I have been writing these “Introvert” articles as a means to empower introverts.
I think it’s fair to say that introverts live in an extroverted world, or at least a world that seems introverted; after all, by nature, you’re more like to encounter an extrovert than an introvert. And for that very reason, the likely-extroverted people who ended up defining and speaking for societal values not only more greatly valued extroversion, but also turned introversion into a dirty word. Introverts were to be synonymous with shyness, reticence, even narcissism
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Yet of course there should pride in being an introvert. Introverts are independent, self-reliant, strong people. Introverts are careful, conscientious, methodical people. Introverts are people who can go it alone and assure you that they can get the job done, no questions asked, no concerns needed. Introverts can go out and do whatever an extrovert can do because introversion is not inherently a hindrance.
Introversion has its positives and its negatives, just like extroversion, just like any other trait we possess.
Introversion should not be thought of as a hindrance, even when an extroverted world calls you to be extroverted. Being introverted by nature does not mean you cannot be extroverted, only that perhaps doing so will take more out of you. This is not reason enough to preclude you from doing whatever it is that you need to do, against an introverted nature or otherwise. When the world calls us to act for the better of the world and for the better for ourselves, we must act.
There must be a balance that is struck. This need for balance is not exclusive to introverts; as much as some introverts may struggle with speaking, some extroverts may struggle with the reflective solitude of writing. While it would be wonderful if we could be called for to act just in the ways we know we will succeed, not only does the world not work like that, but also it would not be good for our own sake. We grow by pushing ourselves to do what we need to do even when we do not want to, especially when it’s our nature telling us we don’t want to.
Think of it this way: we are juvenile by nature. Though juvenility brings about creativity optimism, it also brings about immaturity and naivety. Juvenility cannot be a sole guiding principle as much as it cannot be so quickly discarded. A balance must be struck.
Introverts, to be great people, greater than we already are, we must not be afraid to put ourselves out there. It may feel uncomfortable, it may feel anxiety-inducing, it may feel unnatural, but it will also feel worth-while, fulfilling, a step in the right direction. The only way we fight unfair stereotypes against our nature is to stand up, say who we really are, and to act in accordance.
Case in point, President Obama, prominent introvert, is only where he is today because of his mastery in seemingly the most extroverted activity there is: public speaking.
Still want to call introversion a hinderance?
