“If you like to do things in a slow and steady way, don’t let others make you feel as if you have to race.”
I’m reading a book called Quiet by Susan Cain. It’s about introverts. It has loads of fascinating research and I recommend it if you’re a facts kind of person.There’s a few things I want to share from it with you.
Before I do here’s a definition of introversion: a personality trait characterised by a focus on internal feelings rather than on external sources of stimulation. Introversion and extroversion actually relate to how we recharge our brains. Extroverts gain energy from being social; they have a lower basic rate of arousal within their brain. Introverts lose energy from being around people for long periods of time; their brains are easily stimulated. This means that extroverts need to work harder to arouse their minds and bodies to the same ‘normal’ state that introverts might reach quite easily.
We are all somewhere on a continuum between the two. Some of us are actually ambiverts – we have a perfect balance of both traits. Introverts sometimes act like an extrovert to cope in the outer world. (it’s why I was always picked as an extrovert years back)
I’ve written about introverts before. It’s a subject that has many misunderstandings such as, introverts don’t like to talk (they do, they’re just not so into small talk) and they always want to be alone (they are happy with their own thoughts but do get lonely when they can’t share them with others)
You might want to check in with some typical traits of extroverts and introverts.
Extrovert traits:
Has large social networks
Enjoys being the centre of attention
Tends to think out loud
Makes quick decisions
Gains energy from being around other people
Outgoing, enthusiastic, and positive
Thrives in team-oriented and open work settings
Introvert traits:
Enjoys spending time in solitude
Doesn’t prefer to be the centre of attention
Values close one-on-one relationships
Thinks before they speak/not as talkative
Needs time alone to recharge and reflect
Prefers working in quiet, independent environments
Is deeply focussed and thinks about specific interests
Can be seen as reserved
For extroverts:
Susan Cain says –
- When you want something you go all out to get it.
- You enjoy lots of invigorating emotions. Make the most of them: build things, inspire others and think big.
- Start a company, launch a website, build a tree house for your kids.
- Know that you need to protect your energy.
- Train yourself to spend energy on what’s truly meaningful to you instead of on activities that look like they’ll deliver a quick buzz of money, status or excitement.
- Teach yourself to pause and reflect when warning signs appear that things aren’t working out as you’d hoped.
- Learn from your mistakes.
- Seek out counterparts who can help rein you in and compensate for your blind spots.
For introverts:
- Find your flow by using your gifts.
- You have the power of persistence, the tenacity to solve complex problems and the clear-sightedness to avoid pitfalls that trip others up.
- You enjoy relative freedom from the temptations of superficial prizes like money and status.
- Your biggest challenge may be to fully harness your strengths.
- You may be so busy trying to appear like a zestful extrovert that you undervalue your own talents, or feel underestimated by those around you.
- When you’re focused on a project you care about, you probably find that your energy is boundless.
- Stay true to your own nature.
- If you like to do things in a slow and steady way, don’t let others make you feel as if you have to race.
- If you prefer single-tasking to multi-tasking, stick to your guns.
I found those tips timely and helpful, I hope you do too.
wishing you balance and harmony
with light
Dawn
Photo by Tanner Boriack on Unsplash