An Open Letter to INFJs Who Want to Save the World

Dear fellow INFJ,

Two years ago, I was so depressed that I almost ended my life. After being an auditor, an accountant, and then an animator, I ended up jobless and hopeless. Life was so meaningless to me.

For some of the younger INFJs, you might not know that most INFJs (if not all) have this secret desire to help humanity and save the world. I wasn’t aware of this myself and was switching from job to job because I couldn’t find meaning in any of my jobs.

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When I was an accountant, the job was too mundane and routine for me. So I studied animation for two years during my free time, thinking that I had found my passion. But three months into my new job as an animator, I knew I was wrong. I didn’t know that my desire to help people is so strong that being in a creative industry just didn’t cut it for me.

Feeling lost without a purpose in life, my mind spiraled downwards into depression. Luckily, I managed to get out of it.

I’m writing this letter to you to share my experiences as an INFJ who has the desire to change the world. Hopefully, you will gain some insight into yourself and your personality.

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Why Do INFJs Want to Save the World?

The first two cognitive functions of an INFJ are Introverted Intuition and Extroverted Feeling. They basically sum up why INFJs want to save the world.

First, INFJs are empathetic, and we value peace and harmony. We are very in tune with other people’s emotions, and we quickly pick up on the moods and mental states of the people around us. When we see other people suffer, we don’t just understand their emotions, but we also feel their sadness deeply. So we have this inclination to help the people around us and take care of their well-being.

Second, INFJs are naturally intuitive, insightful, and future-orientated. We have this idealistic view of how the world should or could be. We are always thinking about how to make the world a better place. But it’s not fulfilling for us to just think about the future — we actually want to make it a reality. Also, since we are able to see so clearly the consequences and impact of one’s actions on humanity, we feel responsible to act.

Combining these two dominant traits of ours, we have a strong desire to save the world and humanity. Having a purpose that is bigger than us not only gives us meaning in our lives, but it’s our reason to stay alive. Other personality types might need more money, power, or knowledge. INFJs live and breathe purpose.

Without a huge purpose, INFJs might end up feeling depressed like I was. Or we might end up focusing too much on one person, trying to “fix” him or her, putting ourselves at risk for a narcissistic relationship.

The problem with having such a big vision, though, is INFJs tend to get overwhelmed by it. You might find yourself wanting to make a huge difference in the world but don’t know where to start or how to implement your ideas. Or you might be too selfless and self-sacrificing that you give too much and burn yourself up.

So how do you save the world without killing yourself in the process?

3 Tips for INFJs Who Want to Save the World

1. Focus on yourself first.

This is a quote by Mahatma Gandhi, the legendary INFJ, and it’s useful to all INFJs: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

We can’t change the world without changing ourselves first. In my case, I wanted a more peaceful and harmonious place to live in, but I wasn’t connected to my inner peace at that time when I had depression. So how could I have helped the world when I couldn’t even help myself?

Ever since I recovered from depression, self-compassion and inner peace have been my most important values. Yes, I want to change the world, but now I make sure that I take care of my emotions, thoughts, and body every single day.

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2. Realize that the world doesn’t need to be saved.

When we see that the world needs saving, we are looking at the world as though it is problematic. The truth is the world isn’t problematic; the world is only problematic in our idealistic eyes. Sure, the world can be improved, but there is also a lot of goodness in the world right now. Learn to appreciate the good things.

Furthermore, not everyone wants help, and not everyone needs help. Although INFJs have a tendency to help others, remember that what we think is good for other people may not necessarily be what they would want for themselves.

When we project our vision onto other people, it creates resistance, and people are more unlikely to change. Instead, let other people come to you for advice, or only share your insights a couple times and stop when you know that the other party is ignoring you. Change depends on the other person, not on you. Have faith in other people’s abilities to help themselves, even if it takes a longer time for them to notice what you have noticed.

3. Partner with someone else.

INFJs shouldn’t bear all the responsibilities on their shoulders. First of all, there are other INFJs out there. You might feel disheartened that you are only one person, and you cannot solve all the problems yourself. But we can do it collectively. Gandhi didn’t do it all alone. It was a collective effort from a group of people.

Even though INFJs are extreme introverts at heart, we need to learn how to seek help from other people. Let others take part in your vision. Inspire people who share the same worldview as you and work with them. They might be better at executing your ideas than you are.

Also, start small and focus on one area. I know there are a lot of things that INFJs want to contribute to the world, but don’t spread yourself too thin. Don’t think that your contribution is too small. When your vision is crystal clear, it is easier for others to relate and be a part of your vision, too.

Finally, INFJs possess tons of potential to change the world. I hope this letter will inspire you to live a bigger purpose and be more self-compassionate at the same time.

With much love,

Yong Kang (aka Nerdy Creator)

Read this: 21 Undeniable Signs That You’re an INFJ