In some situations, I may be referred to as "relaxed" or "chill". In other situations, my introverted characteristics are seen as positive. I have been told plenty of times that I am "easygoing", "wise beyond my years", and give off an aura of maturity. In fact, there are plenty of positive traits tied to introversion.
As brilliantly stated by Michaela, there are (at least) 10 advantages of being an introvert. Those include: choosing words carefully to avoid excess or misinterpretation, having imagination, accessing creative ideas through solitude, above-average ability to focus, processing greater amounts of information in any given situation, attentively listening, thinking before acting (obvious benefits), being observant, and having a peaceful nature.I, for one, can relate to and resemble most to all of these advantages. For example, I have acute, Superman-quality hearing; I can hear the tiniest of sounds like a fly on the opposite side of the room or a train that runs nowhere near my house. This helps greatly when it comes to playing music well. Concentrating also comes pretty naturally to me as well; it may take something as loud as a crash to focus my attention elsewhere in certain cases. This helps with last minute studying and understanding new, complex subjects. I am also very independent; I can do most anything on my own without the need for another person by my side holding my hand (this may also be an effect of being an only child). This trait came in very handy when I started college classes two years before my peers join me. Additionally, flexibility is something I've managed without any effort. Although some people mistakenly believe that introverts are rude, judgmental, or standoffish, the opposite is true. We genuinely DO like people - just give us a chance.
In essence, I think it's important to be able to realize the strengths introverts naturally have, even in the midst of the negativity directed towards us by others who don't know us. If you are feeling down about your "undesirable" traits, just remember that there is so much power introverts hold; just in a different way than extroverts. When you are concentrating on being what others think as unfriendly, shy, or lacking social skills, keep in mind that you have the ability to work well with others, are flexible, independent, and can even have many lasting, meaningful, long-term relationships. If you think you are too quiet and people see you as a blank slate, remember that you really have such a creative mind with the ability to think before you speak - making whatever you say, possibly, more meaningful. If you think of a negative, remember the abundance of positives. Susan Cain basically sums it up:
― Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
I really like that you made this personal. I enjoy learning about all of this. I too am an only child and enjoy my time alone though some people joke and call me anti-social. I don't see anything wrong with having alone time and not spending every waking moment with a large group of talkative friends (though I have some buddies like that.) I am very interested to hear about more of your experiences. When have you felt pressured to do more "social" activities? Did you or didn't you? What are your experiences in friends (are they understanding or pushy) and what are some of your longer term friendships been like? What do you try to avoid at all costs?
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy reading your posts, I feel like I can relate to what your saying very much. And I like how you insert your own personal experience. I was always considered the rude, boring girl, just because I wouldn't socialize in bigger groups and at social events. It's nice to know there's other people out there like me!
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