ISFP - The Artist
Introverted Feeling with Extroverted Sensing
Caring, Gentle, Modest, Adaptable, Sensitive, Observant, Cooperative, Loyal, Trusting, Spontaneous, Understanding, Harmonious
General:
ISFPs are gentle and compassionate, open and flexible. They are considerate of others and do not force their views on them. They often focus on meeting others’ needs, especially those who are less fortunate. Having a quiet, modest, self-effacing style, ISFPs avoid disagreements and seek harmony with people as well as with nature. They enjoy life’s precious moments and often add a touch of beauty to the environments where they spend time. They are at their best ensuring others’ well-being.
Living:
ISFP children are pleasant, quiet and kind. Their talents may be easy to overlook as they do not have strong need to demonstrate their strengths to others. They may be particularly drawn to people, animals and plants who need gentle care. They generally relate well with others and have friends because they are easy to like. They notice and attend to the delights of senses. Often they will make special gifts for whom they like and these gifts are usually unique and original, with much attention to color, line, texture and form. As teenagers, ISFP are oriented toward deeply felt personal values, and they may find themselves on the outside of social groups if the groups do not share the same values. In adult life, ISFP work quietly, often behind the scenes, helping others meet their goals and dreams. They often choose careers that allow them to exercise their ability to see the needs of the moment and respond quickly. ISFP enjoy their friends and their families, and spend time nurturing their relationships. In retirement, ISFPs often find that they are loved admired and cherished by the people who know them well. They accept life as it is and enjoying the little things that life offers.
Learning:
ISFPs learn best through hands-on experience. They may not be as interested in traditional academic subjects as some other types. They prefer application and practicality rather than studying the theoretical. Making drawings, constructing miniature models to master the subject are appealing activities for them. They dislike structure and institutional settings that take away their spontaneity and freedom. ISFPs enjoy learning subjects that relate to helping and knowing about people. ISFPs may be easily overlooked in the classroom unless the teacher has recognized their special ways of learning. Encouragement helps to draw out ISFPs. When the learning is relevant to their experiences and needs, the excises are applicable to life, the teacher is caring, ISFPs enjoy being in school. When the environment is rigid and highly structured, with theoretical materials in use, ISFPs find themselves resisting the educational process.
Working:
ISFPs prefer a work environment that is egalitarian and contains cooperative people quietly enjoying what they do. They can infuse a special joy into their work and bring people and tasks together by their cooperative nature. People enjoy ISFPs because they bring understand yet adaptability to the realities of their work. They enjoy occupations that allow them to be flexible and adaptable. They enjoy responding to the moment and close work where they can offer practical, specific help in time of difficulty. They enjoy occupations like carpenter, mechanic, food service, nurse, physical therapist, technician etc.
Leisure:
ISFPs like leisure, seek it out, and savor it. Enjoying life right now is valued by them. They may admonish those important to them (their children, spouse, or employers) to “stop and smell the roses,” to take necessary rejuvenating breaks. ISFPs enjoy doing spontaneous fun things for people who matter to them. Often this includes surprising others with tickets or trips to amusing activities. While they enjoy being with people, it is not essential that their leisure involves others. They also enjoy solitary pursuits such as painting, cooking, needlework, cross-country skiing, home and car repair. ISFPs often have a unique, personal, and humorous approach that can make even difficult situations less tense and more fun. ISFPs may enjoy community volunteer activities.
Loving:
For the ISFPs, love means devotion, loyalty, care, humor, and consideration for the needs and wants of the loved one. When ISFPs first fall in love, they may feel consumed by it. They may become naïve and focus entirely on the romance of it. Future worries are cast aside in favor of the present realities. ISFPs may ignore all else to experience their love life most fully. Doing this can leave them vulnerable to the whims of others. Because being loved and cared for is important to ISFPs, they often go so far as to rearrange their careers, start or stop working, or make other changes to nurture their relationship. The friends, family members, and even pets of ISFPs’ partners become important to them as well, so they make a harmonious existence for all. When ISFPs are scorned, they may retreat and repeatedly analyze the situation internally.