“You’re not an introvert! If I had to describe you that would be the last thing I’d pick.”
This was part of an actual conversation between me and a friend recently.
“What?! Really?” was my reply. Mind blown.
My entire life I’ve known I am an introvert and just assumed that I seemed like one. (Not that it would be a bad thing.) I thought it was very apparent to everyone around me that I am an introverted personality.
Two of my friends were present during the conversation I mentioned and both were in total agreement that they would definitely not describe me as an introvert. I was completely baffled. We then mildly debated what it means to be an introvert and decided that there must be some sort of scale to measure your level of introvert-ism.
Are you Introverted or Extroverted?
Here’s a questionnaire that measures how introverted or extroverted we are based on our answers.
Here’s my results:
You are 32% Extroverted and 68% Introverted, you are an Introvert!
Just as I thought, I am predominately an introvert. Then after digging some more, I came across the term ambivert which is someone who has traits of both an introvert and extrovert. Although I do have extroverted traits in certain situations I am still predominantly an introvert because I neeeed quiet and solitude to recharge.
Introverts HATE small talk.
Small talk makes me crazy. Every time I participate in the “Hey, how are you?” “Good, you?” exchange my thoughts immediately go to “like either of us gives a fuck anyway and if you really do want to get into the actual answers with honesty it would be far too much and awkward for someone that I’m only exchanging a short sentence greeting with.
So just for funsies I made my own scale of introvertism vs. extrovertism (from my personal introverted perspective)
Just because I’m an introvert doesn’t make me rude. That’s just my sparkling sense of humour that has nothing to do with being an introvert.
So now for realsies here’s a more serious and boring scale from a website I think is kick-ass (lonewolf.com)
Understanding our personality types can help us in all areas of our lives. We can specifically learn about what will help us grow and love our own types and how to use them beneficially in our lives; careers, relationships, social interactions, self-perception. I used to feel bad about being an introvert and for years thought I was shy, meek and no fun. Now that I’ve embraced it I’m proud, outspoken, confident and tons of fun (ha!)
Embrace being an Introvert
Being an introvert can be hard on the brain, I mean, sometimes I wish my own internal dialogue would shut the hell up. Always pondering, analyzing, creating, wondering, perceiving…the list is endless and often tiresome.
I’ve learned to quiet my mind when I feel like this by taking time for my hobbies; painting, crystal grids, shoving my face in my dogs fur and starting to learn to meditate. What do you do to quiet your mind?
Introverts live in two worlds: We visit the world of people, but solitude and the inner world will always be our home.”
― Jenn Granneman, The Secret Lives of Introverts: Inside Our Hidden World
