So first of all, an INFP is a Myers-Briggs personality type that stands for:

Introverted - Sometimes, INFPs need a moment away from people (through no fault of themselves or those people).

iNtuitive - INFPs tend to focus on abstract, big picture thoughts.

Feeling - This relates to how people make decisions and what they consider most important; INFPs value feelings over logic.

Perceiving - INFPs like to keep options open and are not great at making decisions. They often procrastinate and may actually perform better under the pressure of a looming deadline.

INFPs are often referred to as “dreamers” or “idealists”. Fantasy worlds and big ideas fill their brains. They tend to be warm and compassionate, genuinely wanting to help people. They may get upset or uncomfortable when forced to confront hard facts or even the realities of day-to-day life (laundry, cooking, cleaning).

If someone you love is an INFP, chances are they occasionally drive you crazy. This is the type of person who will get a bunch of art supplies out at 2 am, because they were “inspired” by the book they just finished. Again, all of this is at 2 am. And I forgot, they probably started reading that book as a “break” from homework which is still not finished.

At their best, INFPs are inquisitive and imaginative people who want to understand the world on a deep level and make it better. Many famous writers have been INFPs. However, despite the fact that INFPs are idealists, they can get discouraged because there’s so much they can’t fix. This can cause periods of horrible sadness.

So, if you love an INFP, what to do in difficult times?

• It might be a good idea to try avoiding terms like “in reality” or “if we look at the facts…” when you need an INFP to do something. Unfortunately, this is not how an INFP thinks. INFPs are very gentle and hate conflict, so a screaming-coach style of motivation will backfire. It might work better to try explaining how it would make people happy/ help people, or even asking them what a favorite character in a book would do.
• When an INFP is in a bad mood, and you want to bring them out of their sort of “shell”, remind them of all the times “good” has won on a large scale (real or fictional). Putting them on a creative project (painting, writing, decorating) is also great. Starting them looking at volunteer work might also be a good idea.
• As far as planning/not procrastinating, a good-looking planner and some multicolored pens will do wonders to make planning feel creative. There may need to be more external planning, because INFPs probably won’t do it naturally.

Overall, it’s important to consider any person’s values, strengths, and personality when developing a relationship or trying to help them. These tips hopefully help INFPs who want to get out and do more, as well as loved ones, especially with different personality types.