Success is subjective. One person’s definition of success may be very different from someone else’s.

For INFJs, success tends to have less to do with external validation through things like awards and promotions and more to do with internal success through things like doing work that aligns with our values and having a sense of purpose.

But as a society, there are certain factors that we tend to agree are symbols of success—fame and wealth, for instance. If an INFJ wants to be successful in this sense, they will have to adopt a mindset conducive to this kind of success. And that begins with letting go of limiting beliefs.

What is a limiting belief? It’s very simple. It’s a belief that limits you. It’s a belief that keeps you from improving or taking risks because it convinces you that you can’t or shouldn’t do it. To be successful, you’ll have to release limiting beliefs that keep you from achieving the kinds of things that bring fame and fortune as a byproduct—because chasing fame and fortune directly can cause them to elude you.

To get you started, here are five limiting beliefs INFJs will need to let go of to be successful.

5 Limiting Beliefs INFJs Need to Release for Success

1. “I’m not good with money.”

   INFJs aren’t usually the ones people most often turn to for financial advice. Money isn’t one of our favorite subjects, so we don’t often take the time to learn about it. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn about it if we want to.
   
   As long as we keep telling ourselves we’re not good with money, that serves as an excuse we can use to avoid learning about it. But if we tell ourselves, “I’m good with money,” it will force us to find ways to make that true.
   
   For instance, you can start learning about how to better manage your finances or start earning passive income. Although there are many different types of passive income, some of which are more passive than others, it’s very hard to build wealth without it. This is because, if you’re only earning active income—income that you’re receiving by actively trading your dollars for hours—there will always be a limit to how much you can earn.

2. “Real artists make money with their art.”

   INFJs tend to be creative people, so they’re very often artists of some kind. INFJs who would like to become or who consider themselves professional artists may be reluctant to make money doing anything other than selling their art, believing that making money any other way may cheapen their perception as an artist or even make them less of an artist.
   
   But the truth is, those are just other limiting beliefs. If you’re an artist, of course you’re free to sell your art. But you can also make money through other means if you want to—like, for example, creating a membership site where you offer special perks to members or teaching others how to do what you do. In fact, if you decide to take your knowledge and put it into an online course, that could become a source of passive income for you (see #1).
   
   It’s also important to know that even celebrities who are famous for something rarely do just that one thing. Sometimes they work with brands and get paid for endorsing their products. Or they may have clothes or perfume lines. Or they may do several things—act, sing, write books, direct, produce, etc.
   
   The point is, you can make money doing whatever you want to do. And you decide what you call yourself, regardless of what others think.

3. “I’m not good at networking.”

   The ability to network is a skill that can be learned, like small talk—which happens to be a good skill to have when networking. But since endless small talk and being around lots of people for long periods of time can easily drain INFJs, it’s important for us to network in a way that doesn’t drain us.
   
   The key is to remember that networking is nothing more than forming relationships. INFJs don’t have to have relationships with hundreds of people to be successful. Just a few key relationships will do. And one way for INFJs to start connecting with these people is to, first, figure out who they are.
   
   For example, an INFJ might not want to attend every networking event they can, but if they know they would like to connect with a specific person and they know that this person will be at an event, they should definitely attend.
   
   Second, an INFJ might want to reach out to the people they would like to connect with through writing, which is a skill INFJs tend to excel at naturally. This is a time social media might actually come in handy, as it makes it easier to connect with people we may not know how to connect with in real life. But sending a nice email would also be a good way to begin.

4. “I don’t have the personality to be successful.”

   I know that personality type is one way of understanding people, but it’s not the only way. And since people of all personality types have become successful, I don’t think you can confidently say that any personality type prevents someone from achieving success.
   
   Simply put, there is no “success” personality. There are only people who decided they wanted to be successful, then did what was necessary to get there. You can make that decision, too.
   
   And once you do, nothing can stop you. In fact, you’re the only one who can keep you from success. If you have any doubts about that, take a look at this article from CNBC about an INFJ who thrives in a career traditionally thought to be for extroverts.

5. “I don’t know how to [INSERT ACTIVITY].”

   This belief tends to come from the INFJ dislike of asking for help. When we don’t know how to do something that might lead us to become successful, we tend to shy away from asking for help. And if we can’t figure it out ourselves, we might prefer to just not do it.
   
   But if you want to be successful, try replacing this belief with, “I may not know how to do [ACTIVITY], but I can learn or find someone who can.” And then go out and learn or find that person. It’s only too easy for us INFJs to limit ourselves because we don’t want to ask for help or even because we don’t want to look like a novice, which stems from our tendency to be perfectionists. But if we truly set our mind to do something, we will find a way to do it—or find someone who can.
   
   Remember, it’s fine to pay someone else to do something you either don’t want to do or don’t have time to do. In fact, this is something many successful people do because it frees up their time to do other things.

Final Thoughts

Once you decide that success is for you, then success is for you. And after you decide, you can do the mental work necessary to get you where you want to go.

The only real difference between successful people and not-so-successful people is that successful people act. They don’t spend forever researching the right way to do things or making excuses about why they can’t do something. They might do some research, but then they take action and course correct along the way.

Now you know the kinds of beliefs you need to release to become successful. And now you also have an idea of how to change those beliefs. You can do the same with all the limiting beliefs you have, replacing them with ones that empower you. And when you do that, you’ll be surprised at what you’re capable of.

Remember, beliefs aren’t facts. If you don’t like certain ones that you have or if they’re not serving you, you can change them anytime you want.

Now I turn it to you. What other limiting beliefs do you think INFJs need to let go of to be successful?

~ Ashley C.

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