The Dreamer's Pen

I’ve always noticed the things most people don’t. The tiny shifts in someone’s tone, that half second hesitation before a word is spoken, the invisible rhythm in a room the second someone walks in. These details, so easily ignored, are like neon signs to me. My brain maps them without me even thinking about it, connecting dots that nobody else sees.

This is pattern recognition. I see recurring behaviors, subtle habits, repeated circumstances and I can almost always tell where they’re heading. My intuition interprets these little signals, not as random fragments, but as part of a bigger picture. And yes, INFJs like me get called prophetic! It’s not magic. It’s noticing. It’s reading patterns and understanding how things naturally unfold. Most of the time, it’s just paying attention and trusting the connections my mind makes.

A huge part of this is how I read people. I notice the tiny gestures! The flicker of an eye, a shoulder tensing, the way someone shifts when they’re uncomfortable. I can usually tell what someone is really thinking or feeling, even when their words say something else. I can sense when someone’s masking their emotions or when they’re holding back, and I just… get it. It’s not supernatural. It’s noticing, pattern recognition, empathy, and intuition all rolled into one. Honestly, it’s probably one of the most useful things about being me, but it’s also one of the hardest to explain. People sometimes get weirded out or think I’m being “psychic,” when really I’m just paying attention.

And here’s the thing, it’s exhausting sometimes. Constantly noticing all the little signals in people and situations, constantly tracking patterns and rhythms, it takes energy. It’s like living life a few steps ahead, watching how things move while everyone else is just… reacting. And it can be isolating, because few people see the world the way I do. And when I try to explain it, it’s misunderstood. People think I am incredibly weird.

But here’s the other side: it’s a gift. Noticing things gives me a deeper understanding of people and life. I can sense energy shifts, anticipate reactions, and notice when something is off long before anyone else does. I can understand motivations, fears, and desires in ways that make connecting with people deeper and more meaningful. It’s like I get to read the unspoken, the invisible threads that tie moments, people, and events together. And that clarity? It’s powerful!

Learning to use this gift takes practice. I’ve had to trust what I notice, even when others doubt me. I’ve had to learn how to translate it into words, so my intuition isn’t dismissed as “hokey” or “mysterious.” I’ve had to be intentional about using it to understand people, anticipate outcomes, and navigate life’s subtle complexities.

At the end of the day, noticing patterns, understanding people, and trusting intuition is more than a skill, it’s a lens through which I see life. Misunderstood? Often. Magical? Not exactly. Powerful? Absolutely. It lets me see connections where others see chaos, to sense the invisible currents that move people and situations, and to navigate life in a way that feels… almost secret.

This is the INFJ paradox. We notice everything. We connect what others overlook. We sense what may come. We understand people in ways they don’t even know themselves. And we carry it like a superpower disguised as intuition, a gift that sometimes isolates, sometimes empowers, and always reminds us that we perceive the world in ways that are rare, strange, and utterly ours.