[OmarFW]

I've read in many places, even on this forum, that INFP's are inherently light and bubbly. I don't think thats the case with a handful of INFP's on this forum who're seemingly darker and more distraught as a standard way of being.

Anyone have any insight as to why?

INFP's are governed by heavy emotions only. so our emotional states are the extreme versions of either happiness or sadness (or other emotions). so when an INFP is happy, they are very happy. and when they are sad, they are completely overwhelmed in an ocean of emotion (hey that rhymed.)



It's very easy to look at a happy INFP and assume that since they are so happy, that all INFP's must be that way since you would never suspect that someone like that could have the potential for such heavy sadness also.

[Riy]

Well I can be very very playful but only a very few people I show it to. Around people I don't know I'm very shy and quiet, but around general people I know I'm calm but always love to laugh and have fun. :P But I also love time alone.
So I ain't sure if this counts as Bubbly?

I fully agree with what OmarFW has said above.

[Razvan]

It may just be that people get the impression of INFPS as being light and bubbly because INFPs don't necessarily show whatever sadness is going on in their inner world. I know a lot of people seem to get the impression that I'm a care-free and free spirited because I will stare at flowers and giggle at things they consider frivilous. But deep reactions to simple things mean even deeper ones to more complex, gut wrenching things.. Also.. had I led a sheltered life I may have been care free and bubbly. I know I'm inherently happy and care free when I have no worries.. no life pressures, no complexities of being in love or anything.. but that's only been the case when I was a toddler and a bit when I was a teen ager. And will likely never be again.

Actually for me love creates tha happy, care free mood, but only after I have sort of "firm confirmation" that it's reciprocal. When I have that, I have no worries and I can even put aside other bad events in my life. You seem a lot like me, from what I read, being a cancer too and I think I had a sheltered life too and other stuff you've mentioned on this forum. I'm willing to bet you will have that care free state of mind too, maybe not like you were a todler, but when you will fall in love and feel safe in that. Trust me, when you'll do that, all other cares in the world will stop and you'll even have moments when you'll be bubbly.

I agree with everyone else so far..but I am going to add a little spin.

Maybe that misconception is because INFP's as a whole are misunderstood. They are constantly labeled as having their head in the clouds and not being bound by reality, which I guess could look "bubbly" to some people in an odd way. I don't see the bubbly side to myself though. I am happy and sad, but never bubbly.

Hehehe, the amount of times I was considered an airhead, I also consider myself one too and very happy about it too. I am bubbly at times, like running around, anxious, looking forward to things, or talking a lot, which is so uncommon for me, but this happens so rarely and usually when I am so eager to do something or so excited about something.

[quote=OmarFW;429739]INFP's are governed by heavy emotions only. so our emotional states are the extreme versions of either happiness or sadness (or other emotions). so when an INFP is happy, they are very happy. and when they are sad, they are completely overwhelmed in an ocean of emotion (hey that rhymed.)
[quote

Was going to say the same thing, but was too slow, you beat me to it. I completely agree with this. I have very intense states of mind, I can be extremely happy, but also not afraid to experience the darkest emotions of life. I am now trying to control that part though, but if I see I can't I just go with the flow so I can come back to a happy state of mind afterwards. I'm trying to find some balance between them, but it can be really hard.

It's very easy to look at a happy INFP and assume that since they are so happy, that all INFP's must be that way since you would never suspect that someone like that could have the potential for such heavy sadness also.

So, I would say, strong introverts will not really be bubbly, while those who have an extrovert nature as well will show it. We are not as bubbly as ENFJs or ENFPs but can show that in certain moments. Also, we are not afraid to experience dark emotions, I think those make me stronger, they make me grow as a person, because I can always come out of them and rebirth myself, like a Phoenix bird. I know I will survive them. Those dark moments are like a time out to regain my strength and experience a different side of life. Extroverts my shun them away faster, but we may plundge into them only to get a coil effect and come out of them high with positive feelings.

At least this is how I view things.

[SenhorFrio]

we're naturally nice people, but the world makes us messed up with their bullshit

[Raine Dragon]

*smiles and flips her hair aside sitting up in the chair* I am super bubbly and I smile all the time! ^__^ *giggles* After all, gotta keep everyone's spirits up, right? *^_____^* At work even, the running line is 'the day I'm not smiling, people are going to run for the hills because something bad is about to happen'. So really, I think it's super accurate, don't you ^___^!

*faces changes to neutral and folds hands, voice changes to be calm and even* After all, why would I be anything else? If I'm quiet and withdrawn, there must be something wrong with me. If I don't greet everyone, smile at everyone, something is wrong, someone will ask, someone will pry. Someone will say 'why aren't you happy?' and they will expect me to tell them, to answer, to explain these things that even I struggle to understand. To have me tell them about the depression, the anxiety, how hard it is to watch all my friend's issues and not be able to fix them. How much it hurts that my heart is broken, still, even two years after things ended. I don't want to tell anyone I hardly know those things. I barely want to tell people I know well those things, they get them out of me like pulling teeth sometimes. Why burden someone? why let someone know such personal, private things?

So I smile, and I laugh, and I focus on the bright, and the light and the colorful things, and I put my hair up in clips and pigtails and act innocent and cute... which, in a way I am. I do love colors and light and the beautiful things in the world. I'm fascinated and amazed and touched by the little things daily. so, it's an easy act, to close down those things that aren't perfect and happy and push them away and not let them seep onto the surface.

[ethylester]

I agree with everyone else so far..but I am going to add a little spin.

Maybe that misconception is because INFP's as a whole are misunderstood. They are constantly labeled as having their head in the clouds and not being bound by reality, which I guess could look "bubbly" to some people in an odd way. I don't see the bubbly side to myself though. I am happy and sad, but never bubbly.

I totally agree. I am NOT bubbly AT ALL. I don't think I have been "bubbly" for one minute of my life! But I've been in a good mood, and it always seems like my good mood has a heavy influence on people around me. If I'm being chatty and smiling, then other people do too. Maybe that's mistaken as being bubbly, I don' t know. To me, bubbly means huggable, chatty, light hearted. I'm not any of those things. I think I can FEEL those things as emotions sometimes, but I never AM those things as a personality trait. know what I'm sayin?

[amanda32]

Yes, I often get told I'm "bubbly" -- and I get asked at work all the time how I can always be in such a good mood.
I stare at them and think -- you don't know me at all.

[Mina]

I totally agree. I am NOT bubbly AT ALL. I don't think I have been "bubbly" for one minute of my life! But I've been in a good mood, and it always seems like my good mood has a heavy influence on people around me. If I'm being chatty and smiling, then other people do too. Maybe that's mistaken as being bubbly, I don' t know. To me, bubbly means huggable, chatty, light hearted. I'm not any of those things. I think I can FEEL those things as emotions sometimes, but I never AM those things as a personality trait. know what I'm sayin?

This is exactly what I was saying about the two INFP's I know! Well said! They can definitely be happy.. but bubbly?? I have never seen it.

[Snowflurri]

Oh, on the outside I appear light and bubbly too. I just don't show my melancholic side so much because to me its more private. I would say that I like sad things(especially in books and music and films) and a lot of people who I'e encountered don't, so I don't see any reason for showing that melancholic side of myself to them when they aren't going to 'appreciate' it anyways. I can be both light and bubbly AND sad and melancholic at the same time, because what I'm doing or saying may not be what Im thinking of. My mood often show in extremes though, so when I get my occasional highs I may also appear light and bubbly and when I'mdown I can appear sad.

[Away With Fairies]

I'm called 'Bubbly' and 'Smiley' often, but I think even if I try to have a positive attitude, I have a lot of dark, negative thoughts. It gets worse if I lack an outlet, or inspiration. If my outward sunnyness helps someone else feel better though, why the heck not?