Who is an Introvert?

Introverts:

There’s a psychological term for people like me. We’re called introverts—and there’s no single way to define us. We enjoy the company of others but also like time alone. We can have great social skills, and also be private and keep to ourselves. We are observant. We might listen more than we talk. Being an introvert is about having a deep inner life, and considering that inner life to be important.

Even if you aren’t an introvert yourself, there are probably a few of us in your family or your circle of friends. Introverts make up a third to half of the population—that’s one out of every two or three people you know. Sometimes we’re easy to spot. We’re the ones curled up on the sofa with a book or an iPad on our lap instead of surrounded by people. Other times, We introverts are good at hiding our true natures. We might pass undetected in classrooms, living out loud when deep down we can’t wait to escape the crowd and to have some time to ourselves. Being introverted doesn’t necessarily mean being shy. This is an important distinction. Introverts can be shy, of course, but there’s such a thing as a shy extrovert too. Shy behavior can look like introversion—it makes people appear to be quiet and reserved. Like introversion, the feeling of shyness is complicated; it has a lot of layers to it. It can come from a place of nervousness, or insecurity, about being accepted by others. It can come from a place of fear of doing the wrong thing.

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Shyness is the fear of social disapproval or humiliation, while introversion is a preference for environments that are not overstimulating. Shyness is inherently painful; introversion is not. Just like introversion, shyness has its advantages. Studies show that shy kids tend to have loyal friendships, and tend to be empathetic, and creative. Both shy and introverted people make great listeners. And it’s through listening that we tend to be good at observing, learning, and maturing. This blog is about both introversion and shyness—and about the advantages both qualities give you. I happen to be an introvert but not a shy person. But you might be only one or the other. Enjoy the journey