As an introvert, there are many
misconceptions that people make of me. Every introvert is different, unique,
and as such, what I address here may or may not apply to other introverts out
there.
Every person has within them a safe place,
a cherished space that they go to when the pressures of the world become too
much to handle, or if they just want a break from it all. As an introvert, I go
to such a place more often than my extroverted counterparts. I might even
venture to say that many introverts constantly live in such a place, venturing
to the outside world only when necessity demands it. The amount of time spent
in this place is what distinguishes an extrovert from an introvert, in my
opinion.
Introverts don't like being around large
groups of people for extended periods of time. Such prolonged social
interactions drain us of body and mind. This does not mean that every introvert
hangs out in the corner of the room at social gatherings mind you (although
many of us do). As hard as it may be for some to grasp, there are outgoing
introverts, much like there are shy extroverts. For instance, if the situation
demanded it, I can very easily switch my persona to that of a friendly,
approachable character. Outgoing introverts have excellent social skills, they
interact with strangers easily. However, they need to balance such interactions
with some time to themselves. This is why the myth that introverts are always
awkward around other people, though often true, does not always apply.
Shy extroverts, on the other hand, have an
innate need to be around other people, although interacting with them is a
whole other matter. Shy extroverts simply love being around people. They love
the energy from large gatherings. However, they are too timid to put themselves
out there and interact with strangers. It is no surprise then that they often
get mistaken for introverts. Simply put, whether a person is introverted or
extroverted has little to no bearing on their social skills.
