善行無轍迹*

《道德經 》二十七

"A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving."

*******

(MTBI) INFPs, are they natural-born Daoists?

道, a Chinese word translates approximatively as "way", "path", "route", "road" 

➥ so it is more about the process than the goal.

Daoism teaches becoming one with the unplanned rhythms of the all, called "the way" or "道".

➥ so it is about harmonizing the chaos.

Daoist ethics vary depending on the particular school, but in general tend to emphasize "naturalness", simplicity, spontaneity and the Three Treasures: 慈, "compassion", 儉, "frugality" and 不敢爲天下先, "humility".

➥ maybe that frugality bit is not a great match, but then again,

it fits a Se PoLR (Point of lower resistance) better than any other!

INFP (introversion, intuition, feeling, perception) is a four-letter abbreviation for one of the 16 personality types identified by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The INFP personality type is often described as an "idealist" or "mediator" personality. People with this kind of personality tend to be introverted, idealistic, creative, and driven by high values.

The theory of psychological type was introduced in the 1920s by Carl G. Jung. The MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® MBTI®) tool was developed in the 1940s by Isabel Briggs Myers and the original research was done in the 1940s and '50s.

Isabel Myers (1897-1980) and her mother, Katharine Cook Briggs (1875-1968), developers of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® instrument, shared a vision. They wanted to enable individuals to grow through an understanding and appreciation of individual differences in healthy personalities and to enhance harmony and productivity in diverse groups. (Cf. the biography Katharine and Isabel: Mother's Light, Daughter's Journey by Frances Wright Saunders.)

The MBTI itself is based upon a theory of personality created by the above mentioned Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Gustav Jung. He proposed that there are four psychological components of personality: thinking, feeling, sensation, and intuition. People then direct each of these cognitive functions inwardly (introverted) or outwardly (extraverted).

In the MBTI, each personality type is made up of a hierarchical stack of these functions. The dominant function is one that largely controls personality, although it is also supported by the auxiliary and, to a lesser degree, the tertiary functions. Inferior functions are those that are largely unconscious but still exert some influence.

INFPs tend to rely on the following four cognitive functions:

Dominant: Introverted Feeling

INFPs experience a great depth of feelings, but as introverts, they largely process these emotions internally. They possess an incredible sense of wonder about the world and feel great compassion and empathy for others. While these emotions are strong, they tend not to express them outwardly, which is why they can sometimes be mistaken as aloof or unwelcoming.

Auxiliary: Extraverted Intuition

INFPs explore situations using imagination and 'what if' scenarios, often thinking through a variety of possibilities before settling on a course of action. Their inner lives are a dominant force in their personality, and they engage with the outside world by using their intuition.

They focus on the "big picture" and things will shape the course of the future. This ability helps make INFPs transformative leaders who are excited about making positive changes in the world.

Tertiary: Introverted Sensing

When taking in information, INFPs create vivid memories of the events. They will often replay these events in their minds to analyze experiences in less stressful settings. Such memories are usually associated with strong emotions, so recalling a memory can often seem like reliving the experience itself.

Inferior: Extraverted Thinking

This cognitive function involves organizing and making sense of the world in an objective and logical manner. While this is a largely unconscious influence in the INFPs personality, it can show itself in times of pressure. When faced with stress, an INFP might become suddenly very pragmatic and detail-oriented, focusing on logic rather than emotion.

Because they are typically ruled more by intuition and emotion, INFPs can sometimes struggle to feel productive and efficient. Learning to develop the extraverted thinking function can help people with this personality type create a better sense of balance.

INFPs gain energy from spending time alone.

INFP is also the opposite personality type of ESTJ that is the "Guardian Supervisor," one of four "Guardian" archetypes (Supervisor, Inspector, Provider, Protector).

* The skilful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels or footsteps — James Legge's translation