There seems to be confusion on what the terms extrovert and introvert mean. Are all introverts shy, quiet, afraid to take risk, and anxious human beings? Here are a few things all introverts would like you to understand.
It does not mean I’m shy or have social anxiety:
I wouldn’t consider myself to be shy or to have constant anxiety. I usually don’t have an issue introducing myself to a stranger, sitting next to a stranger, asking questions in class, public speaking or speaking up in a group discussion. When I’m being quiet I usually just don’t feel like talking. Not because I’m scared but either because it takes time for me to formulate a complete thought or at that moment in time it’s exhausting for me to try to come up with something to say. Listening is easier sometimes. I’ve met introverts who are extremely shy and have social anxiety but I also have met extroverts who also exhibit those traits.
I crave social time:
Humans are social creatures. We all need relationships. Some people just need larger doses at a time. It’s true if I make plans to hang out with someone on Friday night I probably will not be leaving my house on Saturday. There have been times where I have gotten bored from being alone and I felt like I needed to be around people. I just enjoy solitude for longer periods of time than extroverts, but eventually I’ll want to be around people. Even though social interaction exhausts me usually, there have been times where it has energized me. Extroverts sometimes get energized by being alone. It may be rare, but it happens.
It does not mean I don’t like people:
It’s very rare for me to find someone I don’t like. I get along with pretty much everyone. There are introverts who get annoyed at everyone. But there are also extroverts that way too.
Just because I’m not talking doesn’t mean I’m not having fun:
Silence seems to be the most awkward thing for a lot of people. For me it’s one of my favorite things. It’s a chance to mediate on life and to get all my thoughts together. If I’m at a get-together and don’t contribute much to conversation, it’s not always because I don’t want to be there (sometimes it is), but I find listening and observing more fascinating. I like to take in my surroundings.
Extroversion and introversion are on a spectrum:
No one is fully introverted 100 percent of the time and no one is extroverted 100 percent of the time. I have introverted friends who are more extroverted than I am and vice versa. There are some days I feel like being more social than other days. Humans are too complex to fit a label all day every day.
Extroverts and introverts can exhibit the same personality traits:
As a whole I would say extroverts tend to be louder, more outgoing, crazier, and the life of the party and introverts tend to be more reserved and quiet. This definitely isn’t always true though. I know introverts who are bold, who get out on the dance floor, go crazy, who will chat your ear off, who are really confident public speaking and who are some of the biggest risk takers I know. I also know extroverts who are quiet, don’t dance, scared to death of public speaking and are soft-spoken.
Introverts get their energy mostly from being alone and away from people. Extroverts get their energy mostly from being with and around people. Both need alone time and social time. It’s as simple as that.
