Short Descriptions:

       "Theme is inspiration, both of themselves and others. Talents lie in grasping profound significance, revealing truths, and motivating others. Very perspective of others' hidden motives and purposes. Interested in everything about individual and their stories as long as they are genuine. Contagious enthusiasm for "causes" that further good and develop latent potential and the same zeal for discovering dishonesty and inauthenticity. Frequently moved to enthusiastically communicate their "message." ³

       "Warmly enthusiastic, high spirited, ingenious, imaginative. Able to do almost anything that interests them. Quick with a solution for any difficulty and ready to help anyone with a problem. Often rely on their ability to improvise instead of preparing in advance. Can usually find compelling reasons for whatever they want." ⁴

       "ENFPs take their energy from the outer world of people and external events. They prefer dealing with patterns and possibilities, particularly for people, and makes decisions on the basis of personal values. Their life is flexible, following new insights and possibilities as they arise. They are creative and insightful, often seeking to try new ideas that can be of benefit to people. They may sometimes neglect details and planning, but they enjoy work that involves experimentation and variety, working towards a general goal.
       ENFPs are initiators of change who are keenly perceptive of possibilities, and who energize and stimulate through their contagious enthusiasm. They prefer the start-up phase of a project or relationship, and are tireless in the pursuit of new-found interests. They are able to anticipate the needs of others and to offer them needed help and appreciation. They bring zest, joy, liveliness, and fun to all aspects of their lives. They are at their best in situations that are fluid and changing, and that allow them to express their creativity and use their charisma." ⁵

       "For ENFPs the dominant quality in their lives is their attention to the outer world of possibilities; they are excited by continuous involvement in anything new, whether it be new ideas, new people, or new activities. Though ENFPs thrive on what is possible and what is new, they also experience a deep concern for people as well. Thus, they are especially interested in possibilities for people. ENFPs are typically energetic, enthusiastic people who lead spontaneous and adaptable lives." ⁶

       "ENFPs direct their energy towards the outer world of actions and spoken words. They seek to develop new potential, explore new possibilities and create new situations that yield the expectation of something better. They often enjoy work that involves experimentation and variety." ⁷

       "The theme is inspiration. They are perceptive of others' motives and fascinated by the relationships around them. Enthusiastic, charming and interesting. Naturally curious. Know everyone & everything going on. Imaginative." ⁸

       "High energy, friendly, and good-natured. Imaginative, fun loving, and off beat. Curious; discussions shift quickly from one topic to another. Warm, concerned, and eager to help solve problems. Tips for communicating with ENFP: Focus on interesting, innovative possibilities, new ways of problem solving. Don't overwhelm them with facts and details. Keep things relaxed, warm and flexible." ⁹

The Negative Side of ENFP

       "Your will power is not as strong as it should be. You are unable to force yourself to do repetitive and laborious work as well as to keep control of yourself in some circumstances. You can become unexpectedly aggressive or push others without good reason. You find paying attention to details quite difficult. It's not easy for you to divide preliminary from secondary. You often do not think enough about the order in which to place your tasks. Because of this you are often drowning in endless work. It is also difficult for you to plan things in order to achieve goals within allotted time periods, which leads you to become physically and psychologically fatigued and unsatisfied with life." ¹⁰

ENFP Under STRESS

       "ENFPs have a tendency to overextend themselves in both their physical and emotional commitments. Their proclivity to procrastinate and to overlook details complicates their circumstances. ENFPs often move on to new ventures without completing those they have already started. Their charming personalities can show signs of irritability and over-sensitivity when their desires to please different people come into conflict. During times of stress, ENFPs feel alienated. They then engage in deceptions that serve to obscure what is occurring within themselves.
       The ENFP finds symbolic meanings behind the immediate circumstances. These meanings are construed as foreboding problems when ENFPs are under stress. Having a pervasive feeling of losing control over their own independent identities, ENFPs will feel virtually split apart by intruding circumstances. They will be "besides themselves" and "just not all there" as if something, or someone, has taken away the essence of who they are. Not feeling like themselves, the ENFP will become subject to their own feelings of shame for being a phony, a fake or an impostor. If stress continues to grow, they may attribute malevolent schemes to others in order to explain away their fears." ¹¹

       "Under great stress, ENFPs may become overwhelmed by detail and lose their normal perspective and sense of options. Then they tend to focus on an unimportant or distorted detail, letting it become the central fact of their universe." ¹²

Stress Management for ENFP (Feeding the Fourth)

       Do activities that require you to ask, "What does this feel like to me? What is this doing to me?" in an objective, meditative manner, such as Slippery When Wet