Are you an introvert or an extrovert? This is the question that people have been each other for years. Society has a weird obsession with not only assigning, but also defining people’s personality types. In the society we live in, most people are either deemed introvert, or extroverts. However, people fail to see the in-between, or the introverted extrovert.
Until recently, I had no idea if my personality defined me as an introvert or an extrovert. I never considered myself an introvert because I thought that introverts only had a few friends, were quiet around other people, and spent their time either alone, or occasionally with some close loved ones.
On the other hand, I knew that I did not fit the definition of an extrovert either. Let's face it, I’m not the type of girl to talk to anyone and everyone in my path. Additionally, I do not have a ton of friends and I do not always enjoy being out and about. With this in mind I asked myself: am I an introvert or an extrovert?
The answer is neither. I am an extroverted introvert.
From my experience, I can tell you that it is definitely not easy being an extroverted introvert. You can be outgoing, but then you might feel the need to be alone. Yes, I am a very loud and outgoing girl but usually it's just around people I am comfortable with. When I am in large groups I come off as being very quiet and shy.
If you are one of my family members, my best friends, or one of my favorite professors or teachers from high school, you have not seen my shy side and you probably never will. That side of me usually only comes out when I’m meeting new people and when I'm around people who I'm not comfortable with.
If I'm in a class with a teacher I'm not fond of, I will not be my usual outgoing self. People never believe me when I say this, but I can come off as being awkward sometimes and I wish I were more outgoing around people I didn’t know and people i’m not comfortable around.
Also, making new friends is not the easiest thing for me to do. Normally I become friends with people through being around my other friends, which is because I'm able to be outgoing around them. If I happen to be by myself trying to make friends, it's a very hard task. I wish I was better at small talk, I really do.
Another side effect of being an extroverted introvert is that I can be so down to go on an adventure, or I can long for a day alone binging Netflix and there is no in-between.
Though I may have viewed being an extroverted introvert in a negative light, there are many things that come with being an extroverted introvert. Tasks seem to be harder as an extroverted introvert, but I get through them. It takes more effort for me to talk to people or do things even though I am an outgoing person
. I might not be totally content with being an extroverted introvert, I’m glad I am who I am and I wouldn't change my extroverted introvert personality for the world.