Remember asking an introvert friend “Why so serious? Is everything alright?”

How well do we understand Introversion?

Introversion can be defined as a personality trait wherein people are inclined inwards naturally. They tend to focus more on their inner feelings and thoughts rather than outer stimulations. Introverts lose energy by indulging in external activities and gain energy from being alone. While being reserved comes naturally to them, it is genrally assumed that they are cold and unwelcoming.  However, degree of introversion varies from person to person.

What we generally assume/perceive about introverts and what it actually means:

• Over-confident-
  Introspection is an integral part of being an introvert. They are assumed to be over confident as they are quite objective, precise and clear about their views.
• Anti-social-
  Social interactions can be psychologically draining for some people and hence you’ll find that Introverts may have a broad spectrum of social appetite. They may range from not wanting to be social at all to being as social as an extrovert. At times they might just avoid meeting people and prefer being around people to whom they are close.
• Shy-
  Introversion and shyness are often used interchangeably. Both of these personalities avoid social situations but they do so for entirely different reasons. Shy people avoid because they fear meeting unfamiliar people whereas introverts do so because they simply do not like to be around a lot of people as it drains their energy.
• Victim-
  “Why so serious? Are you alright?” we end up asking such questions to an introvert assuming that something must have gone wrong. Whereas in reality they are just being a keen observer and may not feel the need to engage.
• Loner-
  Solitude is generally mistaken as loneliness. Introverts crave for some alone time to restore the same way extroverts crave for company. Introverts often feel a need to “recharge” by spending a period of time alone.
• Rude-
  Introverts may often come off as rude when they leave a party early, decline an invitation to be alone or avoid small talks with people. In reality, they would hardly intend to hurt someone like rude people do.

Across the spectrum of introversion and extroversion, according to Carl Jung, no individual is completely introvert or extrovert. It is a mixture of both. However, their basic personality remains the same. Introverts may choose to exhibit few traits of an extrovert when required as today’s world demand outgoing people.

Amazing fact about introverts:

Introverts are:

• Knowledgeable-
  Introverts are at times perceived as bookworms. According to researches, they are more intellectual than extroverts and ambiverts as they are designed to think and process information more analytically.
• Creative-
  Studies have shown that spending time alone makes an introvert more creative overall as introspection comes naturally to them. They tend to get lost in their imaginations and never cease to come up with ideas out of the box.
• Fewer but truer friends-
  Introverts are very selective when it comes to making friends. They choose their friends wisely and prefer spending time with those few while avoiding the lots. Hence, they are good at maintaining long-term and meaningful relationships.
• In touch with themselves-
  Introverts turn inward when they need to recharge. They get more self-aware as they know exactly how they feel and think.
• Achievers-
  Introverts don’t care about aiming small or big. They are committed to their goals as they tend to be driven, disciplined and capable of great focus.

Introverts have been responsible for some of the greatest achievements in history. One of the most recognized physicists Albert Einstein quoted “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life is stimulates the creative mind.”