The “NP” personality types—INFP, INTP, ENFP and ENTP—are the most open and explorative of all types, constantly experimenting with new ideas, options, and ways of living. Intuiting that there is always something around the corner in the form of untapped potentials or possibilities contributes to their future-orientation. Indeed, the unrealized potential of the future is where the magic lies for NPs. To access this sense of possibility, they turn to the mind and imagination—to creative ideas, goals and dreams—which offer a welcomed escape from the obligations of everyday life.
NPs also want to know and understand their essential self—the part that remains stable and consistent over time. Many function as seekers, searching for answers to key life questions such as:
- Who am I?
- What was I born to do?
- What do I believe about myself, the world, and the meaning of life?
- What am I most passionate about?
- What should I do with my life?
Struggling with Doubt & Indecision
Unfortunately, many NPs discover that answering these questions proves more difficult and time consuming than they anticipated. They may find themselves plagued by doubt and indecision, perhaps worrying that they’ll never find themselves or their place in the world.
Even in cases where NPs feel they’ve finally found what they’re looking for, it’s often only a matter of time before doubt starts rearing its ugly head. This can be frustrating for NPs since it feels like whatever they start will eventually be eroded by undercurrents of doubt or indifference. Doubt can prove particularly cumbersome when NPs are wrestling with big questions or decisions. They may wonder if they’ll ever feel certain about their choices.
One problem is NPs can’t help but imagine alternative options or solutions in nearly any situation. After all, this is one of the signature strengths of their highly imaginative function, Extraverted Intuition (Ne). Consequently, NPs can be their own worst enemy. On the one hand, they want to find answers, or perhaps more accurately—THE ANSWER—to their most pressing concerns. But they also feel compelled to explore all the options, all the angles, and all the possible outcomes. The cycle goes something like this:
To cope with these difficulties, NPs may try to postpone decision-making as long as possible. They may hope that, given enough time, the decision will somehow resolve itself or will no longer seem important. To other types, this can seem like a cop-out, like NPs are merely running away from the problem.
Finding Your Path Forward
As an NP type myself, I can testify to the frustration of not having a clear sense of identity and direction for my life. I struggled for many years to figure out who I was and what I wanted to do with my life.
Having now studied NPs for over 20 years (and lived as one for more than 40), I’ve gained a solid understanding of their most pressing challenges, while also finding ways of effectively navigating them. With the right combination of skills and insights, I believe NPs can succeed in their quest for a more meaningful and fulfilling life, balancing their openness and curiosity with a consistent sense of identity, purpose, and direction.
If you want to expedite the process of clarifying who you are—your personality, life purpose, career path and more—be sure to check out our online course: Finding Your Path as an INFP, INTP, ENFP or ENTP.
Related Posts:
How Intuitives (N) Rely on Goals & Future Possibilities
How ENTP, ENFP, INTP & INFP Types Use Extraverted Intuition (Ne)
