Why The World Needs Introverted Feeling

Listen To The Podcast Episode: Why The World Needs Introverted Feeling

When you think of the phrase “staying true to yourself”, what comes to mind?

For many people, it sounds nice in theory—but in practice, it can feel indulgent, selfish, or even dangerous. Shouldn’t we be focused on others? On doing what’s “best for everyone”?

This tension sits at the heart of one of the most misunderstood cognitive functions in the Myers-Briggs system: Authenticity, also known as introverted feeling (Fi).

At its best, introverted feeling keeps us anchored to our values, our inner compass, and our identity—even when the world pulls in a thousand different directions. At its worst, it can spiral into self-protective stories or get lost in emotions that seem impossible to explain.

But here’s the truth: in a world facing an identity crisis, we need introverted feeling more than ever.

Where Introverted Feeling Lives in the Car Model

In the Personality Hacker Car Model, introverted feeling shows up in different seats depending on type:

• Driver (Dominant): INFPs and ISFPs navigate life through checking in with values and staying aligned with an inner compass.
  

• Copilot (Auxiliary): ENFPs and ESFPs use introverted feeling to ground their explorations in what truly matters.
  

• 10-Year-Old (Tertiary): INTJs and ISTJs carry it as a tender, childlike process—sometimes dismissed, sometimes over-protected.
  

• 3-Year-Old (Inferior): ENTJs and ESTJs experience it as deeply vulnerable, surfacing in stress or moments of identity questioning.
  

Wherever Fi sits in your car, it shapes your relationship with values, authenticity, and motivation.

Why People Mistake Introverted Feeling for “Selfishness”

One of the biggest criticisms lobbed at introverted feeling is that it’s “selfish.” After all, it begins with the self—asking What feels right for me?

But as Joel Mark Witt (ENFP) explains:

“I don’t believe Fi is selfish. I think it’s self-focused. It originates from within—checking in with values and motivations as a guiding star. That doesn’t automatically mean taking from others. It often leads to giving in much deeper ways.”

The misunderstanding lies here: introverted feeling is self-referencing, not selfish. It begins inward, but what it discovers often translates into profound empathy and care for others. Healthy Fi is deeply aware of the feeling lives of others, not just its own.

The Gift of Depth and Fidelity

If there’s one word that captures the essence of introverted feeling, it’s fidelity—a faithfulness to the richness of human experience.

It asks: What’s really going on beneath the surface? Instead of reducing people to one motivation or one label, it sees complexity and nuance, honoring both thought and feeling behind human behavior.

That’s why:

• Artists and storytellers often lead with introverted feeling, creating layered characters that mirror real humanity.
  

• Friends with strong Fi remind us, “You don’t know what’s going on for them,” pulling us back from snap judgments into deeper awareness.
  

• At its healthiest, it demonstrates moral courage, willing to stand alone for what feels aligned, even when the crowd disagrees.
  

As Antonia Dodge points out:

“Fi pauses before making assumptions because it knows there’s more under the surface than what’s immediately visible.”

Strong Fi also teaches that a single feeling can carry multiple truths, and that honoring emotional nuance creates space for growth.

The Shadow Side: Spinning Narratives

Of course, no function is all light. The shadow side of introverted feeling shows up in narrative-spinning.

Because it naturally thinks in stories, it can sometimes craft narratives that justify emotions or protect the ego—even if those stories aren’t fully accurate.

Joel recalls reading old journals from his teenage years:

“Looking back, I realized I painted scenarios in a way that made me look like the victim. It wasn’t the whole truth. I was amplifying the story to match my emotions at the time.”

The growth path for Fi is learning to:

• Ask Why do I care about this?
  

• Ask To what end? (What happens if I keep following this motivation?)
  

• Distinguish between motivations (fleeting) and core values (stabilizing guardrails).
  

When Fi users integrate these practices, they stop spinning stories about authenticity—and instead become demonstrations of integrity and authentic alignment. Recognizing the difference between a passing feeling and a guiding value is key to this growth.

Why the World Needs Fi Now

We live in a time where identities are shifting, cultural scripts are breaking down, and motivations are oversimplified into sound bites. Introverted feeling brings what we’re missing:

• Identity Work. Helping us ask, Who am I, really?—not who others want us to be.
  

• Nuanced Empathy. Reminding us that every action has layered motivations, often tied to hidden feeling patterns.
  

• Inner Sovereignty. Reinforcing that only you can determine whether your life aligns with your values.
  

• Embodied Values. At its best, introverted feeling doesn’t just talk about authenticity—it becomes the authenticity others long for.
  

As Joel put it:

“When Fi is done right, you don’t have to spin a narrative—you become the narrative.”

Practical Growth for Fi Users

If you lead with Fi (INFP, ISFP), or rely on it as your Copilot (ENFP, ESFP), here are practices to strengthen its gifts:

• Journal honestly. Write down motivations and values—separate raw reactions from enduring truths. This builds a stronger connection between thought and feeling clarity.
  

• Check the “to what end?” Before acting on a strong desire, ask where the road leads and what it creates.
  

• Practice demonstration. Instead of over-explaining, show your values through consistent, grounded action.
  

• Believe in yourself. Fi users often inspire others with fierce belief—turn some of that inward to support your own sense of worth. When self-belief aligns with feeling integrity, real transformation happens.
  

Why This Matters Even If You Don’t Use Fi

Not everyone leads with Fi—but we all need it. Without Authenticity, we’d reduce people to categories and miss the complexity that makes us human.

Antonia Dodge shares her personal takeaway:

“My INFP friends and partners trained me in kindness. They reminded me that I don’t always know the whole story, and that individuals deserve compassion—not just humanity in general. That lesson softened my judgments and reshaped how I respond to people.”

For non-Fi users, engaging with Fi types softens judgment, brings perspective, and reconnects us to the humanity behind the headlines. It reminds us of the central role that feeling plays in being human.

Even non-introverted types benefit when they slow down to reflect on how personal values guide choices, because that pause often brings more integrity into action.

Becoming the Narrative

At its most powerful, Fi is more than a function—it’s a way of living. When Fi users embody their values with integrity and courage, they don’t just tell stories. They are the story.

And in a world hungry for authenticity, that’s a gift we can’t afford to overlook.

But here’s the thing: Fi is just one part of your unique personality system. If you’ve ever wished you had a guidebook to your type—something that not only explains your cognitive functions but also shows you step-by-step how to grow—that’s exactly what our Personality Owner’s Manual is designed to do.

Your Owner’s Manual helps you:

• Understand your Driver, Copilot, 10-Year-Old, and 3-Year-Old functions in the Car Model.
  

• Recognize blind spots and patterns that may be holding you back.
  

• Create an actionable personal growth path tailored to you.
  

Don’t just read about personality type—start living your growth journey. Get your Personality Owners Manual now.

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When you’re ready, here are five ways we can help you grow…

1. Reclaim Authorship of Your Life (Free Audio): Become the Main Character Your Own Life

2. Regulate your Body, Emotions, Thoughts, & Intuition with Self-Regulation Mastery

3. Understand yourself at a deeper level with a Personality Owners Manual

4. Master the Art of “Deep Reading” people in Profiler Training

5. Rewire your Brain & Build a Life that Fits You in the Personality Life Path