INFJ Verbal Affirmation?

i relate to everything you've described there.

 

The problem I have with verbal affirmations is that I immediately start doubting the intentions behind their words. If someone tells me "you're cute" or "you're smart" I start coming up with things for why the person said it at the first place. I start thinking "maybe she is saying that because she needs my help for something"or "maybe she's making fun of me". When I'm in the mood or pretty confident about the other person I will take her comment as genuine because I just know when someone is being sincere or not. The only times I've said "I love you"to someone is when I hadn't meant it but when I truly have an affection towards a person I like it is very hard for me to say those words.

In regards to question number two is that when I share an idea with someone I want everyone to agree with me regardless if I'm right or wrong, I want to always receive a favorable response. I've learned a little on how to defend my arguments when someone disagrees but usually I don't know the reasons I say such things that's why I have a really hard time with people disagreeing with me. However, I want to learn on how to give evidence to what I'm talking about so people have an outline on what I'm actually saying. It's a frustration to give logical explanations sometimes but when I actually come up with them I feel pretty good about myself.

 

Great post! Well, I know that amoungst me and my friends there aren't many occasions where we verbalize how we feel about eachother or talk about our actual relationship(though it's easy for me to talk about other relationships in almost any context), but it seems like it is present in some form that can be picked up on with stealth. For example, one of my friends just spontaneously decides to sort of verbally lash out at me humorously and in a way that cannot be taken seriously, and it seems like sort of a steathly way of being like, "dude, I like you, remember?!?!"

My friends seem to give this to me in some form or another. One of them is always excited to peal apart every idea I have with eagerness, and I know he values our relationship, so it basically feels like a twisted sort of positive affirmation.
So honestly, just thinking about it, and based on how good all of that feels, I think it ultimately is important to me.

So, I really relate to what you are saying in your second question! I find it exciting that my appreciation for what you are getting at there really IS connected to the Ni we share. YES, I think that those types of thoughtful explanations are valuable. When I detect that sort of thoughtfulness, I even tend to feel proud. To find it in real life is practically exotic, and especially exciting, and honestly, I don't think that that feeling is exclusive to those who share it, I think there are lots of people, including some of the spazziest sensors, that are excited to find it.

Oh, and *whisper whisper*... I have... reservations... about the monkeys as well...*whisper whisper* Don't tell anyone! Hahaha!

 

Why oh why???
Why so suspicious and distrusting of their compassion for you...?

Why cast out those who only wish to love you...?

Why not give them a fair chance to prove you wrong...?

Why…..

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*regains composure*
*ahem*

@ 2nd question - I really do enjoy observations like this, and I tend to admire those who give them. I may not say it openly, but my own way of showing I appreciated an intellectual idea is to give it all the thought that I can, and then come back with a well thought out response which testifies that I digested everything they wrote. It's my way of telling them that their thought are worthwhile, because I'm sure they must have given them much thought and effort as well.

I'm not an INFJ, and I'm not sure if this is intended exclusively for them. I apologize if it is. >.<
But um, in my case, words are not necessary, but I think perhaps some form of expression is. I'm well aware of the fact that every human evolves daily. Who you are today is not entirely the same person you were yesterday. So with this in mind, I cherish every affirmation that is directed toward me and don't really fully expect it to be there tomorrow. This is what makes every expression all the more meaningful to me, and also shields me from taking people for granted.

 

I find it a bit awkward to say much of what I feel, since many times those feelings are more intense than what normal people generally put into words, and I don't want to come off too strong. Plus, I think that those words would get lost in the shallow verbal confirmations of lighter things, and I wouldn't want them to be taken for anything less than what they are -- when I say, "I love you," I want it to mean a lot, and it seems to do the job better when those words aren't constantly floating in space.

But I do need some verbal recognition, although more from some people than from others. I need more confirmation from people when I'm becoming comfortable with them -- for instance, I would need someone to say, "I love you" more at the beginning of the relationship, until I became confident that that's the case in both their conscious actions and body language. It's really nice to hear something said, sincerely and deeply.

As for question number two, I do enjoy thought-out and genuine explanations, as long as they're not too long-winded You did a good job, and I rather enjoyed reading your thoughts. I don't mind giving verbal confirmation to things like that, and often do, because when someone can explain a thought or idea eloquently, it's truly enjoyable to hear it.

 

I can relate to RelaxingMelody on distrusting compliments. To be honest, when I hear a compliment from someone I don't know too well, it creates more problems for me than the person realizes. It can bug me for days at times wondering whether or not they were patronizing, genuine, sincere, lying, manipulating... I try to look at it from every possible way and never really decide which it was. Of course, my pessimistic Ni likes to create problems so I usually end up passing it off as a lie or "they were just being nice." I wish I wasn't this way, and I've been trying to trust people more on this kind of stuff, but it's really hard for me.

When it comes from a friend or someone I trust a bit more, then I appreciate it, because I know their intentions are not malicious.