There Is Nothing Wrong with Being an Introvert

For the longest time, I felt something was wrong with me for being an introvert. While most kids my age loved noisy parties and socializing, I preferred quiet one-on-one conversations and the company of books. In tenth grade, when an unimaginative bully called me "boring," I took her jibe to heart. It took me a couple of years to realize she was dead wrong. I am not boring; I am an introvert. And there is nothing wrong with being an introvert. 

Introversion Is a Personality Type, Not a Choice

According to SimplyPsychology, 

"Introverts and extroverts are two contrasting personality types, introduced in 1910 by Carl Gustav Jung, existing as part of a continuum with each personality type at separate ends of the scale. Introverts prefer solitude and find energy in alone time, while extroverts thrive on social interaction and seek external stimulation."¹

As the above definition indicates, introverts and extroverts are polar opposites. While introverts feel relaxed in small social settings, extroverts prefer big groups of people. While introverts recharge by spending time alone, extroverts feel lonely and drained when they are by themselves. I know this because I am an introvert who knows a couple of extroverts, and it never fails to surprise me how much we differ.

Introversion is a personality type, and personality is determined by one's genetics and their environment. Before I turned 11, I was an extroverted child. I loved being around people and always needed to be in the spotlight. Then, anxiety and bullying turned me into an introvert. When depression entered my life at 13, the transformation became permanent. And today, at 33, I remain an introvert. Are there days when I want to change into an extrovert? Yes, there are. The world is built for extroverts, after all. But these days are few and far between. For the most part, I have accepted who I am -- and so should you. Watch the video below to learn how I accepted myself for being an introvert.

Being an Introvert Is Normal, and You Shouldn't Hide It  

Society perpetuates extroverts as the ideal personality type, which is why we introverts often feel like misfits. But think about it: the world needs listeners/introverts as much as it needs speakers/extroverts. Plus, nobody should have to pretend to be someone they are not. If you are an introvert, please do not put on the mask of an extrovert to fit in. I have never done this myself, but I have read horror stories of introverts who had to deal with fatigue, anxiety, mood swings, loneliness, and even depression -- all because they spent years pretending to be extroverts. Instead of trying to pass as an extrovert, why not focus on your strengths being an introvert? Like I said, there is nothing wrong with being an introvert. Own it. 

Source

1. MSc, O. G. (2023). Introvert vs. Extrovert Personality: Signs, Theories, & Differences. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/introvert-extrovert.html