Understanding introverts

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“They tend to see extroverts as obnoxious predators out to steal their sweet, sweet energy juices.”

HA.

Very good. 👍
 
Thanks for posting this.

I think, based on this, that I am an extrovert. I really enjoy interacting with people.

I’m usually willing to at least nod and say “hi” to everyone, and then I appraise their reaction and determine whether further interaction with them will be a pleasant experience, or uncomfortable.

However, I don’t feel that I NEED people to gain energy. I feel that I gain energy by being alone, either at home, in the car, at a lunch table, during a walk, practicing the piano and/or organ, and especially in the Adoration Chapel at my parish.

I love being alone. But I also love being with people.

So am I an intro-extro vert? :confused:🙂
 
pensmama87 said:
“They tend to see extroverts as obnoxious predators out to steal their sweet, sweet energy juices.”

HA.

Very good. 👍
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That’s the one that stuck out for me also. I always said that extroverts were like energy vampires out to drain my essence. 😉
 
Cat said:
Thanks for posting this.

I think, based on this, that I am an extrovert. I really enjoy interacting with people.

I’m usually willing to at least nod and say “hi” to everyone, and then I appraise their reaction and determine whether further interaction with them will be a pleasant experience, or uncomfortable.

However, I don’t feel that I NEED people to gain energy. I feel that I gain energy by being alone, either at home, in the car, at a lunch table, during a walk, practicing the piano and/or organ, and especially in the Adoration Chapel at my parish.

I love being alone. But I also love being with people.

So am I an intro-extro vert? :confused:🙂
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Don’t get the idea that introverts don’t like people, we do. We just like them in smaller doses. I will also interact voluntarily with others and engage in conversation (although it’s a struggle to come up with small talk). I really admire extroverts who seem to do that so effortlessly. They can chat endlessly on about anything that crosses their minds. Actually, it takes a lot of the conversational load off me and I can just smile and nod for the most part. Get 2 introverts together and it’s almost painful!

The fact that you get your energy by being alone means you’re an introvert. Although, most (I would even say all) people have a little bit of both.
 
Cat said:
Thanks for posting this.

I think, based on this, that I am an extrovert. I really enjoy interacting with people.

I’m usually willing to at least nod and say “hi” to everyone, and then I appraise their reaction and determine whether further interaction with them will be a pleasant experience, or uncomfortable.

However, I don’t feel that I NEED people to gain energy. I feel that I gain energy by being alone, either at home, in the car, at a lunch table, during a walk, practicing the piano and/or organ, and especially in the Adoration Chapel at my parish.

I love being alone. But I also love being with people.

So am I an intro-extro vert? :confused:🙂
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You might be right in between.

I love the cartoon!

I wonder why interacting with animals usually energizes me, while people-time often drains
me; maybe it’s because animals are so perceptive at recognizing humans’ space bubbles. I love the silent interaction with them.
 
I am an introvert. I might add that excess noise is a problem. It annoys easily and is a drain. So give us a little time for silence.

The cartoon was cute really, and had some good points. I have always been introverted. My sister is an extrovert. Now we live together. Oh…oh.🤷
 
As an introvert, I find that I’d love to have a large hamster ball to walk around in :o

Extroverts are like talkative, hale, Nosferatus who are all waiting to suck us dry.
😛
 
Im some what introverted I suppose, I even have an inny belly button. I feel like extroverts are all Bi-Polar. Psy Vampyres are very real and to be feared by introverts, introverts are actually nothing more than a low energy temperament such as melancholy. They tend to have extremely high intelligents are very artistic, brilliant composers, writers and the like. They need large amounts of energy to achieve this high level of accomplishment, so they are only good in short bursts, and so to conserve energy they will stay away from people to avoid un-necessary conversation or interactions that will use this precious resource. Does that make us weird? Yep, :cool:
 
Beth10 said:
How do intrraverts handle job interviews and keep a job?
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With great trepidation! Working nights helps. Also, working from home. Working in large offices was always draining for me. My favorite job was one I had for many years, all by myself on the swing shift. 🙂
 
Sometimes I feel like I need to put this on a loop and broadcast it:

**Being introverted is not the same thing as shy or socially awkward! **

I’ve had so many people say to me that I “can’t” be introverted. I am a good conversationalist and a very good interviewer. It’s true that I have had social anxiety, but I do exceptionally well in social situations with clear guidelines on how to act. I’m generally regarded as a good friend and excellent listener. I have been successful in restaurant work, as a receptionist, and as a public school teacher, and my employers have been really happy with my work. I raise my children and babysit several others. I have an active social life.

Those things are all external, though. I like to be by myself to “recharge.” I prefer to maintain deep friendships with a few people than have a large network of friends and acquaintances. If I pick a social activity, it’s probably going to be something smaller, with fewer people, than a large gathering. But I can enjoy myself at the other, too.

Introverts can be very successful in work that requires lots of social interaction, even in public life. But we “process” those experiences differently.

Being introverted is not a character flaw. I do think it’s harder for introverted people to get by in cultures that put more value in extroverted characteristics. But it’s not a weakness or bad way to be.
 
The best book on the topic is “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking‎” by Susan Cain. I learned a lot about myself – and the world at large – in reading it.
 
pensmama87 said:
Sometimes I feel like I need to put this on a loop and broadcast it:

**Being introverted is not the same thing as shy or socially awkward! **

I’ve had so many people say to me that I “can’t” be introverted. I am a good conversationalist and a very good interviewer. It’s true that I have had social anxiety, but I do exceptionally well in social situations with clear guidelines on how to act. I’m generally regarded as a good friend and excellent listener. I have been successful in restaurant work, as a receptionist, and as a public school teacher, and my employers have been really happy with my work. I raise my children and babysit several others. I have an active social life.

Those things are all external, though. I like to be by myself to “recharge.” I prefer to maintain deep friendships with a few people than have a large network of friends and acquaintances. If I pick a social activity, it’s probably going to be something smaller, with fewer people, than a large gathering. But I can enjoy myself at the other, too.

Introverts can be very successful in work that requires lots of social interaction, even in public life. But we “process” those experiences differently.

Being introverted is not a character flaw. I do think it’s harder for introverted people to get by in cultures that put more value in extroverted characteristics. But it’s not a weakness or bad way to be.
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Thanks, pensmama87. Your thoughts and experiences reflect my own.

My wife always says I can be the most talkative introvert she knows. I can be very social to the point that many might think I’m extroverted, but I most certainly am introverted. After a lot of social interaction I want to go spend a couple hours reading, or watching TV, or being by myself.
 
Most introverts aren’t actually shy, they just prefer being by themselves.

I’ve been with the same firm for 18 years and have been most fortunate to have had a job that allows me to work very much alone for the last 7 years.

Unfortunately, my time in this solo job is coming to an end and I’ll be working with a group of people again, sometime next year.

I’m not even remotely terrified of this notion, but simply know my sweet spot is working by myself.
 
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