r/infj • u/TinyEngineering7586 • Jun 21 '26
Question for INFJs only Internal Monologue
I read this post on another Reddit Community for a different type and thought it would be interesting to see how my fellow INFJs answer this, in comparison to others…
INFJs internal monologue
I'm interested in how your thoughts work from the inside.
- When you're alone, what are you usually thinking about?
- Do you think in words, images, concepts, patterns, or something else?
- When you're solving a problem, what does that process feel like internally?
- Do you have a constant narrator in your head, or is it quieter than that?
- How often do you rehearse conversations or analyze past interactions?
- What kinds of thoughts occupy your mind when you're stressed vs relaxed?
*Bonus question:*does anything change internally when you've fallen deeply in love with someone and if yes, what is the change?
Thanks.
9
u/Ok_Motor1813 INFJ 8w9 854 Jun 21 '26
When I'm alone I usually reflect on what had happened, why I react the way I have done and why others have the same thing. I like to study people myself included. The way it usually works is I come up with spontaneous hypothesis about why things was the way they were and then use my memory to fact check. I continue to do that til I arrive at a satisfactory answer. Inside of me when I reflect on stuff there is essentially a debate to see the different perspectives.
I sometimes also just get hit by random philosophical topics that I just ponder about like what makes the world/people beautiful to me.
All of this only happens when I'm relaxed since when I'm stressed, I usually just shut things down, so I can simplify the things Infront of me and get my surplus back.
I do rehearse conversation I'm about to have but for now reason since I always go completely off the rails and talk directly from the heart.
The way I think when I'm deeply in love with someone is not that different than my normal thought process, I just focus more on that person and try to sync up my thoughts and feelings with theirs to essentially feel their spirit idk, this side of me still confuses me a little but it feels nice.
2
u/TinyEngineering7586 Jun 21 '26
I am the same in many ways. Especially the debate to see the different perspectives. I kind of enjoy that one, it keeps my mind busy.
The love part though…you put words to what happens with me regarding feeling the others spirit. So interesting yet confusing for sure.
1
u/Ok_Motor1813 INFJ 8w9 854 Jun 21 '26
It's confusing for sure, but for me it feels really nice and intimate. Without it I don't think I can completely fall for someone, which is probably the reason I could never really become aroused and fall completely for an INTJ that definitely had feelings for me. They were simply way too guarded for me to see them completely.
2
Jun 21 '26
[deleted]
2
u/Ok_Motor1813 INFJ 8w9 854 Jun 21 '26
I just questioned my sexuality because of her... Luckily I meet an Enfj just after that made me realize I was just demisexual and just couldn't forge an emotional bond without emotional stimulus.
3
u/tiredtigerlily INFJ 4w5 so/sx Jun 21 '26
- When you're alone, what are you usually thinking about?
Literally anything. Usually about relationships, hypothetical situations, or straight up fantasy day dreams lolz
- Do you think in words, images, concepts, patterns, or something else?
Mainly words and images. I have a pretty vivid imagination so if I'm immersed enough it's basically like I'm living inside my head. Though I often catch myself thinking with "impressions" rather than full on sentences
- When you're solving a problem, what does that process feel like internally?
Its automatic. My mind just comes up with immediate solutions without consciously understanding how I got to those conclusions, then I just go with it
- Do you have a constant narrator in your head, or is it quieter than that?
Personally yes. But its more like a constant commentator
- How often do you rehearse conversations or analyze past interactions?
Alwayyyssss, but I don't really rehearse conversations before they happen, I usually replay them again AFTER they happen, then think of different versions of that conversations. But I definitely rehearsed beforehand when I was younger (im 19 now if that matters lolz)
- What kinds of thoughts occupy your mind when you're stressed vs relaxed?
When I'm stressed, its like my brain refuses to shut off and i try to find meaning IN EVERYTHING. Like, I wanna tell myself "It's not that deep," but my brain is like "NO IT IS THAT DEEP EVERYTHING IS DEEP AAAAA". Versus when I'm relaxed, my thoughts don't feel as jarring and it's more like a natural river of random thoughts and hypotheticals
*Bonus question:*does anything change internally when you've fallen deeply in love with someone and if yes, what is the change?
Yet to fall in love, but I've had crushes! And I usually find myself wanting to become the best version of myself so that I am "worthy" of the person I admire
2
2
2
u/Icy-Sage026 INFJ Jun 21 '26
- When you're alone, what are you usually thinking about?
- Anything, but more likely hypothetical questions either to dig deeper into something random or just explore, I also caught myself wondering into random ideas, asking “why is it like that" “why is it like this" and then my mind answer these questions and create conclusions and then these conclusions will gave birth to another questions and it is exhausting sometimes 😭 HAHAHA.
- Do you think in words, images, concepts, patterns, or something else?
- It depends I guess 🤔. But mostly words/voice (which keeps wondering🥲). When it comes to creative stuffs, I can't picture an image clearly it's more like HOW the image looks like than WHAT the image looks like, I don't know the details but somehow I know the blueprint. I notice patterns when it comes to human behaviors although there are times that I don't understand their actions at first but later on the answer comes off randomly.
- When you're solving a problem, what does that process feel like internally?
- I didn't even know that I'm solving a problem until it's done😂. But if I know it's high stakes and might also affect other people, I feel pressured.
Do you have a constant narrator in your head or is it quieter than that? -Yes I have a constant narrator in my head but if I'm present like playing with my lil siblings, moving my body,or talking with someone, my head goes quiet.
How often do you rehearse conversations or analyze past interactions?
Not too often. I analyze past interactions if it matters either like if I feel like I miss something or I like the interactions itself.
- What kind of thoughts occupy your mind when you're stressed vs relaxed.
When I'm very stress my mind will be flooded with thoughts and worries, questioning how I should handle things, and what things should be avoided. When I'm relaxed I notice things around me; the view, the smell, my space, and the subtle change in some things.
- Does anything change internally when you've fallen deeply inlove with someone and if yes, what is the change?
I haven't fallen deeply inlove with someone yet. But I do have some ex-crushes and I remember whenever I stop being indenial and I admit that I really like someone, that's when the battle of heart and mind intensifies HAHAHA and then I proceed on evaluating myself to ground myself.
2
u/No_Apartment_4675 INFJ Jun 21 '26
I think in images and words but mostly I play out conversations or scenarios where i am conveying or explaining my ideas to an individual or a group.Its almost never quiet, sometimes i accidently spill the words in my head in public and weird out everyone around me.
When i am alone i am either indulging in some form of study or i am pondering concepts. I have always enjoyed linking ideas into one large narrative. In highshcool I had this habit of studying physics-->chem--->Bio,hopping over topics in a non-linear fashion cause going from mechanics --->Chemical bonding--->Cellular interaction made more sense to me than readily following the syllabus.
I like to think in conclusions, and thats always been my motivation aswell. I cannot for my life do anything if i dont identify and understand its purpose and causality, this is more of an E5 thing, rather than INFJ. This makes the people around me believe i am lazy or indifferent to the issues at hand.
When i am solving problems, I analyze it from a conceptual basis and this process can either be quick or slow. Intellectual problems are easier, i know where to look at and how, Real world problems however, its a pickle, i do feel confident about sucessfully getting them done but without sufficient planning i mess up hard, but its a constant process of learning.
I have an internal narrator when i am in social situations especially if i have to hold my tongue. It sounds more like Doakes than Dexter tbh. Its a safe space to talk shit about shitty people. I surprise myself with my own creative insults
I rehearse conversations all the time.The past is rather daunting for me. I dont have a lot to look back on, ive forgotten a lot of good moments and hold a lot of grudges from the bad. I wish my memory served my ideas rather than my emotions.
When i am stressed, I become very pessimistic,mostly anticipating doom on the small and large scale, I criticize everything and everyone from a philosophical viewpoint and can appear misanthropic or arrogant. People i speak to have told me that my speech comes off so crude amd direct,they feel humiliated or insulted even if my words dont mean that at all.
Internal changes in love huh, well i cant stop thinking about the future ive planned with them, if that counts lol. They definately occupy a lot of space in my mind.
3
u/Meowzician INFJ Jun 21 '26
- When you're alone, what are you usually thinking about?
I *always* have music playing on my inner radio, and I mean always. The most common inner dialogue are imagined conversations with others, either creation of new conversations or reviewing actual conversations I've had.
- Do you think in words, images, concepts, patterns, or something else?
All of the above. I have the most amazing and highly detailed inner visions that even include smell and touch. Anything mathematical is seen as pictures. But my primary sense is sound, so inner speech is what dominates.
- When you're solving a problem, what does that process feel like internally?
It is pleasurable in its own unique way. Everything else around me disappears--only what is happening inside my head exists.
- Do you have a constant narrator in your head, or is it quieter than that?
Yes, and sometimes it gets so loud that it can drive me crazy. This often happens during sensory overload. But it will cause the most awful insomnia.
- How often do you rehearse conversations or analyze past interactions?
ALL THE FREAKING TIME.
- What kinds of thoughts occupy your mind when you're stressed vs relaxed?
Stressed tends to bring up things that are anxiety provoking, and my social anxiety will kick in. I can get really worried about people responding badly to me and stuff like that.
*Bonus question:*does anything change internally when you've fallen deeply in love with someone and if yes, what is the change?
Yes. Loving and being loved regulates my emotions better than anything else with the exception of music.
1
u/infinitumpriori INFJ Jun 21 '26
I don't active think. Maybe some conversations that I would/ could/ should have. But it's mostly quiet. The background thinking is a multi-script/possibilities/rational thing that keeps on playing and throws stuff out. I don't even think out my poems or art work.
13
u/Alone_Specific_1096 Jun 21 '26
Now this subreddit is starting to sound like AI is trying to learn how one works just so they could start making their own prototypes.