What Is an Introvert?
There are countless different types of people in the world. Despite so many different types of character, we are still able to separate a lot of people into two distinct groups; those who are outgoing, and those who are more reserved. There are various reasons why a person might fall into the reserved category, and being an introvert is one of them.
An introvert is simply somebody that prefers to live their life in a low-key manner. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they have mental health problems or other flaws, it is simply a particular type of personality. There are also some positives to being an introvert. Here is more information on what an introvert is and some of the positives and negatives.
1. It’s Not Being Shy
It is a fairly common misconception that introverts are simply people that are shy, but this is not necessarily the case. People that are shy tend to keep out of the way because they feel uncomfortable or apprehensive when with other people. Introverts, however, tend to keep out of the way simply because they like it that way. That is not to say that introverts cannot be shy, many are, but it doesn’t have to be the case. Indeed, many introverts are actually quite confident in other peoples’ company, but they tend to stay low-key purely as a matter of preference.
2. Enjoy Being Alone
As already mentioned, introverts tend to prefer being alone. Many will look forward to being able to spend some time just reading a book or maybe taking a leisurely stroll without anybody else’s company. For some, it is the ideal way to wind down after a long day at work or after a busy social schedule.
This does not mean to say that introverts never want to be around other people. They have their own social needs just as anybody else. It’s just that an introvert is more likely to enjoy the opportunity to get some time away from other people.
3. Find Socializing Exhausting
When around other people, we often need to be fairly quick-witted and able to keep up with all that is going on. This means that our mind is often active, and this can have quite an impact on our energy levels. For introverts, it can be exhausting, whereas extroverts seem to gain energy from being around others.
Introverts tend to find it more tiring to be around new people that they don’t know. It is a lot easier for them to be around established friends and family who they know well. If you find parties and similar to be draining, it could well be that you are an introvert.
4. Easily Distracted around Others
When you are around other people, there is often quite a lot going on. Some people will thrive on this but, for other people, it can be quite a distraction. If you are an introvert, you might find it difficult to maintain your focus when you are in a busy environment. Introverts tend to be able to focus much better when they are alone.
This is partly the reason why they would want to be alone in the first place. It is during the quiet times that introverts are able to gather their thoughts and think things through properly, something they may struggle with when other people are around.
5. Quiet
Introverts tend to be fairly quiet people. While other people are chatting away, the introvert is saying little and drawing little attention to themselves. As mentioned before, some people will mistake this for them being timid people, but this is not usually the case.
An introvert is simply likely to reserve speaking for when they feel they have something relevant to say. It doesn’t mean that they are not listening and it doesn’t mean they have nothing to contribute, rather they prefer to wait until they think they have something of value to contribute. Basically, an introvert is likely to opt for quality over quantity when it comes to holding discussions.
6. Difficult to Get to Know
When you first meet someone, you can sometimes feel as though you have known them for years. This is because some people are really good at letting you know all about themselves, telling you about the things they like and the things that they don’t like. This is not a characteristic that introverts are likely to possess.
Some people might think that an introvert has something to hide just because they are keeping themselves to themselves. It is more likely to be that they are more reserved and prefer not to open up too much. Bear in mind also that just because somebody appears open, it does not necessarily mean that they are more trustworthy.
7. Learning by Observation
When it comes to learning new things, a lot of people are happy to go right ahead and start learning from their mistakes. This can be a very effective way of learning new things because it teaches people how not to do things, thus helping them to learn how it should be done.
An introvert, however, is likely to take a far more measured approach. They are likely to prefer observing as much as they can before trying to do things, and are also likely to prefer to try things out in privacy. This can be just as effective as the trial and error method of learning.
8. Drawn to Independent Activities
A lot of activities involve working closely with other people. While this is fine for some, it is not ideal for others. When it comes to introverts, they are more likely to be attracted to activities that allow them to work independently. When it comes to careers, for example, an introvert might be attracted to jobs that will allow them to work at home, such as freelancing and working from home jobs.
If it is sports, they might prefer cycling or running that they can do alone rather than team sports such as football or basketball. An introvert is also more likely to excel in such roles, whereas extroverts might struggle.
9. Self-Aware
One observation that is often made of introverts is that it can be difficult to get to know them, and it is generally a fair comment to make. What a lot of people don’t realize however is that introverts do tend to know themselves better than other types of people. An introvert is more likely to reflect inwardly.
They are more likely to spend time thinking about past events, why they happened, and what that means about what type of person they are. Introverts will often tend to be able to recognize their strengths and their flaws. In many cases, they will come to peace with their flaws, helping to make them more comfortable about themselves overall.
10. Close Circle of Friends
There is a common misconception that introverts are loners that have no friends, but this is rarely the case. It is true that introverts will have fewer friends than extroverts, but they will still have a group of friends even if it is a smaller group, and this is often just how they like it. For introverts, friendship is often a matter of quality over quantity.
They may have fewer friends than other people, but those friendships tend to be quite deep. Whereas an extrovert may well have a lot of “friends” in their social circle, a lot of those relationships are likely to be quite superficial.
