Transcription
Hi Patron, Scott here from the Introvert Power channel. In this video, I want to look at the INFJ shadow. Uh, I've basically got a whole lot of ideas and, uh, concepts, uh, that I want to sort of just put out there. Um, not sure what order they're going to come out in, so this is not necessarily going to have like perfect structure to it. It's more going to be, maybe you could look at it like an Ni dump or something like that. Um, but I think by the time the video ends, um, it should, in some respects, have a, uh, a well, it will have a clarity to it by the time I get to the end of this video.
Before I go into, um, what I see as a potential INFJ-specific shadow, uh, issue, I just want to explore the other ways that we can see shadow. So, the MBTI, um, um, generally sees shadow as, uh, the, the four, uh, functions underneath the cognitive stack and kind of place that as like the shadow functions. And that's often how the MBTI sees shadow more, uh, generally, like in the counseling world and so on. Shadow is just anything that, uh, is rejected, uh, from, uh, consciousness and placed into the background, whether it's positive or negative, um, traits or feelings or aspects of self that, for whatever reason, have been denied.
Now, I think, um, Jung, uh, was more talking about the latter, the more general aspects of shadow. Whereas it seems as though the MBTI, um, that's been developed, uh, since Jung, uh, more looks at shadow as those functions, those four cognitive functions underneath the stack. But I think, um, uh, I think there's a reality that people can actually have an aspect of self that's in shadow that actually could be a representation of one of the, uh, four, uh, functions in their cognitive stack. So, what that could look like for, for an INFJ is, this is just an off-the-cuff example, is Ni, uh, could be, um, as a function, could be, uh, pushed into shadow through childhood with, with a, um, family of origin that doesn't recognize the Ni, uh, preference in the person. And so it's just unconsciously, uh, denied and and suppressed and pushed down into shadow, um, simply because it's not being acknowledged or recognized. And so it's just naturally, um, rejected. Even Fe could, uh, uh, be, uh, pushed into shadow, uh, if, um, sort of any kind of emotional expression is uncomfortable in the family home, then that, that Fe, uh, that Fe expression could be rejected, and then that gets pushed into shadow.
So, I don't think that shadow, shadow operates is purely comes out of those bottom, uh, four functions, those shadow functions that the MBTI talk about. I can also see that the inferior function could operate as a, uh, as a shadow function in the sense of because it's weak, uh, it's like the weakest or the, the least least developed function. Again, for the INFJ, um, being in the sensory environment could be, um, uncomfortable to the point where, um, the SE environment is put into shadow in a sense. The, the INFJ avoids being in the sensory environment because of it, because it's overwhelming. And that could sort of operate, that SE could actually operate, that inferior function as could be sort of pushed into shadow, sort of denied, um, and, uh, rejected rather than welcomed. And I guess you could say tolerated, but, um, uh, maybe embraced is the, is the better word, uh, because I think when INFJs actualize their their intuition in the sensory environment, we, we then have self-self-actualization.
Now, when I talk about the INFJ shadow, I'm referring to a more specific, um, challenge that, uh, INFJs can have. Again, not all INFJs, um, necessarily can have this challenge, but I think, uh, due to the cognitive functions, it could become a challenge. And it's essentially that INFJs, um, have to the level that they're able to be in intuitive and insightful into the worlds of others, is almost to the extent that they are, uh, have a difficulty, um, having that same level of insight into themselves. It's not that it can't happen, but it's kind of like, almost if I sort of picture a funnel from like coming out like this, the INFJ, uh, Ni is like a funnel outward. It can kind of, um, pick up a whole lot of things going on in in its environment and and and see patterns and see things going out that way. But the, the funnel coming back, um, it's only limited in its ability to, um, have that same sort of level of powerful, of power when it comes to personal insight.
Now, that again, is not for every, everyone necessarily. I think it can be a vulnerability for some INFJs. And the, the, the sting in the tail, essentially, is that for some INFJs, it can be difficult to accept that that is a challenge. Um, you could maybe call it like an INFJ pride, um, but it's, it, it can be difficult because an INFJ is able to see, um, have such great insight and trust it. Um, there can be this belief that they are, um, have that same level of insight into the self, um, but it's not, it's just, I guess you could say, it's not as powerful. But INFJs can often think that they do have that same level of power and insight into the self that that they have for others. So, it can act like a bit of a blind spot. So, again, not for all INFJs, but for some INFJs, there needs to come to that place of acceptance that when it comes to the self, um, that direct insight into the self is not as powerful, or often isn't as powerful.
Now, I think one of the reasons for that is INFJs actualize often by helping others actualize. Now, I've said that a number of time, uh, times in other videos, but there's a sense that, um, when INFJs are actualizing, um, their, their sort of mission in their life, um, because that's often in the realm of people, influencing people in some, in some fashion, that when they achieve that actualization or their own, um, when they actualize their own mission, which is essentially to, um, serve others in a specific kind of way, when they achieve that through the, through the actualization and helping others, the INFJ actualizes themselves. So, it's more this kind of rather than kind of going necessarily going into the self to, uh, work something out and then and then flow that outward, it's kind of like that inside-out approach. It's, there's a sense that INFJs actually, um, it's more go, they go out into the world, act, help others, which then brings, brings a level of actualization to the self. It's like, I, I, I grow in myself when I help others grow, something along those lines.
So, I guess the focus, if this is, if this theory is true, is how to overcome it or how to address it, or even whether to address it directly or indirectly. And one way of, I think, exploring this is that the way that this shadow could operate is that the, the Ni is actually trying to communicate, um, information to the INFJ of a more direct, personal, from a more direct and personal perspective, as opposed to this more roundabout way of self-actualization through helping others. That, that it's like a still, small voice to coin, a spiritual phrase, that again, that, um, that funnel, it's like that funnel represents like this tiny, small voice inside that might be prompting the INFJ to look at something, or might be saying to them, you know, you might want to, again, it's sort of future focus, it's like you might want to look at this or look at that because, um, it's possible that down the track, something could go wrong in this way or that way. It's like it could be just a small, still, small voice within, prompting the INFJ to look at something more directly in their lives or in themselves.
And that could, in in a way of trying to address the shadow, could be about getting still and going, okay, what, like, essentially, what is it that I'm ignoring about myself, about my own walk, my own journey? Is there something I'm ignoring more directly inside myself, um, that can be a way, uh, inward to start addressing this shadow? Now, if you can imagine sort of like lines going in, like like a light going in through that question, you know, what is it that I could be ignoring, um, or afraid to look at or acknowledge or something like that? And that will potentially lead to more, um, traditional shadows, if you like, um, and what I mean by that, it's like breaking down that more INFJ-specific shadow issue down into some compartments, if you like.
So, an example could be, um, uh, something more reflective of the, the shadow functions of the MBTI. Let's say, um, Fi, in that, the avoidance of addressing something could be because it generates some quite uncomfortable, um, internal emotions that, um, due to that Fi shadow function, um, can be, you know, that the inner work of emotions can be somewhat elusive for INFJs. And so, um, if that's kind of pushed, if if that's that's in operation, if you like, then the INFJ can be sort of ignoring some some uncomfortable emotions, pushing those emotions into shadow, um, in order to cope.
For more a general, um, from more like a general shadow perspective for the INFJ, it could be, um, well, it could still be an an avoidance of specific emotions. It could be, um, sort of traits, whether positive or negative, that have been that have been pushed into shadow. Um, again, like I said before, it could be like an, the Ni, um, aspects of Ni, um, processes that have been pushed into shadow because they've been rejected or shamed. Could be Fe that's being, um, pushed into shadow because, um, their emotions were rejected in childhood. They're expressing, expressing of emotion, um, or shying emotion could have been rejected. It could be, um, you know, things like, uh, confidence, um, has been misunderstood with arrogance due to, you know, having to deal with someone growing up that, um, uh, displayed a lot of arrogance, but has been interpreted as confidence. And so, um, confidence is being pushed into shadow because I don't want to appear arrogant. So, so that sort of sort of debilitates the INFJ from building confidence because they're so afraid of people interpreting it as arrogance and, um, and causing causing pain. And so the INFJ starts to sort of limit their ability to grow, um, through fear of appearing arrogant. And what's essentially happening is they're, um, they're not growing in confidence.
So, just to kind of tidy up the concept, the INFJ-specific, uh, shadow is is a tendency to not have the same level of insight and awareness of the self that they have with other people. Yet, that can be a blind spot for INFJs to see. And the way to to addressing that, if it's actually true for, for the INFJ, is to be asking the question, what is it, what, what subtleties about the self have I been ignoring or afraid to look at that causes fear or, um, uh, causes me to avoid, and things like this? Asking those sorts of questions that sort of shine a light inward. And then looking at, um, uh, being ready for the answers. The answer to those questions, and then going on the journey of dealing with whatever, um, however the INFJ needs to to address that shadow issue. And that, that, that it's essentially that question, hopefully I'm making sense here, the question of what is it that I'm avoiding, essentially addresses the INFJ-specific overarching shadow issue.
Um, so that kind of gets put to one side, uh, and the answers to the question of what is it that I'm, uh, ignoring can lead us to addressing more, um, um, I don't want to say the word specific again because I've already used that, um, like a more detailed approach to what is pushed into shadow because it'll be different for everybody. So, you know, could be, um, an Fi cognitive, uh, shadow cognitive function issue. It could be an Ni issue, an Fe issue, uh, or it could be any number of more general shadow issues that need to be addressed. Like I said, you know, if if confidence is being pushed into shadow, or, um, a specific kind of emotion, or, um, uh, specific traits or beliefs or these sorts of things are pushed into shadow, then they, they need to essentially be embraced in order to develop the self more directly. And I think what that can do is then lead to more, lead to more self-awareness, um, which will then help the INFJ to better navigate their their life going forward.
There's lots of ways of addressing the, uh, lots of modalities and techniques to address shadow. I'll just give one general way of going about it in this video. On my other channel, just the Scott Morgan Channel, um, I'll be talking about, um, the more general, uh, shadow work in, uh, in that, uh, that video. So, I'll leave a link in the description if you want to check out that video. Also, on that channel, is another video that looks at shadow, but more from, uh, I guess, from a more from a Christian perspective, looking at old nature versus new nature. And, um, if you're, if you're okay with that sort of language, then, uh, that video, uh, which I called, um, how to embrace the old nature, which you could essentially say, how to embrace the shadow, um, I'll leave a link in the description for that video as well.
So, I've already partly addressed, um, how to, uh, approach this issue. Essentially, is by asking the question, waiting for an answer. You know, it's like that openness to say, you know, what is it that I'm afraid of? What is it that I'm ignoring, ignoring or avoiding, uh, within the self that could be connected to, uh, the future, the Ni is trying to let me know about? And, um, uh, you know, it's, it's okay to even sort of talk to, to, to that part, if you like. It's like just talking to an aspect of the self that's that's sort of sitting and hiding. And just sort of trusting that as we as we talk to a specific part of self, that it's able to sort of talk back to us, if you like, or just give us a sense of things. For some, I don't think for many INFJs, that that's an unusual concept. If it is, I just say that, you know, we often talk to ourselves, um, you know, just if we're in our own quiet time, we might might be, you know, um, we find ourselves sort of talking to to ourselves, way, you know, like, come on, I've just got to get on with on with my work, um, or, you know, I can do this, um, that sort of thing. So, when we're saying those sorts of things, we're actually talking to parts of ourselves. So, this is just more sort of conscious self-talk.
So, it requires that sort of level of of of openness and honesty to say, okay, what is it that I'm I'm afraid to look at within the self? And then from there, it's essentially saying, okay, what action do I need to take? Which is kind of like an SE question. What, what action do I need to take, um, in the in the real world? Potentially to address that. Talk to others about what it is that they could be, um, avoiding or struggling with on the inside, basically. Because I think that's helpful because INFJs primarily are subjective, um, in their approach to life and can have a difficulty being objective about them, about the self. And so talking to somebody else who will be able to sort of feed back some objectivity, uh, to get some insight into the self. For some people, um, some of the, some of the shadow issues are a bit beyond them dealing with it just within themselves. You know, needing needing more counseling, um, techniques, someone to help them to work through, what it is that could be pushed into shadow. However, there are, uh, techniques and and things that we can do ourselves to try to address, uh, these sorts of issues. And I again, just point you to, um, my other video on shadow work and on my other channel. Link in the description.
So, I hope this exploration of, uh, shadow and INFJ shadow has been a worthwhile, uh, video for you to sit, sit and listen to. Um, I, I hope that it's kind of helped in some way to, um, just have a sort of a self-exploration. Now, plugging myself is not, uh, something I enjoy doing. It's actually something that I avoid doing. Maybe I pushed, um, that into shadow. But I would say, just as a reminder, that I am a counselor and I can, uh, help with these sorts of issues if, um, if you're feeling as though it's a bit beyond, um, self-self-work, if you like, um, needing some help to work through some of some of the issues that might have been coming up for you, uh, in the area of shadow, feel free to let me know. Otherwise, um, all the best with, uh, just working, working with shadow.
Now, plugging myself is not, uh, something I enjoy doing. It's actually something that I avoid doing. Maybe I pushed that into shadow. Uh, but I would say, uh, just as a reminder, that I am a counselor and I can, uh, help with these sorts of issues if, um, if you're feeling as though it's a bit beyond, um, self-self-work, if you like, um, needing some help to work through some of some of the issues that might have been coming up for you, uh, in in the area of shadow, feel free to let me know. Otherwise, um, all the best with, uh, just working, working with shadow. Appreciate it if you'd give it a thumbs up and certainly welcome your comments and questions. And, uh, I hope you've enjoyed it, and I'll see you in another video.