ISFP
Introverted Feeling with Sensing
People with ISFP preferences have a great deal of warmth, but may not show
it until they know a person well. They keep their warm side inside, like
a fur-lined coat. When they care, they care deeply, but are more likely
to show their feeling by deeds rather than words. They are very faithful
to duties and obligations related to things or people they care about.
They take a very personal approach to life, judging
everything by their inner ideals and personal values. They stick to their
values with passionate conviction, but can be influenced by someone they
care deeply about. Although their inner loyalties and ideals govern their
lives, ISFPs find these hard to talk about. Their deepest feelings are
seldom expressed; their inner tenderness is masked by a quiet reserve.
In everyday activities they are tolerant, openminded,
flexible, and adaptable. If one of their inner loyalties is threatened
though, they will not give an inch. They usually enjoy the present moment,
and do not like to spoil it by rushing to get things done. They have little
wish to impress or dominate. The people they prize the most are those who
take the time to understand their values and the goals they are working
toward.
They are interested mainly in the realities brought
to them by their senses, both inner and outer. T'hey are apt to enjoy fields
where taste, discrimination, and a sense of beauty and proportion are important.
Many ISFPs have a special love of nature and a sympathy with animals. They
often excel in craftsmanship, and the work of their hands is usually more
eloquent than their words.
They are twice as good when working at a job they
believe in, since their feeling adds energy to their efforts. They see
the needs of the moment and try to meet them. They want their work to contribute
to something that matters to them-human understanding, happiness, or health.
They want to have a purpose beyond their paycheck, no matter how big the
check. They are perfectionists whenever they care deeply about something,
and are particularly suited for work that requires both devotion and a
large measure of adaptability.
The problem for some ISFPs is that they may
feel such a contrast between their inner ideals and their actual accomplishments
that they burden themselves with a sense of inadequacy. This can be true
even when they are being as effective as others. They take for granted
anything they do well and are the most modest of all the types, tending
to underrate and understate themselves.
It is important for them to find practical ways
to express their ideals; otherwise they will keep dreaming of the impossible
and accomplish very little. If they find no actions to express their
ideals, they can become too sensitive and vulnerable, with dwindling confidence
in life and in themselves. Actually, they have much to give and need only
to find the spot where they are needed.