I am an introvert.
Four simple words. One simple fact.
But one that’s exceedingly difficult for me to share with the world.
Why does the prospect of explaining my personality to a room of 60 people — as I did recently — feel like a special kind of torture? Why is conveying who I am — and how I am — so gut-wrenching?
The answer cuts to the core of what introversion is.
You see, introverts must navigate an alternate reality, one that runs counter to the social norms that define our society. In a world where we’re expected to connect with one another through sharing, we introverts tend to keep our cards close to the vest.
Our guardedness is not a symptom of skepticism. It’s more a reflection of the manner in which think.
For the mind of an introvert is hardly ever at rest. It’s constantly cranking out permutations and observations related to make sense of the world. This process plants the seeds for the innovations so many introverts create, but it also requires heavy internalization and intense solitude.
Yes, there’s a storm brewing in the mind of an introvert. But no one else can hear the thunder.
Introversion directly contradicts the key tenet of our culture, which demands that we collectively experience the noise. It’s a key reason why introverts are labeled with such dismissive terms as shy, quiet or withdrawn.
These descriptions are all wrong.
Take myself as an example. I enjoy having some time to myself. I find inspiration in silence. And I definitely have my shy moments.
But these attributes don’t define my life. The situation I’m in does.
Put me in a room full of strangers and I’ll freeze. But surround me with people I know and I’ll work the room.
The challenge of that duality is a plight the introvert must face. For while we thrive in the company of those we trust and understand, we find it difficult to build upon that base. Yet, the action of building a network is critical for success.
Overcoming this hurdle is not impossible. But it is challenging, exhausting and extremely unsettling. What seemingly comes easy to extroverts takes all an introvert has to give, and then some.
Let’s close that gap.
Let’s resolve collectively to better understand the nuances of introversion. Let’s accept these differences and build upon the common ground of empathy.
And let’s recognize that introverts must communicate their plight for others to understand it.
This is precisely why I am admitting my introversion with you today.
For once we view introversion is more than just a dismissive term, we become that much more dynamic. Once we celebrate our similarities and our differences, we become that much more powerful. And once we find common understanding, we become that much more successful.
This is the world I hope to build on and contribute to. But it’s on all of us to make that world possible. And that process starts right here, through acceptance and connection.
I am an introvert. Take me as I am.