I’m not an INFP anymore

When I first took the MBTI years ago, I came out as an INFP — the idealist. And it fit. I was introspective, feelings-driven, and consistently journaling, constantly searching for meaning in everything. I could spend an entire afternoon reflecting on one moment — a random goodbye, a line from a song, a scene from a film. I felt everything, all the time. It was a lot.

And honestly? It still is.

When my friend Bea left our workplace, I didn’t just get sad — I spiraled. I went into full-blown organize-and-buy-things mode to cope—deep cleaning, impulse purchases, the whole nine yards. My emotions needed somewhere to go, and I gave them a productivity makeover.

Then there was the time I watched Natalia Osipova perform Giselle. I didn’t just watch it — I absorbed it. Her portrayal of heartbreak and grace stayed with me for days. I cried. I rewatched it. I kept thinking about it while doing laundry. Classic INFP behavior, right?

But lately, I’ve noticed a shift.

I still feel all the things, but I don’t just sit in them anymore. I try to make sense of what they’re pointing to. I pause and ask, What am I learning here? What’s the pattern? Is this something I can name and respond to, instead of just riding the emotional wave?

Interestingly, ChatGPT was the first to suggest that I might be leaning more towards INFJ. At first, I was like, ‘No thanks.’ INFJ sounded too intense, too planned, too… not me. But then I realized: I do map out my thoughts now. I organize my thoughts before I act. I do build frameworks around what used to be vibes and intuition.

And no, I haven’t completely changed — I’ve just evolved.

• INFP me was all heart. INFJ me still has heart, but it brings a roadmap.
• INFP me dove into the unknown. INFJ me asks questions and brings snacks.
• INFP me trusted the universe. INFJ me makes a checklist, just in case.

I still cry over K-dramas. I still write when life feels heavy. But now, I also stop and ask, What keeps showing up for me? What’s the lesson here? What can I carry forward without letting it consume me?

I’m not just the girl who feels everything anymore. I’m the woman who still feels deeply… but now makes a plan about what to do next. 😉