Myths about Introvertedness

Sometimes, I really need to contemplate.
Contemplate what?
Oh, life, events, everything.


Self-analysis is a healthy thing, I do think.


The way I get my self-analysis in is via running. I havent run in what feels like ages, but today, I knew I had to run.


I am so glad that I did.
For one, I was able to absorb the beauty of my surroundings. Even in just running in my neighborhood, I saw some lovely things. 


For example, I saw a massive owl swoop in front of my path. He was gorgeous. He then proceeded to "hide" in a tree and stare down at me questioningly.
We held eye contact for a few minutes. I tried to get a picture, but he was sneaky and blended in well with his surroundings.


I had a couple of deer cross my path, and they too then stopped and stared back at me. I thought they were starting to come back towards me, (or maybe they were stopping to see if I wanted to run with them, haha) but a car came and they bounded off.


The rain fell through the trees.


A breeze blew.


It was lovely.


I was able to think without distractions. I was able to come to a conclusion about myself:
 I am introverted yet I am outgoing.


One friend told me that there is no way I'm an introvert, what with the way I blog. 

But you must understand, I'm comfortable with typing into this little box. It's a different kind of outgoingness that doesn't necessarily mean extrovertedness.

Usually when people hear the word "introvert", a mental image of a super-smart shy bookish person comes to mind. Or a computer nerd. Or maybe you think about the person who excludes themselves. 


Buuuuut, that's not what an introvert is. I thought this guy's top ten myths was an interesting take on introverts. I mostly agree with what he says: 

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. If someone talks about a subject that peaks my interest, watch out!)

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. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite. (I think politeness is STILL important...)

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. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting. (I don't really agree with this...honesty is best, but niceness is good. And fitting in is exhausting)

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. 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. 

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. (Umm, this is so true of me)

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. (this might explain why I'm never bored...)

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. (I looove soaking up nature. And recharging in a quiet place is crucial. I love my alone time. BUT I like doing "daring" things that pump my adrenaline.)

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. (Uhh, yeah, of course introvert=good IQ. Juuuuuust kidding.)