One of my FB friends posted an article she found that I just
absolutely loved. To know that my personality, while not as common as others,
can be recognized and described for the world to see just ROCKS! Here is the
link to the website:
http://www.carlkingdom.com/10-myths-about-introverts
These are the points that I just loved to read because it
made me feel UNDERSTOOD! Love it! Again, these are not my words, they belong to
Carl Kingdom, who I profusely THANK for sharing this information!!!! I added
some confirmation comments, but in truth, there isn't one of the statements
below that I disagree with. It's just that there are some I'm more passionate
about than others:).
Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they
have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about
something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days. (TRUE, TRUE,
TRUE!!!)
Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert.
Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to
interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. (PREACH!) If you
want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being
polite.
Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the
bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest.
(YES!) Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts
can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting. (YES!)
Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends
they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky
enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal
ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of
substance, you’re in.
Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR
AS LONG. (TELL ME ABOUT IT!) They also like to avoid the complications that are
involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly,
and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to
go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely
crucial for Introverts.
Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own
thoughts. They think a lot. (YES!!!!!) They daydream. They like to have
problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely
if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an
authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.
Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the
crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think
for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t
make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.
Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying
close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are
incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that
their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.
Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy
public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If
there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are
too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and
Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.
Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become
Extroverts.
A world without Introverts would be a world with few
scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians,
writers, and philosophers. That being said, there are still plenty of
techniques an Extrovert can learn in order to interact with Introverts. (Yes, I
reversed these two terms on purpose to show you how biased our society is.)
Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural
temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman,
1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.
It can be terribly destructive for an Introvert to deny
themselves in order to get along in an Extrovert-Dominant World. Like other
minorities, Introverts can end up hating themselves and others because of the
differences. If you think you are an Introvert, I recommend you research the
topic and seek out other Introverts to compare notes. The burden is not
entirely on Introverts to try and become "normal." Extroverts need to
recognize and respect us, and we also need to respect ourselves.
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!!