“Contrary to what most people think, an introvert is not simply a person who is shy. In fact, being shy has little to do with being an introvert! Shyness has an element of apprehension, nervousness and anxiety, and while an introvert may also be shy, introversion itself is not shyness. Basically, an introvert is a person who is energized by being alone and whose energy is drained by being around other people.
Introverts are more concerned with the inner world of the mind. They enjoy thinking, exploring their thoughts and feelings. They often avoid social situations because being around people drains their energy. This is true even if they have good social skills. After being with people for any length of time, such as at a party, they need time alone to ‘recharge.'” (Source)
Introversion is something that I’ve always kind of resented. Growing up, I was pretty quiet, had trouble making friends, didn’t feel that comfortable with social situations, and got nervous when I had to speak up. In fact, I remember when I was younger, I was terrified of having to say “here” when the teacher called my name, in case I said it wrong. I also get really worried thinking about conversations I’ve had, or presentations I’ve done, that I feel I’ve made mistakes, however tiny or insignificant they may seem to others. These characteristics, along with people constantly telling me “Why can’t you be more social?” or “You should really speak up more often” led me to believe for years, that I was antisocial, that I was weird, that I just didn’t fit in.
I always just felt like I was different. That I was some kind of freak because society liked people who were outgoing and friendly, and I didn’t fit that mold. And for the most part, I just felt really alone.
It wasn’t until a few months ago that I started thinking “Hey, maybe I’m not an outcast. Maybe this is actually just part of my personality.” In fact, did you know that in 2011, 50.7 % of US population was classified as introverted? It’s definitely a lot more common than I thought, and it was really comforting to know that it wasn’t just me.
Introversion doesn’t make you ‘weird’ or ‘different’. Actually, many influential people were and are introverts, like J.K. Rowling, Bill Gates, Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Emma Watson, Mahatma Ghandi, and Rosa Parks, for example. (Source). Introversion is simply a part of your personality, and that doesn’t make you more creative, or intelligent, or less social or outgoing than anyone else.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if social situations drain my energy, or if I prefer sitting in my room writing rather than going out with friends, because that’s just who I am. And that’s okay. Introversion is okay.
I relate to your post so much!! I’m an introvert as well, and that’s okay. It shouldn’t be something anyone has to change about themselves.