At my hiking group, it was quite a shock when a fellow hiker told me that I’m such an extrovert. Excuse me? I’m definitely an introvert. Always was, always am, and always will be. But her comment did get me thinking: Can an introvert become an extrovert? We all have to adapt to circumstances, and … Read more
Introversion is a personality type not everyone understands quite well. For that reason, introverts have been unfairly stereotyped as odd and socially avoidant. The negative labels are even worse for an individual regarded as an “extreme introvert.” I’m sure you have a good idea of what I mean if you think you’re one and have … Read more
Whether you’re an introvert, extravert, or somewhere in between, the way you go about your daily activities depends on a finite amount of mental and physical energy. However, when it comes to spending and recharging their batteries, introverts and extroverts function quite differently. Take social interactions, for example. While extroverts thrive around other people, introverts … Read more
My good friend Eden is a huge anime fan, so much so that she can’t pick a favorite show or character. On one of our coffee dates, she blurted out that she had finally signed up for Comic-Con (a world-famous comic convention), and was determined to dress in her best cosplay (dress up as a … Read more
How often, when someone asks for your opinion, have you panicked, thinking they won’t like it? Or when you held a presentation at work, and you thought others would realize that you’re not competent enough for your job title. It happened to me many times, and in my journey, I’ve learned that many others are … Read more
Are you a team player or an independent worker? If you have worked for a company before, you know that this is a very typical question asked by most hiring managers. And admit it—sometimes, you are afraid of telling the truth that you’d rather work alone than spend time with other people in your office. … Read more
What does being an introvert truly mean? Or maybe a better question is, how does one understand and embrace his introverted personality? Being an introvert does not necessarily mean you hate people. Sometimes, it just means you prefer peace and solitude over noise and socializing—and there is nothing wrong with that! But if you ever … Read more
All the extroverts make it seem so easy to make and have friends. I’m sure you, my fellow introvert, have noticed. An extrovert seems to be like a lighted candle, and all the moths (aka many friends) are just attracted to the candle and dance and flutter about. And then there’s you. It seems impossible … Read more
I bet you never thought you’d be combing the internet for an explanation about shy vs introvert, have you? I lean more toward the introverted side on the introvert-extrovert scale. I’m also shy, but only in certain rare situations. That might indicate shyness isn’t an embedded or primary personality trait–just a sign of an introvert. In short, … Read more
I have a dear friend named Gemma, and over the years, I have gotten to know her pretty well (or at least I’d like to think so). Some days she is enthusiastic, driven, and lives life to the fullest. On other days she doesn’t answer texts and cancels our planned coffee dates. Sometimes I worry … Read more