Introvert Challenges
Hello everyone! I hope everyone is doing well.
As you might know, we did a growth path survey a couple of weeks ago where we asked what kind of growth paths you all would like to see. And, one of the most requested categories was Introvert Challenges.
I'd like to invite you to help me create good growth paths in this category. It would be great to team up where we collectively share what has helped us learn, understand, and tackle introvert challenges. These can be personal experiences, things people have said to us, books or ideas we have come across, talks or short videos we have found on YouTube, images that we find helpful, etc.
Let's share all of the above in this thread and work together to figure out how to make these steps or exercises. It can be used to help others become better at handling the challenges of introversion.
Any and all ideas, thoughts are welcomed. This is our discussion space where we can get ideas flowing. We will figure it out as we learn and evolve. Thank you and I'm looking forward to working with you all on creating Growth Path Playlists on this topic!
Hello. I suppose I consider myself an introvert. A am a 6ft 5 man. I mention this because I don't think we are allowed to be introvert. I have social personas; I am mostly polite to women and slightly bolshy with men. I don't like the term ' loner ' , but ' free spirit ' sounds a bit too euphemistic and ' lone wolf ' just creepy. Maybe someone has a term I might be happy with ? I have also read quiet by Susan Can. Well worth a read. There is a great pressure to be extrovert from media, t.v. etc . I have suffered in my work life as a result of my quiet by nature.I am also a songwriter /composer and sketcher. I am very interested in art/ music therapy. That was quite a lengthy intro ! Well hello !
@ASilentObserver
Wear a mask🤣? I'm highly introverted, but mostly it's a learned response coming from the fact that over 90% of the people I've encountered in my life have reacted negatively towards me, and rare it is that I go somewhere unnoticed. However since the start of this pandemic and mandatory masking, only about 60% of people I run into behave as though I'm walking around murdering baby rabbits, or demanding their money at gunpoint.🙄😷🤗
@ASilentObserver
I have found quietness is very important for my introverted brain. No matter how busy I am, I make sure I have some quiet moments every day to journal or sit quietly.
Cool idea, I'd love to see how this goes.
A while back I read a book called 'Quiet: The Power of Introvers in a World That Can't Stop Talking' by Susan Cain. One of the key points in her book was to never say that either Introversion nor Extroversion was better or worse way to live life, just that there was benefits to both and that the world needs both sets of skills. Some of her best examples showcased teams made of and Introvert and Extrovert workign togehter. An Introvert is more likely to be skilled in assessing a situation where an Extrovert is more likely to be skilled in implementing a plan based on the Introverts observations. Exc.
I'd love to see a step where someone who identifies as Introverted is encouraged to look at their strong points; the ability to self examin, the ability to work independently, and so on.
I think it will be important to define what an introvert is, extroversion can often be misunderstood as confidence. I think it's also an important stage to accept being introverted, as others said it's not a bad thing but a different way of being. I believe the path should be about achieving success (which will mean different things for each person) in societies that are typically more adapted to extroverts
@ASilentObserver
You mention working together to help people get better at handling the challenges of introversion. This is so respectful of the fact that introversion isn't some problem to be "fixed" or "corrected" or changed. Rather, it's a different way of functioning that comes with it's share of challenges in certain situations. Thank you for wording it so well.
I look forward to reading the updates on this!
@ASilentObserver
I think it's important to establish the difference between introversion and social anxiety. There is a socially anxious type of introversion but I see lots of people getting confused.
If you need time to regenerate from social functions, enjoy and thrive from time on your own and don't have a compulsion to socialise often, then you're introverted imo. If you have the drive and want to socialise but you can't because you're anxious around people, then that's social anxiety induced introversion.
I haven't read it but I have this book on my amazon wishlist that may be useful to some people.
https://www.thecut.com/article/apparently-there-are-four-kinds-of-introversion.html
