A common misconception surrounding personality traits is that people fall into black or white categories such as introvert vs. extrovert. In reality, however, there is a significant gray area between those two extremes.
Like all characteristics, there is a spectrum on which people will fall and if they lean more one direction or another, they will be classified as one of the two extremes. But what about the people who don't fall near either end of the spectrum? What happens when you're split pretty evenly 50/50 between two completely different traits? How do you classify yourself if you're comfortable in social situations but you also need alone time to recharge? Meet the ambivert, "a person whose personality has a balance of extrovert and introvert features."
I'm one myself actually. When taking a Myers-Briggs personality test, I fell right between the extremes in all four categories (introversion vs. extroversion, intuitive vs sensing, thinking or feeling, and judging or perceiving.) The first few times I took the test, my results came back inconclusive. (I'm Divergent,
The truth is, however, that I am able to adapt my personality traits to fit whatever situation I'm in. I can be outgoing and friendly or quiet or reserved. I'm equally comfortable using critical thinking to solve a problem as I am to follow my gut instinct, and I can turn my emotions on and off based on the needs of the situation. The more I've learned about my unique personality traits, the more I've understood why I do the things I do. Here are some of the signs I've found that prove that I'm an ambivert:
1. Everyone thinks I like them
I like most people but, chances are, if you get on my nerves or I genuinely dislike you, you won't be able to tell. I'm pretty friendly and civil with everyone, even people I'm not a huge fan of.
2. I can come off as two-faced or fake because my personality differs based on the situation I'm in.
I'm a completely different person with my family than I am with my friends or even at one job compared to another one. Because of this, I may appear to be insincere but genuinely I adapt to situations to make things easier, not harder.
3. I'm super flexible and I'll be happy doing whatever.
When we hang out, if you want to go see a movie or grab a bite or go to a music festival or spend the night on the couch I'm honestly down for whatever and I'm pretty easy to please.
4. I don't get shaken up too easily.
Because of my ability to shut off my emotions whenever I need to, it's pretty easy for me to handle things that would leave other people shaken. I'm the type of person you want to have around in a crisis.
5. I hate small talk.
I can't stand it. I want to have genuine, deep, meaningful conversations with people I find interesting. Talking about the weather and playing nice bores me.
6. I'm pretty intuitive and I can pick up on subtle hints.
If you try to hide something while you're talking to me, your facial expressions will for sure tip me off.
7. I like giving affection and attention, but I only occasionally like receiving it.
I'm like a cat. I'll be sweet and cuddly when I feel like it but if you try to initiate affection and I'm not feeling it you'll probably regret it.
8. I can hold a conversation with almost everyone, but I hate talking about myself.
Job interviews and first dates can be a little rough.
As it turns out, the majority of people experience an ambivert-style personality at some point in their lives. We are not easily put into boxes and classified by extremes, but, rather, we fluctuate on the spectrum as a result of our experiences.
I love being an ambivert. The flexibility it affords me as well as my effortless ability to get along with everyone have done me quite well thus far in my life and I believe that it makes me more likely to succeed in the future, simply because of my ability to read a situation and adapt accordingly.
Even though I may never be accurately represented by the Myers-Briggs, I don't find it necessary to fit into a specific mold of black and white. I'd much rather be able to define myself fluidly somewhere within the gray.
