How to Develop the Functions
Here are some tips to strengthening each of the eight functions. I would suggest strengthening the weaker functions in your stack primarily, and put less focus in on your shadow functions. If you are in a loop, this can be used to develop your auxiliary function. You can also use it to generally develop your tertiary and especially inferior functions if these are weak. Having a developed inferior function can also help prevent you from falling into “the grip”, so it’s good to try to have a good control over all of your functions.
Extroverted Feeling (Fe): Find a close friend and share how you’re feeling with them. Journal about your feelings and read them over to yourself or someone else. Talk to a therapist if these outlets aren’t enough for you. Reach out a hand to help others out: volunteer, give someone advice, listen to someone talk about their problems. Find groups of people or situations where you can put yourself in the shoes of others so you can develop your empathy skills. Find situations where you are around those you care about. Ask others their opinions on decisions that affect others, and take time before you take action to consider how it will affect the people around you. Ask for affirmation from those closest to you, and remind yourself to give it to others as well. Examine the facial expressions and manners of speaking of those around you and try mimicking them.
Introverted Feeling (Fi): Study an area of morality and ethics that interests you, and consider what your viewpoints on the situation are. Consider why humans as a whole or other people in your life do the things that they do, and how morality as a concept even exists. Consider social justice arguments and find one that you have a strong opinion on. Take time to step back and consider how you are feeling, what values you are exerting, what your likes and dislikes are in a certain situation. Consider yourself as an independent, unique individual with a set of morality outside of society. Journal about your feelings. Think about what is important to you in your life and what motivates you personally.
Extroverted Thinking (Te): Try to develop your ability to be assertive: ask for that raise, propose something ambitious, etc. Formulate your ideas into a concrete plan and share them with someone around you. Use data and facts to back up your assertions. Plan an event or other project and focus on the whole over the details. Remember that external organization and structure is necessary in a society, and try to incorporate your skills and plans into one around you. Develop your aura of confidence and consider how others view you in a professional light. Take charge of a project and lead with self-assurance.
Introverted Thinking (Ti): Find some word game, puzzle, riddle, etc. that challenges your intellect and causes you to think. Find something that interests you and research it until you fully understand its intricate details. Have an intellectual debate or discussion. Apply yourself to some hobby or area of study and try to develop your internal sense of discipline and focus. Look at projects and consider the weak points and areas of improvement. Take time to draw back and consider things in an objective light, understanding the situation instead of becoming emotionally influenced. Develop your sense of independence, and work on projects that allow you to use your personal skills and get a sense of personal achievement.
Extroverted Intuition (Ne): Play games or engage in activities that encourage divergent thinking and creativity. Think about some event (general or specific) coming up in the future and imagine all the great things that could happen during it. Surround yourself with people and pieces of art/literature/movies that are creative and exciting. Look at the future as a place of exciting opportunities, not of possible anxieties. Make a bucket list of things you could do in your life that excite you: the crazier, the better. Think about the things that you would want to change in your life. Brainstorm all the possible ways you could do it. Go on a spontaneous adventure with your friends.
Introverted Intuition (Ni): Watch a stranger out in public and try to paint a picture of what type of person they are from the way that they look. Reflect on the underlying themes or symbolism of a book or movie. Look at the overt facts of a situation or how someone is acting and piece them together to try to understand what is actually going on underneath the surface: how they are actually feeling, etc. Take individual pieces of information and concisely bring them together to form one general idea. Project yourself or a situation into the future and try to understand what will most likely come to be. Reflect on why things are the way that they are, even seemingly straightforward things. Follow your gut belief in a situation.
Extroverted Sensing (Se): Find a hobby such as a sport, artistic endeavor, craft, etc. Work with your hands on a project and try to physically understand how something works. Take a walk somewhere in nature or go to a museum and focus on the specific details of the beauty around you. Listen to music and try to pay attention to the individual sounds. Remember to live in the moment and experience life as it is happening around you. Do something spontaneous and crazy with your friends. Take a step back and remember to take things for as they are, and not to overanalyze anything. Think about the things that you want to or need to do this moment and go do some of them.
Introverted Sensing (Si): Take out old photos and try to place yourself in the emotions and experience of when you were there. Go visit a place of old memories or watch a movie you loved as a child. Re-start up an old family tradition. Create some sort of routine in your life to give you a bit of reassurance and organization. Appreciate the simple things in life and seek the unassuming nature of contentment. Reflect on the lessons you have learned in a situation once it has passed. Realize that not all mistakes need to be made, and that sometimes it is better to stick with what is safe.
