Personality types can sometimes be very generic. Deciding whether you're more like an extrovert or an introvert can be quite tough because you might be a little bit of both. Well good news, there's actually an in-between called ambivert. An ambivert is someone who has qualities of both extroverts and introverts. An extrovert's way of thinking is: I'm drawn to people, I like social gatherings and I am pretty outgoing. An introvert would think: It's draining to be around a lot of people. I prefer peace and quiet. I usually prefer to be alone in my free time. Simply an ambivert would say: It depends on the situation. If this sounds like you, keep reading.
Rather than thinking about this as a label, think of it as a spectrum. At one end are introverts, in the middle ambiverts and at the end extroverts. Ambiverts are the in-between and have a lot of similar qualities to both but isn't one or the other. Being an ambivert can be sometimes confusing. On one hand you like to be alone, but you get stir crazy if you don't leave the house after awhile. This is totally normal for ambiverts. You want your alone time, but you also want to see the world and explore what's around.
Another way to think of ambiverts is this poem by Sum:
There is peaceful, there is wild. I am both at the same time.
Here are some real life examples to really tell if you're an ambivert:
1. Social Gatherings
When in social gatherings, you either want to be invisible or you thrive. You can either be silent or the loudest in the crowd. It really depends on the people you're with.
2. Being Chatty
There are some instances where your extrovert side just comes out and you can not stop talking, especially when you're around your crush. When you're extrovert side is out there is no stopping you, and there's nothing wrong with that!
3. Not Being Chatty
There are other times where you don't feel like talking at all. This might happen more when you're around new people or a big group of people. Again, nothing wrong with this, it's just the way you are!
4. Interaction
Some days, you just want to be busy all day and if someone else asks you to hang out, you thrive over saying you're too busy that day. On other days you just want to stay at home, eat some pie and watch Netflix with your cat. Your happiness comes from both extroverted and introverted activities, but only doing one would be totally weird.
5. Seeming Shy
If you don't know an ambivert very well, you might think they're really shy. In the beginning of interacting with new people, ambiverts can be very shy, but once you get to know them you will see that there is actually a very extroverted side.
6. Being Nervous
Ambiverts are not nervous at all when it comes to public speaking or explaining something in immense detail in front of the class but when it comes to asking a waiter for a straw, that's another story.
If you feel like you're an ambivert, you probably are! If you want even more reassurance you can always take a few quizzes online. At times, we love attention and other times we run the other way. Being an ambivert is something to celebrate and in order to really understand an ambivert, you have to be really close to them. See if any of your friends are ambiverts and maybe now that you know what they're personality really is like you'll be able to understand them better. Ambiverts make the world go round, so embrace that you're an ambivert!
