5 Ways INFJs Can Fight for What They Believe In

Remember 2016? That was a weird year. Possibly the weirdest part of 2016 was the extreme rise in both support and opposition to the man who is now the president of the United States of America.

What happened in the United States was less about partisan politics and more about personal values. Die-hard Democrats betrayed party unity to vote for the man they believed would finally bring the sort of change that Obama had overpromised, yet under delivered. On the flip side, constitutional conservatives joined with the left to stand up for civil liberty and equality–concepts they didn’t see reflected in DJT’s speeches or proposed policies.

Many INFJs that I know and love are unhappy with the current administration. Most feel rejected by policies that oppose who they are as a person — gay, transgender, immigrant, woman, Muslim, or black. Those who don’t feel personally rejected resist to show support to oppressed groups and oppose policies that do not reflect their beliefs. I admire their strength, resilience, and intellect. I’m so impressed by how they use their thoughtful and quiet spirits to start important conversations and lead by example, rather than using aggressive threats, bullying, or loud yet empty words.

Each day, the resistance to the current administration is growing, due to Trump’s aggressive executive orders and questionable cabinet choices. Whether you fully support these directives, want to give it a chance, or are fully in opposition against everything Trump stands for, as an INFJ you are in a unique position to make a difference. The way you view the world is different from 99% of the population so the way you fight for your beliefs may be a bit different too, and that’s OK.

Here are five ways INFJs can fight for what they believe in.

1. Be a doer as well as a dreamer. You have great visions of how the world should be, but unfortunately, your visions aren’t always realistic in the real world. Don’t be afraid to take small steps toward larger goals. Sometimes these steps will feel meaningless in the moment, but step back and look at what the long-term results will be if you and others continue to make those small steps every day. Make sure your plans are concrete and practical (partner with some STJs if you need to!) while never losing your idealism.
2. Trust your gut. A major struggle for INFJs occurs when our worldview, or how we have learned to see the world, and our gut instinct are in conflict. Suddenly you’re not entirely comfortable supporting an issue you used to fervently believe in, or you find yourself having to think or pray a little too hard about the candidate you would have in the past supported without question. The easy thing to do is ignore your gut and continue to believe as you have without questioning those beliefs. Listening and trusting your gut doesn’t mean letting go of everything you’ve ever believed in, it just means paying attention to how you feel and trying to understand what is currently causing you to feel uneasy.
3. Never stop listening. Listening is one of the things that INFJs do best. However, since we are values-driven and passionate about our beliefs, it is easy to stop listening to those who oppose us. As tough as we wish to be perceived, we are still sensitive and emotional individuals. It’s oftentimes easier to “door slam” someone who disagrees with our worldview than it is to sit down and talk to them when our values are in conflict with one another. Make your own health a priority–if a relationship isn’t healthy for you then definitely distance yourself from that situation. However, make an effort to hang on to the relationships you have with kind people who happen to believe differently from you. Read books and articles that tackle issues from every angle imaginable. The “other side” may not be right, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t something that you can learn from them, and they, in turn, can learn from you.
4. Take care of yourself first. INFJs can burn out easily. You are incredibly passionate about your cause, but the more time you invest the more you find yourself taking on tedious tasks and activities that drain you. Help out where and when you can, but don’t devote all of your energy in areas that may not be effective for your personality type. An ESTJ may be great at going door-to-door and asking for donations, but that’s not typically an INFJ skill and therefore will cause burn out faster than say, behind-the-scenes planning for an event, or writing passionate letters to your Congressperson. Take breaks from social media if you need to. You don’t have to be a champion for your cause 24/7. But make sure that when you’re in that position, you’re showing up as your best self.
5. Don’t give up. As long as you feel like you have something to fight for, don’t stop fighting. Not everyone will agree with you and some people may choose to unfriend you or call you names. Those people are dealing with their own struggles that likely have nothing to do with you. Many people won’t understand the way you view the world. They may think you’re too idealistic, too emotional, or naive. Carrying the weight of the world will seem like too much work sometimes. You’ll get angry and sometimes act in ways that aren’t healthy or beneficial. But through all of this, don’t give up. I don’t know why there are so few INFJs in the world, but I do know that those of us who are here have a purpose.