In society, people are usually described as outgoing or shy, an introvert or an extrovert. Individuals are placed in categories where you can either be the life of the party or have never been to a party at all. But then there are those of us who find ourselves toeing the line of both an introvert and an extrovert, these people are known as the outgoing introvert.
1. You can be the life of the party or you can stand in the corner.
Do you have those those nights where you cannot wait to go out and talk to everyone around you? You make your rounds to all your friends at the party and crack people up with the hilarity that is you. The next morning your Facebook wall is clogged up with tagged pictures. You and your friends are texting about all the hysterics that occurred the night before. But do you also have those nights when you’re just not feeling it? There is no real explanation as to why your hearts not in it but you just know you do not have it in you to go over and make that joke or flirt with that boy. You stay home that night enjoying yourself as you watch your favorite show or read that new book. Both are great sides of you, the one where others get to enjoy your presence and the one where you get to enjoy yourself. If this sounds like you, then you are a fellow outgoing introvert.
2. All the things you can think, but also say.
An introvert is characterized as someone who is “characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts or feelings." What makes outgoing introverts different from the average introvert is that while they think think think they also share share share. Do people ever tell you that you think the weirdest things? Outgoing people are known for saying first thing that comes to their mind without giving little thought to other things going on around them. But then there are those that ponder about the littlest things and then proceed to share those ponderings with the people around them. While people may call you weird (I prefer the word interesting) it is nice to have the ability to consider the world around you but also have the confidence to share those little thoughts. If you feel that you think more than an average person would and share more than you should, then you are a fellow outgoing introvert
3. The name’s is Peyton, Peyton Stein. But I will only introduce myself if I actually want to talk to you.
Do you find yourself gravitating towards your friends all the time with no intention of seeing the other people around you? You have no problem talking to the other people you are acquainted with but you really do not see a need to talk to these people. Other people may think that you are shy and standoffish but you know that you are just selectively social. You feel no need to talk to people only to have surface conversations with people you kind of know when you can have a great conversation with a person you know very well. If you love to talk to people you know but don’t feel the need to talk to people you know, then you are an outgoing introvert.
4. Small talk falls into the same category as torture.
Small talk is evil. If you have an overwhelming sense of anxiety at the thought of having to hold a conversation about nothing, you know what that means: welcome to being an outgoing introvert. At family gatherings you try your best to avoid that aunt you barely know or you to arrive late to the cocktail hour. I am not really sure why but for some reason small talk is just very painful. The pain may come from trying to search your brain for something to talk about or maybe from the intense amount of eye contact that is required of small talk, all I know is that I avoid it at all costs.
5. Your moods are directly related to the energy in the room.
Do you ever find yourself in a bad mood but then as soon as you are surrounded with individuals that are happy and energetic, your mood instantly turns around? Outgoing introvert’s attitudes rely on the energy in the room that is around them. A party with loud music and every one dancing can take your good mood and turn it into great mood where you have more energy than you know what to do with. Or a room where people are on edge can take you from a neutral state to a one of intense anxiety or frustration. As a whole, outgoing introverts are very in tune with the people around us because we are continually thinking about what everyone is feeling while also emoting these emotions ourselves.
If you agree with any of these statements you are most likely an outgoing introvert! Congrats! You now know why you live a life full of awkward small talk and very interesting thoughts.
