Hi there! I’m Amanda, and I am an independent author, a coach, and an INFP.
I’m the author of Productivity For INFPs and the online course of the same name. I’m also a fiction author and have published five full-length books as well as some shorter stories.
I’m also an INFP coach specializing in–you guessed it–productivity. Yes, I like to do a lot of things (which is pretty typical of INFPs).
I’ve been blogging for years and years now (since 2008), and you can see all my blog posts since then right here on this website. I write about productivity and INFPs, but I also like to write about writing, self-publishing, money, and, sometimes, just some random topic.
If you’re interested in keeping in touch, you can subscribe to my For INFPs newsletter or my fiction newsletter, and there are free gifts associated with both (you’ll see them clearly on the sign-up page). Otherwise, I’ll just get into my story.
I also very much appreciate your “P” presence in what does feel like a loud “J” field. Keep rocking it, Amanda!!! And thanks for supporting and encouraging us fellow P’s!
Emily P.
My Story
Once upon a time in 2007, I was bored at work with nothing to do. Browsing around on the internet for something to read, I stumbled upon a variety of blogs and enjoyed them. It was then that I thought to myself: I can do this.
Fast forward to June 2008, and I had my very own website with my very own blog (it is, in fact, this very website that you are on). I really enjoyed self-help and personal development, and that was what I began writing about. I had no idea what I was doing, particularly the technical aspects of having a website, which at the time were more complicated than they are now. But I was enjoying myself.
For the next year or so, I wrote regularly on my blog, covering a variety of topics that interested me in the area of personal growth. Here’s the very first post I wrote, called How To Know What You Want. I enjoy looking back at this and thinking about how much I’ve grown as a writer.
In December 2009, I wrote what would become one of my most popular posts and one of my personal favorites called 5 Reasons Why It’s Great To Be INFP. At the time, I didn’t know that I would go on to do more work with INFPs. It was just a topic that I was interested in.
Another big shift occurred in 2009 when I began writing fiction. That summer, I had written two flash fiction stories (under 1000 words) from writing prompts that I found online, and then in November, I took a huge step and decided to participate in NaNoWriMo, where I wrote my first novel. At that point, there was no turning back for me.
Fiction became more of my focus for the next ten years. I would go on to become an independent author, self-publishing five novels and a bunch of short stories and short story collections. And then, early in 2017, I left my job in research administration to be a full-time writer.
I would love to say that I had a plan all worked out for how I was going to pursue my newfound career in writing, but the truth was that I took a leap of faith based on intuition and assumed that I’d figure it out as I went along. That, in fact, did happen, but it was a much bumpier ride than I’d anticipated.
Trying to be a full-time fiction writer was hard, to say the least, and a couple of years in, I knew that I needed to adjust. I wasn’t going to give up on fiction, but I was going to branch out into some other areas to give more variety to my business.
I began doing some freelance writing. First, it was mostly articles and blog posts, and then I started writing book blurbs for other indie authors. This took me a little bit by surprise as I had decided to offer them on something of a whim. But I found that I was good at it, I enjoyed it, and I loved working with other authors.
The other thing that happened around this time was that I began to take note of some feedback I was getting on my productivity articles. Some of them were directly targeted at INFPs, and some of them I thought of as more general, but all of them offer an alternative approach to productivity–one in which you move with your energy rather than against it.
After an INFP friend told me that he had tried to search for all of my productivity articles on my website and had trouble doing so, it occurred to me that I might want to compile all of them into a book. That way, they would all be in one place. And that is how Productivity For INFPs was born.
In late January 2020, I published Productivity For INFPs, right before The INF Summit at which I was a speaker. The book did well right away. It was even the #1 New Release in Jungian Psychology on Amazon. I realized that I had hit on something.
I began branching out more under this topic. I started an INFP newsletter called For INFPs. I conducted a workshop on productivity for INFPs with Jas Hothi of INF Club (at the time) in April 2021. And then, in April 2022, I released a self-paced online video course called (you guessed it) Productivity For INFPs, which would offer a deeper, guided, reflective experience for anyone looking to move energy, get unstuck, and generate insights about their productivity.
And that about brings me to the present. 🙂
Hi! It’s my first time to visit your blog, and I love it! Your posts seem to “talk” to a person in a natural way. Your posts are a great reminder that we are humans; we are simply evolving and that we just have to be totally aware with ourselves. Self-awareness is what everyone needs so as to prevent ourselves from doing terrible mistakes. Keep on blogging! Thanks…
Hi dutdot! – Thanks for your comment! I like how you mention “evolving” here. We change so much over a lifetime and yet something always stays the same too. Being aware of yourself is how you really manage your own life. Hope you continue to enjoy reading Look Far!
Hi Amanda,
I visit your blog often. I have always wondered about the fluid way in which your words and thoughts flow. Alongwith this I have also wondered about the bar [ “|”] that shows up in my Firefox tab after your blog’s name — Look Far |. Why do you need that bar when you are looking far!
Lovely work though. Good luck!!
Hi Krithika – I’m glad you have been visiting! That’s funny that you bring up the “bar” after the title. My tagline should go after that bar, but I need to figure out how to get it to show up there! You’re right, it does block your vision. 😉
You wrote:
“We spend a lot of time concentrating on how to have relationships with other people, but we don’t pay nearly enough attention to how to have a relationship with ourselves.”
I like this. It’s interesting you mention the blueprints of life because that is one of the things I educate in my soul reading (Akashic Record Reading) service. We indeed have inner guides (intuition) and a map — energetically.
I’m following you on Twitter. Keep up the good work.
Blessings,
Akemi
Hi Akemi – I think a lot of people are trying to make decisions and choose their path by things they are seeing outside of themselves, but if you can learn to look inwards, I think you find all the guidance you need. I have a basic understanding of what Akashic Records are, although when I wrote this I was just thinking about my own experience of life. I’ll see you on Twitter. 🙂
Hi Amanda,
I experienced the issue regarding redirection. It is likely that your site has been hacked. First, change your passwords you use to access your site. Next look at each line of code behind the site and look for links to sites you do not recognize. Delete the links and hopefully it will stop.
I was redirected when commenting on your last post. Start in the WordPress dashboard under “appearance” then “editor” and look at the code behind the page titled, “comments”. You will likely find a problem there. Hopefully, it will stand out.
Let me know if you have any questions and hopefully I can help you find a solution.
Roger
Roger – Thanks a lot for the suggestion!! I’m going to give this a try.
A Google search for ‘how to become yourself again’ led me to this blog. It is quite a relief to know that there are many out there who are searching for who they are, beyond the basic facts of name, age and country of origin. There are things intrinsic in each of us, things that are exclusive to each and every person, but every once in a while we find things in common and we become one step closer to making sense of our self-questioning.
I’m impressed by your thoughtful essays, and added some of them to the new INFP group on Facebook since they were under Creative Commons license. (I created a new one because FB is archiving the less active older ones.) Thank you so much for sharing your insights and talent!
Hi John – That’s great. Thanks a lot for adding them. The INFP group looks cool!
Too kool and exotically thought of in every sense. Your blog is the serene n sweet field that I so much seek in my realm.
My upside-down-ness landed me here today. And tomorrow will be subject to what the weather of emotional presence cooks up. So look forward to more …
iYs 0N Yu^
Hi runaway unicorn – “upside-down-ness” – I like that. 🙂
Hi Amenda,
I am a Chinese grad student in the US. I visited your blog yesterday and suddently found it impressive! Because at that time I was in anxiety and even close to madness, and I searched on Google for words like “control your emotion” and Google brought me to your article. I found it very useful because you gave specific examples and details to persuade me to live with my both good and bad mood, and I should not try to escape either of them. Today I visited it again and found that “kichen chores” article is exactly what I am thinking about several times these days! Now I am considering buying a book from you. Anyway best wishes to you and have a nice day!
Hi Lu – That’s interesting how you found this blog. Glad you like it!
Hi Amanda I like your blog so much. I found it through Googling but I can’t remember what for…I was touched by the”dream” articles, definitely words I needed to hear! Your blog has helped me thank you! Oh, and I am a cross between an ENFP. and a INFP…so life can be somewhat draining yet hopefully never boring!
Hi Eve – Great, thanks! Always nice to hear from (E)INFPs. 😉
I have been journaling for years but just embarked on the writing journey. I have been struggling with a relationship and was trying to examine it more deeply. What I found was my gut from the beginning always sensed this person was afraid of me. I know that sounds weird but during my meditation time today I identified it as fear energy then I googled the words and found you. I have always sensed this fear energy coming from him. It is very uncomfortable but my reasoning always pushed it aside. Well here I am almost 3 years later with no lasting relationship. How long does it take to listen to intuition and act on it?
I lost my sweet dog last week because I didn’t listen to my gut. Any advice?
Amanda-
So glad I found your blog! I have enjoyed meeting you through the writers’ group and think we are copacetic in many ways. I’m looking forward to reading Uncover (I just bought it on Kindle) and to perhaps collaborative writing/critiquing together. See you at the next Meetup if not before!
Hi Anne – Thanks for your comment here! I just saw this, as I haven’t been updating the blog regularly and just logged in. Glad you liked Uncover and thanks for buying!
Hi Amanda,
Lovely blog. You are an inspiration to many.
As much as I want to not over identify with INFP charecteristics, I can’t help but be struck by the commanalities in our thought process.
Please do keep writing.
Hi Amanda! I just discovered your blog, and I’m amazed by the depth and breadth of topics you cover on INFP’s. As an INFP, I’ve bookmarked a ridiculous number of your pages. Are you by any chance related to the psychologist Marsha Linehan, who developed Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)? Just curious. 🙂
Hi Prana – Glad you enjoy the blog. I should be writing more regularly now.
Hi Sarah – Thanks and I’m glad you’ve found so many useful posts! No relation to Marsha Linehan.
Hi Amanda,
Hope all is well. I just stumbled upon your website whilst at work and thought I’d let you know that I’m enjoying it!
Sweet and short!
Thanks,
Chris
Hi Chris – Thanks a lot! Glad you’re enjoying it. 🙂
Hi Amanda, I am currently reading Productivity… and I love it. Now I know I am “Crazy” You are a God send. Keep up the good work. Decsion making and goal setting seem to be my two most explosive areas. I am an INFP in a male body. No one said it would be easy. My family of origin even had a hard time accepting me for who I am. and since I have a brother who is higher than most in most things he does I feel I got the short end of the stick some times.
Hi Stephen! Really glad you are liking the book. No, no one said it would be easy, but it’s nice when us INFPs find each other. 🙂