing apart their futuristic inclinations with an obsessive desire to comprehend it fully, from every possible angle. The desire to BECOME consumes them, to MAKE REAL their abstract ideals, but they have no access to objectivity, so they get lost in their surreal mind. Lacking any Te, they cannot figure out how to bring their vision into reality or execute it, so they are stuck … going over it, again and again. External realities fall away and all that is left is the mind … devoid of people, devoid of outside influences, devoid of an ability to articulate their thoughts. The INFJ withdraws, gets lost in their head, and in a sense, ceases to exist in tangible reality, because internal symbols and comprehension takes over. Their Ni pulls them toward an abstract ideal, while their Ti rips it apart.

• Emotional repression: Dysfunctional feeling life and relationship status leads to an obsessive desire to figure out and to fix things. Figure out who people are, figure out who I am, figure out what to do with life, figure out. Abstract Ni seems so uncertain and fuzzy. Emotional Fe feels so painful and scary. Ti wants certainty, control, security.
• Looking for certainty: Strong pull to figure out what something or someone is. Overthinking Ni sees many different data points and becomes fuzzy and confused; Fe becomes conflicted about what to feel and wants to "fix" things to feel right about them; Ti jumps in to try and land on a conclusion. E.g. "who am I?" -> researching personality types; "who is he?" -> analyzing behaviors and theorizing about motivations; "what do I want to do with my life?" -> figure out problems, values, make plans. Ni keeps feeding data and different perspectives and Ti tries to refine it, never coming up satisfied, leading to mental overload.