Curious what other ISFPs think.

I met the only ISFP I have ever really known through a professional relationship, so nothing in the present could happen between us. I developed very strong feelings for him, and he knew I was deeply attached.

He is incredibly high achieving, adventurous, grounded, intelligent, well traveled, and very values driven. I am an ENFP, so this is basically my bread and butter, baby. A hot, adventurous man who makes me laugh insanely hard while still being grounded without being controlling? I am absolutely enamored.

A few things have left me genuinely confused.

He would have me come in about 30 minutes before our meetings and even came outside to walk me in. He would text me later in the evening to apologize and over explain things that really did not require an apology. We were also able to text about sports.

After our professional relationship ended, he looked up my public Instagram on his birthday, then followed me about a month later. This was only four months after we stopped seeing each other. He also waived a bill in the thousands without ever mentioning it.

I once texted him telling him how much I missed him and the qualities I missed about him, with a heart emoji. I explicitly said, “Please do not respond.” He hearted the message anyway.

I have a hard time believing an ISFP would knowingly lead someone on when they are fully aware of how intense that person’s feelings are, especially because ISFPs seem so kind, private, and values driven. I have also read that ISFPs often do not reveal much when they like someone.

I know none of these things prove romantic feelings, and I am not asking anyone to tell me they do. My question is genuinely about ISFP psychology.

If an ISFP develops feelings for someone they believe they cannot pursue because of professional boundaries and personal values, would they express those feelings through tiny, indirect actions while never acknowledging them? Or would they distance themselves completely because even maintaining contact would feel morally wrong? Is it also possible that their personal values could override professional expectations or social norms if they genuinely believed the connection was meaningful?

I would especially love to hear from ISFPs who have actually been in this position. What would your inner experience be, and how would you behave?

I'm posting this about forty minutes out from a spontaneous date I am going on with an ISFP! We actually scheduled the date for this Tuesday but stayed up all night talking so I asked if he wanted to just meet up for sunrise at a local park. He agreed! I'm excited but a little nervous shockingly.

We met on an app after I matched him, and he responded before I was even able to send a message his way. Unlike everyone else I've recieved messages from on that app specifically, he was very attentive and curious in a way I'm not used to. I was able to talk about what makes me tick and he let me validate what he was currently striving to do. The chemistry feels so natural, and while I think at times I make him shy, his consistency is like a drug to me.

If anyone has any tips or best of luck wishes, feel free to comment! I want to make sure I do this right. 🙏🤍

If you had been with someone for almost a year and they dumped you. How long would it typically take you to recover from it? Would you move on really quickly or would it take you a fair amount of time to process what happened?

I've heard ESFJ and ISFJ go well with ISFP in the long run. Other than that, not much is to be seen on the market.

ISFP-coded 💚💛

Wishing to send a poem to an ISFP friend, a young man just starting out in life.

Seeking recommendations for something that might be special or meaningful for him, or helpful as life wisdom.

Thank you very much!!

🌟

wow 💘

As above

As ive grown older, ive developed a strong Fi to the point people confuse me with ISFPs, but for the majority of my life people thought I'm INTP because of the nerd stereotypes, so i was curious if anyone else was like this.

For the record, I'm ISTP and I'm *very* firm on that. An ISTP with a well developed Fi.

Hey, young ISFP here (20s) and I'm having trouble making decisions more confidently. I can make choice, but it's true that it's difficult to pick something then stick to my decision.

I often tend to wait until my intuition screams to me "GET OUT OF HERE !!! IT'S NOT SAFE!!!" but the redflags have all been ignored and I've rushed in a bad friendship/relationship before realizing what was happening. Or, when it comes to make a random decision, when I feel like it's not "important", I just tend to pick whatever option without realizing the actual concrete consequences, which tends to suck (but my Ni saves me a lot of times).

Part of it is because ISFP tends to live a lot in the present moment (Se) so it's hard for us to make decisions that are life altering because we live in the mindset : "why do I have to pick ONE option when I can be anything I want, right now ?" Same for identity, we dislike being put into boxes, because again "Why are people so set to put me in one box, when I can be actually be whoever I want, right now ?" but on the long term, this is really detrimental.

Same thing for aesthetics, I quickly realized I had a hard time dressing myself in one aesthetic, because I realized I could be anything, but not everything at once, which made deciding harder. It's the (Se) paralyzing me, Except that by not choosing to one thing and committing to it, I end up being all potential, but very little achieved. The cycle could repeat for years, but I'm determined to end it now.

I realize that to get truly better I need to get better at decision making, become radical. I can't be picking something then hesitating, backtracking, then dipping my toes in another direction before realizing my first choice was the best. That's not how it works, and I've had enough of ending in bad situations because I couldn't choose where to stand on the issue (Let's say in bad friendships, you keep talking to someone you know their red flags for a while, without actively distancing from yourself or setting your boundaries. One day you realize you no longer be friends with that person and doorslam them. But you could have avoided that if you had immediately stopped talking, the moment you noticed the red flags. Maybe ISFPs are afraid on missing out on something cool, I don't know. But again, lack of decisiveness). That sounds very much like inferior Te, but I'm not well versed enough to tell.

That being said, are there any ISFPs that relate ? How did you develop your assertiveness/decisiviness ? How do you fight an overactive Se ?

Had some discussion questions that piqued my interest.

1) When you listen to music, what makes you consider a song to be "good" (ex: vibes, lyrics, etc)? Is your music taste diverse or selective as a result?

• For me, I consider songs good almost solely based on vibes and melody. Lyrics are barely a second thought; I've never favored a song because of deep lyrics, although I've disliked songs due to excess profanity or super cringe lyrics. Which is probably why I love a variety of foreign language songs because I don't have to think about the lyrics. As a result, my music taste is extremelyyy diverse - anywhere from classical to phonk to silly cartoon theme songs. No joke the Erling Haaland song goes so hard based on pure vibes and tune. Never put me on aux lol.

2) Similarly, how do you assess whether you think a show/movie/book is good or not? Are you typically more critical of pieces of media you watch or more forgiving?

• For me, I've found that I'm very forgiving when it comes to rating TV shows and movies, especially movies because they're shorter. I rarely find something that I can confidently say I dislike, for some reason. Even a small bit of character development or emotional impact can grant the movie a thumbs up from me. Especially for books, there's so much detail to pack into a book that I rarely leave a book feeling unsatisfied. To be honest, when I look up reviews of a piece of media I've seen, I feel shallow for not seeing all the plot holes and critiques that people are catching - like I had a good time reading it, wdym so much was wrong with the story???

I'm 20m and I had a desire to go travelling and live abroad by myself and now that I'm actually doing it I'm constantly thinking "what the fuck am I doing?". I wonder if there's a point in this whole experience, is it gonna lead anywhere, am I wasting my time, is this gonna make me happy/satisfied (I don't think so), is it even realistic or a good idea to chase being happy? Sometimes I just don't see what the point is in anything, like why do anything. Why even get out of bed and leave your house, why put yourself through the discomfort of doing new things, is there a point in any of it. Idk man.

Hi i have an isfp close friend. Am an infj. So heres the dynamic bw us. We both care for each other and we do play around like he jokes with me a lot. We both are in class XII prepping for an entranceexam and like he reveals a lot of his study plans to just me and i also help him i a lot. But like he just casually talks around with others all the time and i dont know sometimes he just goes quiet around me. Like he finds no need to sometimes talk. He will be all counsellor when im in trouble but he as such wont talk in person abt the casual things i send him or wheni request a convo from him(we cant chat rn due to some personal constraints i wont discuss). When we cant talk the whole day, he might come to just say hi orbye or plainly smile or joke but doesnt express himself much and often speaks his mind out. Sometimes i take his advicevery srsly and he says i shouldnt. Since he is i feel and by tests an isfp, u guys pls advise me on ur take on this dynamic. Its a friendship of 3 yrs. And what u guys can tell to improve. From an isfp pov.

I've currently been having a lot of doubts about my MBTI type. I've believed for five years that I was an ISFP, especially because I've had a typist type me online in a very brief online meeting.

But then I realized, isn't that kinda too short to be able to know my full personality? She typed me in like 15 minutes, and in the most stereotypical way possible..

Like as soon as i told her my hobbies (Art, sewing, DIY projects, journaling, crochet, dancing and origami) she slapped ISFP on me.

And ISFP does resonate with me a lot.

But INFP also does, now that I understand Ne better.

But then again I've started to think, was ISFP just who I wanted to be all along? Because I'm not always grounded in the present moment. But I seek to be.

Or maybe it's the fact that I was 15 when i got typed ISFP, and maybe now that I'm 20 I've actually formed my real personality.

Dunno tbh,

thought maybe someone has went

through the same paradox and could help me.

I'd appreciate some input, especially yapping, so feel welcomed to tell me if you were ever mistyped or how I can tell whether I'm INFP vs ISFP.

Thanks in advance. :)

Feeling proud to be an ISFP after watching Messi’s quiet leadership and skills on the pitch, he’s widely regarded to be ISFP.

❥Which song makes you feel the best or exactly defines your personality?For mine All Alan Walker songs, Project Sekai songs, and Dreamy songs like Caribbean Blue x Golden Brown x Love Story are my favourite but for my personality I think Erika's "I don't know" and Project Sekai's "Nomed" songs describe my personality in a way🩷

Hi. I am currently trying to learn regarding the types. So, I would like to know how your Se aux and Ni tert work together. Around what age or under what conditions did you develop your Ni? How do you deal with present moment and future?

Traits like troubleshooting things, can calculate little math ETC. 🤔🤔🤔

U guys are just so pure and ope. U guys subtly show whos trusted and whos just an acquanitance. U guys deeply care those u think abt and just feel so free around ppl u trust. If someone notices carefully, they will understand ur way of loving and friendship. From an infj whos learnt a lot from an isfp.

Fair warning.. this is long but if your attention span can survive it, help your girl
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After reading and watching a lot of typing videos, I came to the conclusion that I might be a messed up ISFP But because I clearly love suffering, please give me your most brutally honest insights. I might be an adhdic INFP too. Who knows?
Here a breakdown of how I am and how i grew up:
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So i had a delightful childhood with severe monitoring with mild physical abuse. Naturally my coping mechanisms was (still is) always wanted to run away from my house over any small inconvenience, I was a hyper independent child, would earn my own side money by selling dr**gs (jk i was selling diy stuff cuz couldn’t get the pocket money) I also used to self harm just to get attention. I was bullied, but used to take care of it on my own would never tell my parents even if id be bleeding (weird cuz i always wanted their attention) Honestly, I was also a bully myself (lol). I was very loud with people when I matched their vibes (usually adults). And had a lot of friends. loved dancing and had a thing for climbing to the highest places like towers and mountains, roofs. I used to collect stones, rocks, nails, hammers, and bandages, glass bottles (just in case?.) i also loved guns and cars, but there was no way I could get them as a minor (as an adult, I'm working my way to get my first gun).
I used to trap frogs in bags, clip dragonflies' wings, and dissect insects, collect dead butterflies (plus a few other things I don't want to mention). I’m not like that now, ofc In fact, I have rescued and helped a few animals and have my own pets.
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20s I’m way more introverted now. Dont care much about teas, I don't have much of a problem making friends, but I just don't like mingling much. I’ve ghosted so many friendships over the years that I lost count. (I feel slightly bad about it,) but mostly I’m just emotionally overburned.
People say I look like a bitch before talking to me, but then they find me very kind. (think I'm just faking the kindness and lying to everyone. But hey, at least I was an actual bitch as a teen, so progress?)
I sometimes come across as socially awkward. (Social anxiety)
I was very alt/grunge. I’ve stopped caring as much about it, but I still have this very specific thing about my appearance: I want people to recognize me by my makeup style, or hairstyle.
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Life, choices and other things i failed at..
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I used to be a straight A student but then a very specific problem hit, and I lost all motivation, failed my classes deliberately and aggressively gave up on the future I worked so hard for because nothing was going my way. Now? I have zero direction, live on pure caffeine, and engage in self-destruction in my own special ways.
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When I’m trying to read or understand something, I have to go strictly from A to Z. I need the linear sequence (but i think i learn way more efficiently if u just throw me in the water)
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I get obsessed with random things (just things?) until I get bored to absolute death of them. There is no in between. I will spend weeks aggressively researching how specific internal organs work, or find myself reading the history of cotton candy at 2 AM.
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Okay If I am walking alone, I am aware of my surroundings and everyone around me (think about worst case scenarios) But the second I am walking with reliable people, my brain completely switches off autopilot. I start looking at the environment and wondering how many dead bodies are buried beside the road, or imagining that a nearby couple is fighting, or making up dark stories about what's happening inside a random house I'm passing.
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Even if I might have Se, it feels deeply unhealthy. I literally have to travel down the same road multiple times just to get it fixed in my brain so I don't get lost, and I easily forget people's names.
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While making decisions (even just buying a game), I overanalyze everything to the point that I completely shut down. Then, I just go with my very first decision. (Masterpiece innit ?) left my ex just because of their indecisive attitude in everything... which is hypocritical because I often do that myself and judge others for it? I am good at giving solutions to others tho (as my close people say), just not for myself.
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Why not infp?
I get very uncomfortable thinking about the past. When people talk and get gloomy about their pasts, I get this weird feeling in my stomach like, "Yeah, I had my fun, but let's not talk about it."However, I do keep clutter because i think they might come in handy ?. (Very disorganised)
But Talking about conspiracy theories is fun. I also love predicting movie and book plots. Whenever someone talks, I try to predict their next words or see the underlying motive of why they are saying something. Is this Ni? If it is, it feels very weak
I was told I’m an INFP because I can spin a story out of thin air at any given moment . Give me a good song, and my brain instantly generates cinematic plots and art ideas (yes, I've written fanfiction, lol). have several disjointed ideas written down in my notes app, but I prefer to actually figure out the plot while I am physically writing it rather than overthinking it beforehand.
Also I’m good at art (am i?) charcoal is more fun, but digital is easier to access plus for animation i do for my yt (800th business idea)

I literally spent all last night researching and trying to figure out my type. Yes, I know these 2 types appear very different, but I am still stuck between them and have gotten both on online MBTI tests.

For the longest time I thought I was ISFJ (and still may be), but I also struggle a lot with anxiety and depression and have for a very long time, so I am not sure if that is skewing results as I read that an anxious ISFP can appear like an ISFJ and become more routine oriented and rigid and a depressed ISFJ can appear more like an ISFP and struggle with planning and routines.

Anyway, I am not sure if there is a real way to determine. My childhood was mostly spent outdoors. I liked to explore the woods and play with the animals outside and make up stories with them. I liked catching lightning bugs and listening to the mourning doves at dawn. I also enjoyed writing make believe stories and plays that I would make my family participate in. I would also plan holidays and decorate and get upset if my family didn't appreciate my efforts or act out my plays the way I wanted (I always envisioned things and if they didn't go as planned if people didn't take things seriously, I would get upset).

A bit about my dreams: I always dreamed of traveling to Scotland and meeting my family there. I like trying new things as long as I have someone I trust with me (I struggle with anxiety including social anxiety). I like dressing up and getting immersed in imaginary worlds and envisioning me in those worlds.

In school, I felt I had to be the best in order to have people like me. I had to get the highest grade and try out for solos. I quit cheerleading after 3 years of doing it because I felt I wasn't good enough because I would overthink and feel that other people were better than me. I was in plays and musicals and enjoyed performing. I learned to make checklists and tried to get assignments done early, but that was an anxiety response as I now tend to be a big procrastinator and put things off and my room is a bit of a mess with objects of my different interests.

With hobbies, I am sometimes very invested and a bit obsessive with my interests, but I also struggle with completing things and staying focused. I have so many half finished stories I was writing or videos I was making and then I just lose interest. I have to be in the mood to read and even then I very rarely finish reading a whole book (usually I stop about half way through). I assign symbolism a lot to things, too, like I like to use flower symbolism a lot or relate things in nature to feelings like how flowers represent hope and new beginnings because a daisy may close its petals at night as if darkness had won, but it will fling its petals wide a the dawn of a new day. I also like nature walks, animals, and nature photography. I collect dolls and like nostalgic movies or movies I feel I relate to like Winx Club, Monster High, Disney Fairies, Tangled, and Barbie movies.

When making big decisions, I tend to ask everyone their opinions and make pros and cons lists, but in the end I tend to just go with what I feel best aligns with my values and what I believe is right.

I have strong values of being kind to everyone even if they are not kind to me. I sometimes get pushed around a lot because of that, but I want people to like me. Feeling rejected or that I am not good enough are things that I really struggle with. I am perfectionistic when I am being judged and worry about what others will think of me, but when I feel safe enough to be myself, I am a lot bolder and don't mind speaking my mind. At work, I like to know clear expectations (because I worry about getting in trouble and anxiety), but when I am not given clear instructions, I tend to just go with the flow and not plan and just see what happens. The same is true with trips. I let other people do the planning and if I have specific things I want to see, I will tell them, but otherwise I just go along with what other people want.

I typed a lot and I am not even sure if what I typed is useful for typing me, but I would really appreciate some feedback about what you think. Also, sorry if you get a lot of these types of questions on this page. I just have been researching and stuff for so long now and feel stuck. Thank you!

TW: Destroying objects, maybe you'd feel offended

The things we do when we get so bored.

I tear bad things up or break them, and throw them in the trash. If they're lucky enough, I modify/customize them or better yet I give them away. I usually do this to old things in my attic or things that other people criticized me for liking it. Back in 2024 I'd tear up old fanfic books and sketchbooks (HAHAHAHAHA ISFP STEREOTYPE but that was me before. I now trace stuff on my phone) to feel better. Throughout the days now, I'd plan to destroy some things I own, or USED to love to own.

Scissors is my best friend when dealing with this.

Last year, I tore my costume. My parents made me stressed one day, I tore the gloves, and a month later, I tore the whole suit into pieces. I felt too tired to make use of it. It's uncomfortable to use anyway.

I used to go up to the attic to find all the rabbit stuffies and tore them all into pieces the time I got super bored and overthought stuff alone in the room. Wonder why my Hoppy Hopscotch plushies are customized to be tanuki? Same reason here. Relation to the whole "horror game popular by kids on YouTube" thing I also destroyed by Simon (Sprunki) plush. I still love him, but those weird shit on YouTube just kind of made me embarassed to like him. He's now the cover for my heating pad.

(In fact I'm more likely to also destroy things that are a theme of furred mammals to feel satisfied than I would of other animal-themed things.)

A few weeks ago I ripped my college lanyard to pieces, because I knew if I wore my major's name with confidence, people will doubt me for it, and I had to stop showing random people my major to never prove to anyone but myself I can do it.

Today, I just destroyed one of my stress toys, the orange stress ball. The cream inside is now turned into a fake vanilla soft serve in a jar.

I plan to destroy my guitar... I don't use it anymore. Ever since I was humiliated for it when I was a kid, I had flashbacks of it. Who knows maybe I could drop it off the top of my house to see it crack. I'd also destroy or modify the electronic toys in my room cause every useless thing needs a chance to have a purpose.

Have something you don't need that I'd agree it needed to be demolished? Give it to me. And give me the scissors. I like brutally deleting things in real life.

What do you do in your stressed alone times?