Advocate (INFJ) Weaknesses. Sensitive to Criticism – Advocates aren't averse to feedback – that is, unless they believe that someone is challenging their most cherished principles or values. When it comes to the issues that are near and dear to them, people with this personality type can become defensive or dismissive.
In my experience as an MBTI® practitioner, one of the most common struggles I hear from INFJs is the struggle of being misunderstood. INFJs feel misunderstood in their external environment and even by themselves.
The best matches for INFJs include intuitive types such as INTJ, INFP, and ENFJ. INFJs are the least compatible with sensors, especially ESTJs, ESTPs, and ESFPs.
Reading too much into a situation
INFJs can appear very awkward when their intuition kicks in and they start reading into a situation. For instance, if someone is being sweeter to the boss than usual, you may infer that they are doing it to get ahead at work.
ENFP. If you have an ENFP as a friend, you'll know how fun and inclusive these types can be. ENFPs may be an INFJ's best match due to the similarities and complementary traits these types share.
Because of our passionate need for meaningful connection, we INFJs can get jealous easily when we see other people connecting and having fun. We might compare ourselves to them, or worse yet, when someone close to us has friends of their own, we might pull away, feeling unwanted and pathetic.
ENFJ – Being Alone
Prolonged bouts of alone time can make ENFJs feel empty and uninspired. “My mind wanders to dark places if I'm alone for too long. Being around people is a huge comfort and something I couldn't stand to be without for an extended period of time.”
INFJs are perfectionists.
The INFJs perfectionism can create high standards that are nearly unreachable—and that can make them an intimidating presence, especially in professional or academic settings.
Because INFJs require commitment early on, many people shy away from dating INFJs. While this trait can make it difficult for INFJs to start a romantic relationship, it also serves them by weeding out potential partners who are afraid of commitment.
Too many details or other sensory stimuli can provoke a stress reaction in INFJs, especially when you feel uncertain about a situation. Unexpected environments, events or interruptions unsettle you greatly since you are forced to focus on immediate, sensory details rather than relying on your intuition.
INFJs have great insight into people and situations. They are creative with deep feelings and strong convictions that guide their lives. Strongly humanitarian in outlook, INFJs tend to be idealists, and they are generally doers as well as dreamers.
Popular hobbies for the INFJ include writing, art appreciation, cultural events, reading, socializing in small, intimate settings, and playing or listening to music.
INFP is the type most commonly mistaken for INFJ, and they use Ne as their co-pilot process. If Signs 1 and 5 are both sound true for you there's a very good chance you're an INFP.
Because INFJs are so naturally aware of harmony levels and emotional needs, they are irritated by people who seem tactless, rude, mean-spirited, troll-ish, or unnecessarily disruptive. In situations where someone is corrupting the emotional atmosphere for their own selfish gains, an INFJ can become severely angered.
INFJ: Finds a Creative Outlet
If you're an INFJ, you suppress your anger. “The Counselor” type will avoid addressing their feelings of frustration because they hate conflict, and the idea of confronting someone might break them out in hives.
The INFJ is a huge perfectionist. While often seen as a good thing that drives perseverance and success, it is also known to cause problems such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, relationship problems, high stress, and even suicide. INFJs set near impossible standards for themselves and for those around them.
INFJs' sensitivity means they have a deep appreciation for beauty and the arts. They can be moved to tears by music, art, theatre, books, films, food or flowers.
A heartbroken INFJ might think they should never have trusted this person in the first place and eat themselves up with guilt. They might get angry and defensive, scared of ever letting another person in. It's okay to feel those things, but it's not healthy to stay there long-term.
INFJs are often misunderstood because their personality makes them seem more intense than the average person. As introverts, they are prone to deep thinking and ongoing internal monologues. As intuitive feelers, they are adept at reading and understanding the emotions of others.
The best matches for an INFJ are the ENFP and the ENTP personality types. Both the ENFP and the ENTP types openly give support to those around them and to those who need affirmation. The extraverted features of the ENFP and the ENTP balance the introverted nature of the INFJ and bring out the best in INFJs.
INFJs and INTPs are one of the most common relationship pairings; so common, in fact, that they are often called “the golden pair”.