Its A-OK to be me.
I am a self confessed introvert. Introvert-ism is a discovery I made recently after questioning myself why many times why it was so hard for me to find much enthusiam socially when everyone else made it look so simple. I guess in a way I wished I could be more comfortably outgoing.
My discovery came about as I participated in multiple personality tests and found that most of them came back with the same result: tendacy towards introvertism. And everytime I got that result I thought "No, thats not me...I'm happy and outgoing!" But eventually it dawned on me after I began to further investigate this idea of 'introvertism' - I fit the profile almost perfectly. But what does that all mean?
Many people frequently mistaken introvertism for shyness. To make it clear:
introvert - 1) a person whose interest is directed primarily toward the self. 2) one who is sober, reserved, and withdrawn.
shy - 1) to draw back, as from doubt or caution. 2) easily frightened or startled; timorous. 3) timid; coy.
Hmm, okay I dont consider myself a shy person.
Heres a good comparison of Introvert Vs. Extrovert:
Introverts:
Enjoy time alone <-----Yes I do require alot of 'ME' time...
Consider only deep relationships as friends <-------Well I consider deep relationships as REAL friends.
Feel drained after outside activities, even if they were fun <--------Would that explain why I cant go out 2 nights in a row?
Good listener <------Hmmm Definately
Appear calm and self-contained <-------- When in distress I try to look semi happy but just end up looking expressionless.
Think then speak or act <-------Errr, ....not sure about this one, I can talk alot of poo some times...
Extroverts:
Like to be in the thick of things <--------Ah, not particularly.
Relish variety <--------I have to say I dont mind a bit of variety.
Know lots of people, considers lots of people friends <------------No.
Enjoy chit-chatting, even to strangers <----------I rarely speak to strangers, I try to avoid it.
Feel stoked after activity <------'Stroked'??
Speak or act then think OR think while speaking <--------I think I've done this more than I would like to.
heres another list of attributes of an introvert I feel I can relate with:
-Time spent alone is essential. ------ Yep!
-Too much time with people, particularly strangers, is often draining. ------- Very much so. I advoid speaking to strangers if possible!
-Affirmation, confirmation, or verification are gotten from our inner experience, from what goes on inside us. ------- Hmm..I think so.
-Time alone is needed to figure things out, to get in touch with our introspective strength. --------- Definately.
-Meeting new people is a challenge; we may avoid or postpone doing so. ------------- Not sure about this one. I think it can be an exciting challange if its in the right situation.
-Finding the give-and-take of verbal interaction somewhat difficult to keep up with, has trouble "thinking on your feet". -------- Oh yes.
-At meetings, may hold back, then have trouble getting into the discussion. ------- Yes I do. It can also be very frustrating.
-Likely to think afterwards of the thing to say--suffer from the "why didn't I say ... " syndrome! --------- Only too many times....
-Often has good writing skills and prefers presenting ideas in writing. ----------- This sounds silly but sometimes I write what I am going to say before a telephone conversation.
-Is not highly observant of the outer environment. --------- True..
-Is very aware of our inner reactions and tends to be introspective. ---------- Definately. I tend to judge things on how I FEEL about them
-Generally difficult to get to know. -------- I dont think I am the easiest person to get to know.
-Many layers of personality are not obvious --- can surprise people. --------- I dont think many people know who I really am. I surprise myself sometimes.
Okay the thing is: most of my life I've felt I've had to act a certain way to fit in. I envied the girls who where outgoing and charasmatic. They always seemed to have everything going for them and I always thought to myself: "Why can't I be more like them? Why is it so hard for me?". The truth is everytime I tried to be like 'them' I would feel stupid and fake...and it was oh-so-draining! How can they keep it up??
And now I realize why - Because I am not THEM, I am ME. I am the ME who needs time alone, I am the ME who is content with a handful of close friends, I am the ME who doesnt feel like I need to go out every weekend, and I am ME who doesnt speak with much eloquence. In a world where everyones an extrovert I felt like I had to be extroverted as well to fit in, but now I am beginning to believe its A-OK to be ME - An introvert.
My discovery came about as I participated in multiple personality tests and found that most of them came back with the same result: tendacy towards introvertism. And everytime I got that result I thought "No, thats not me...I'm happy and outgoing!" But eventually it dawned on me after I began to further investigate this idea of 'introvertism' - I fit the profile almost perfectly. But what does that all mean?
Many people frequently mistaken introvertism for shyness. To make it clear:
shy - 1) to draw back, as from doubt or caution. 2) easily frightened or startled; timorous. 3) timid; coy.
Hmm, okay I dont consider myself a shy person.
Heres a good comparison of Introvert Vs. Extrovert:
Introverts:
Enjoy time alone <-----Yes I do require alot of 'ME' time...
Consider only deep relationships as friends <-------Well I consider deep relationships as REAL friends.
Feel drained after outside activities, even if they were fun <--------Would that explain why I cant go out 2 nights in a row?
Good listener <------Hmmm Definately
Appear calm and self-contained <-------- When in distress I try to look semi happy but just end up looking expressionless.
Think then speak or act <-------Errr, ....not sure about this one, I can talk alot of poo some times...
Extroverts:
Like to be in the thick of things <--------Ah, not particularly.
Relish variety <--------I have to say I dont mind a bit of variety.
Know lots of people, considers lots of people friends <------------No.
Enjoy chit-chatting, even to strangers <----------I rarely speak to strangers, I try to avoid it.
Feel stoked after activity <------'Stroked'??
Speak or act then think OR think while speaking <--------I think I've done this more than I would like to.
heres another list of attributes of an introvert I feel I can relate with:
-Time spent alone is essential. ------ Yep!
-Too much time with people, particularly strangers, is often draining. ------- Very much so. I advoid speaking to strangers if possible!
-Affirmation, confirmation, or verification are gotten from our inner experience, from what goes on inside us. ------- Hmm..I think so.
-Time alone is needed to figure things out, to get in touch with our introspective strength. --------- Definately.
-Meeting new people is a challenge; we may avoid or postpone doing so. ------------- Not sure about this one. I think it can be an exciting challange if its in the right situation.
-Finding the give-and-take of verbal interaction somewhat difficult to keep up with, has trouble "thinking on your feet". -------- Oh yes.
-At meetings, may hold back, then have trouble getting into the discussion. ------- Yes I do. It can also be very frustrating.
-Likely to think afterwards of the thing to say--suffer from the "why didn't I say ... " syndrome! --------- Only too many times....
-Often has good writing skills and prefers presenting ideas in writing. ----------- This sounds silly but sometimes I write what I am going to say before a telephone conversation.
-Is not highly observant of the outer environment. --------- True..
-Is very aware of our inner reactions and tends to be introspective. ---------- Definately. I tend to judge things on how I FEEL about them
-Generally difficult to get to know. -------- I dont think I am the easiest person to get to know.
-Many layers of personality are not obvious --- can surprise people. --------- I dont think many people know who I really am. I surprise myself sometimes.
Okay the thing is: most of my life I've felt I've had to act a certain way to fit in. I envied the girls who where outgoing and charasmatic. They always seemed to have everything going for them and I always thought to myself: "Why can't I be more like them? Why is it so hard for me?". The truth is everytime I tried to be like 'them' I would feel stupid and fake...and it was oh-so-draining! How can they keep it up??
And now I realize why - Because I am not THEM, I am ME. I am the ME who needs time alone, I am the ME who is content with a handful of close friends, I am the ME who doesnt feel like I need to go out every weekend, and I am ME who doesnt speak with much eloquence. In a world where everyones an extrovert I felt like I had to be extroverted as well to fit in, but now I am beginning to believe its A-OK to be ME - An introvert.
