This past week I found myself in paradise – Key West, FL. Despite my serene surroundings, it felt near impossible to quiet the noise in my life. My mind was in a million different places as e-mails, phone calls, and social feeds continued to fight for my attention.
As I became desperate for peace and quiet away from people and technology, I began to understand what the world must feel like to the Introvert.
Last week I started the discussion about Introversion and Extroversion – specifically in the context of helping you understand what you need to remain energized. There are bound to be things during the day that zap your energy so that you’re running on empty before you even know it. Understanding this part of your personality will help you to act proactively and retroactively to ensure that you can keep chasing your fire.
This week, I’ll explain more about Introversion. As you read it, I want you to think about whether this type describes you. It might not sound like you at all, in which case you will likely be Extroverted – which we discussed last week. Remember that a person is rarely 100% introverted or extroverted, but most often some combination of both. Read last week’s post to get the full picture!
Introverts focus inwards
If you are an introvert, you likely enjoy spending time in quiet reflection – whether thinking, writing down your thoughts, or reading the thoughts of others. You much prefer time alone if you could make it happen. It’s not that you dislike people; it just makes you very tired being around them all the time.
The more is not always merrier for the Introvert, as you prefer spending time with a select few individuals at a time. Even in small groups you much prefer listening and observing over speaking and being actively engaged. Being a good listener is one of your strongest assets as an Introvert, but even so, there comes a point where you really just wish others would stop talking.
Being Introverted means that you spend a lot of time in your internal space. You probably think, think, and think some more without necessarily ever feeling the need to share your thoughts with others. It can make you uncomfortable when you are pushed to share your thoughts on the spot and out loud (as is the case with brainstorming sessions or group meetings) because you much prefer to carefully formulate your thoughts before sharing them with others.
If this description sounds like you, remember: Introverts need quiet. After being surrounded by people (especially large groups of them) for an extended period of time, make sure to escape to a quite place to recover. Jonathan Rauch explains,
“For introverts, to be alone with our thoughts is as restorative as sleeping, as nourishing as eating.”
For you, re-energizing means retreating to your inner world – whether reflecting on your own thoughts, a good book, or the comforting purrs of your favorite feline friend. Though it isn’t always possible at work to close your office door, it is important for you to seek moments of solitude. Why not use your lunch hour to sit on a campus bench or find a quiet nook in the office where you won’t be interrupted?
After a long day, going to a place where there are lots of people, talking on the phone with friends or family, or listening to loud music or television will likely only make you more tired. Instead, seek out a quiet activity. Whether it is a solitary walk in a quiet park, reading a few pages of your favorite book, or writing down your thoughts in a journal, remember to purposefully seek opportunities to retreat to a quiet place to re-energize.
If you consider yourself to be Introverted, you might enjoy this TED video by Quiet author Susan Cain about the power of Introverts in an Extroverted world. It is definitely worth watching. If the description of Introversion does not sound like you, remember to read last week’s post on Extroversion to see if that describes you better.
Happy re-energizing, friends!
.
Photo credit: original from hotblack
Dr. Vera V. Chapman is a Licensed Professional Counselor currently practicing as a Career Planning Specialist at a large public university in the Southeastern United States where she also teaches. Before the age of 30, she held a Ph.D. in the field of Higher Education Administration, a Masters degree in Counseling, and a triple major Bachelor of Science in Physiology, Genetics, and Psychology. Read more.
Tagged with: dimension of personality • energize • introversion • introvert • re-energize • self • self discovery • understanding personality
Filed under: Self Development
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Twitter
Facebook
Spot on (Moira). Yin-en-Yang.
Couldn’t agree more!