What is it really like to be an introvert? Does being an introvert limit you, or does the life of an introvert have some unexpected benefits? Find out in our guide to living life to the fullest for introverts!
What Is an Introvert?
For starters, the definitions for introverts and extroverts were first offered by Carl Jung back in the 1900s. The terms became popular in the 1960s when they started being used in everyday language.
Basically, introverts are famous for being thoughtful, reserved, quiet, shy, and highly sensitive. Extroverts are the exact opposite. They are social butterflies who are outgoing and action-oriented. Sometimes, you don’t need to have those exact traits to fall under the extrovert or introvert category.
Another more detailed definition tackles the way those two personalities deal with energy. Namely, social settings can fill extroverts with energy. Those personality types feed on connections with other people. With introverts, they quickly become drained of energy once they’re in a social setting. Introverts rely on alone time to refuel and replenish their energy levels.
What’s more, introverts can possess the qualities of extroverts. It’s possible to be an introvert even if you are not quiet or reserved. Contrary to popular opinion, not all introverts are loners. They do not hate people, but since they need to get their energy from alone time rather than hanging out in crowds, they can appear to be withdrawn and even strange to some people. So how do you make the most out of your life if you are an introvert? What can you do to better understand yourself as a person?
Confront Yourself
Introspection is one of the things that introverts are extremely good at. Since they enjoy alone time more than extroverts, they are highly prone to self-reflection. If you like being alone and thinking about life more than hanging out with friends, consider yourself an introvert.
The next thing you should do is avoid the stereotypes regarding introverts. Sure, you might be a bit shy or reserved, but that doesn’t mean you are a weirdo and you are destined to be alone. On the contrary, introverts are highly special people. They use their self-reflection and creative thinking to ultimately make the world a better place!
Therefore, you need to accept yourself for who you truly are! However, this is not easy. We live in an extrovert-driven world and introverts often get put to the side. If you try to force yourself to fit in and become part of the crowd, you could see some problems. Namely, your strong introverted mojo could suffer, and you could experience mood failure.
Coping With the Public
Of course, we’re not saying you should avoid social interactions like the plague. Introverts are encouraged to meet people and have an active social life. However, they need to refuel from within. Social events could sometimes act like kryptonite to you if you are not careful. Hence, avoid extending yourself too far. Don’t try to fit in with every single group of people. Also, don’t share your energy with irrelevant people just for the sake of fitting in.
If you want to learn how to live life as an introvert, you need to have a strong understanding of your own energy!
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Plenty of Time to Wind Down and Process
One of the ways to improve your life is to simply focus more of your time on yourself. It varies for each introvert. Most will need to have quality alone time every day. This is essential because it nurtures introspection. It allows you to relax and replenish yourself. If you’ve ever felt exhausted after a trip to the mall, family gatherings, parties, and other social settings, the best thing to do would be to spend more time alone. It will allow you to process and reset yourself mentally.
What’s more, you can use that alone time productively and try not to dwell too long in your comfort zone.
Meaningful Conversations
We’ve said that over-extending yourself could be detrimental. Yet, that doesn’t mean you should lock yourself in your bedroom and never come out. You can go to social gatherings whenever you want and have meaningless small talk with strangers. Just make sure that they are worthy of your time and energy!
On the other hand, introverts are more prone to meaningful and deep conversations with a few friends rather than a wide social circle. If you’ve ever wondered why your friends want to have long and intimate conversations with you, now you have your answer! This is one of the best traits of introverts. If you have the energy, try to engage in more meaningful conversations with others. They’ll allow you to make profound connections and even help people.
Choose Friends Who Understand
At the end of the day, you need people in your life who can understand you. It’s not always easy for people to cope with introverts and understand their behavior. However, it’s likely that introverts will connect with other introverts or even make friends with curious extroverts who want a different and special type of friend. Fortunately, people are highly aware of the introvert and extrovert dynamics nowadays, and they will be able to understand you if you open yourself up and allow them to get to know you.
Summary
Hopefully, our guide has cleared up some misconceptions, and we’ve tried to reveal how you can turn your introverted personality into your biggest advantage! Good luck!
