When I was a teenager, I thought my mom was so boring because she had the same exact thing for breakfast every day. I saw people who did things on routines and thought of them as slaves, zombies walking among us.

If the teenaged INFP version of me could see what I’m turning into, he’d roll his eyes. I’m so “boring!” Routine and process thrive in my life. I’m married, have a child and have started running. I eat nearly the same thing for breakfast and lunch everyday. How far a fall from my rockstar dreams!

But here’s the thing. I’m happier than I’ve ever been. Probably about a thousand times happier than he (the teenaged me) was.

He was miserable, did whatever he wanted, generally disliked people, drank, smoked pot, hated god, planned to be a rockstar and never did anything to achieve that goal.

I’ve probably lost more battles than I’ve won against myself. But some of the big ones – quitting drinking and losing 20 pounds would not be possible without routine.

It’s funny, because as much as I hate working, I’m learning to appreciate the structure it gives me and my day. If I have a particularly unhealthy weekend, I know that going back to work will get me back on track.

I’ve lived a very unhealthy lifestyle. I’ve done all sorts of stuff while working – I’ve drank, I’ve eaten heavy meals, I’ve had way too much caffeine, I’ve come to work completely hung over.

What those activities lead to is being tired, moody and unable to concentrate. That means I can’t do my job, I get in trouble, look like an idiot and feel like a failure.

So I introduced predictable meals for breakfast and lunch. I know that what I put in my body is healthy each day and I feel like I can do my job because I’m not constantly suffering a sugar, carb or caffeine crash

Every morning on my way to work, I read an instruction manual that I made for myself. It reminds me of the importance of staying away from alcohol, sugar and resisting temptation to slack off at work. It ends with a prayer. Sometimes I skim it, but on the days I read the whole thing, I’m definitely more productive! Someday I may post it so that I hopefully inspire you to do the same.

Here’s a homework assignment. Think about the routines in your life. Leave a comment and tell me what the routine is and how it keeps you on track or how it brings good things to your life. I know, my INFP friends, this probably sounds boring, but just try it! It might enlighten you.

“There are dreamers and there are realists in this world.

You’d think the dreamers would find the dreamers and the realists would find the realists but… more often than not, the opposite is true.

You see the dreamers need the realists to keep them from soaring too close to the sun.

And the realists… well, without the dreamers, they might not ever get off the ground.”

-Cameron, Modern Family (Episode: Punkin Chunkin)

A guy named Dimitri just commented on The GREATEST post about INFP CAREERS in the history of EVER. He’s interested in exchanging resources and sounds to be all about doing, rather than talking, dwelling and getting depressed. This is the way we need to think. This is the way we need to be, INFPS! Feel his enthusiasm and share your resources in the comment section.

Guys, I think we need to put some resources together, as to how we can help each other, from posts to links to articles to books, to some words of inspirations, as it seems that even if we know that we are INFP it does not help in resolving the “dilemma” as stated above. Sometimes knowing something is just the beginning. We all have something in common, and then we all have our own paths and lifestyles, and cultures, and even languages. This article also outlines a lot of what I am going through or how I feel inside, but its nothing new to me, in a sense of finding the “right balance”. We all can write, and imagine, and encourage and see the world more positive and give ourselves for projects and ideas and values.. But we could also criticize and analyze, and work with content better then others can. Let’s start at least some way to share what we are reading and some comments on that, and what is a life situation and where we need some encouragement, and sense of direction. Where can we start?

I am reading: How to make Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky.

Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles Between Vision and Reality

I think its 100% about us.

He has a few websites for Creative Minds.
Scott Belsky

( I am not associated with this site )

There are other books and articles one could read.

Such as on the subject of “Peter Pan Syndrome” which can get you into Depth Psychology.

For me, throughout the years I’ve found that “some day” I might want to become or have: A music producer, a Jungian Analyst, an Advertising Agency, a Life Coach, a Business Improvement Center, and so on..

If anybody is interested in continuing these conversation, we should do it more often, and have some chats, and even meetings.

There is Meetup.com

Now, Dimitri shared his thoughts. It’s time for you to share yours. Comment below! Only leave empowering links that will help us harness the power of our genius!

The thought of exercise has never excited me. In fact the thought itself bores me to this day. But when your once skinny body turns into a basket of rolls, you start having to consider it. So I recently started running and it’s been an eye opening experience.

Continue reading “Slow and Steady Wins the Race, INFP” »

This is a response to a post by Mike on INFP Careers as discussed in INFP, The Healer Idealist discussion group on LinkedIn.  The post was called, “The Greatest Post about INFP Careers in the History of Ever.”

What a fantastic world it would be if there were places where we INFPs could live our ideal lifestyle as described in this post!

Continue reading “Look for Perfect and Then Compromise” »