Introvert Pride

If I asked what the most precious asset we have in life is, what would you say? Money? No, we can always recoup that. Love? We can find it in different people and places. Health? While important, a person can reverse a decline if they act soon enough -- whether by losing weight, going to the doctor more often, and so on. So what is the most precious resource we have, you ask? It's none other than time, and introverts are cognizant of it. Sure, you can find ways to better organize your time so that there's more of it to go around -- whether for friends, hobbies, or sheer relaxation.  Perhaps it entails taking a less demanding job, moving closer to work to shave time off your commute, or using services like Uber Eats and Instacart to have food delivered. It's about doing little things to tweak your daily routine so that less time is spent on minutiae.  But here's the thing: No matter what you do tomorrow, today isn't coming back -- ever. The time you're spending r...

If you ask any introvert, there's a good chance he or she has an insatiable appetite for knowledge.  In fact, introverts tend to: 1. Have at least one bookshelf at home. Depending on the person's tastes, the genres may be wide-ranging or highly specialized. In my case, I'm passionate about two subjects in particular (history and psychology), but I know many an introvert who swears by fiction only. Indeed, when it comes to reading, introverts are ravenous bibliophiles. 2. Devour documentaries and all other manner of educational content.  Whether it's a documentary on the Civil War or a biographical film on George Washington and the founding of the United States, we're always game for intellectually stimulating content. While some of my friends sing the praises of shows like Game of Thrones, you'll catch me waxing lyrical about the latest Ken Burns documentary series on PBS. (Sidenote: It examined the life of writer Ernest Hemingway.) 3. Feel at home at libraries,...

You may recall the Me Too protests that have swept across the globe over the last few years, with hundreds (if not thousands) marching in support of victims of sexual assault and harassment.  What I often wonder is if introverts the world over will one day organize similar protests to bring awareness to their being marginalized in  society.  Surely, it's not in our nature to draw attention to ourselves in this fashion. Large crowds? Fiery speeches? Exposure on TV and social media? Sounds like an entrovert's dream.  But when it concerns a cause about which introverts are avidly passionate, we do have what it takes to come out of our shells and demand to be heard.  Introverts can, in some ways, sympathize with those the Me Too movement is attempting to give a voice to.  In fact, abuse comes in many forms, and many introverts have been subjected to harsh criticism -- if not flat-out bullying -- just for keeping to themselves and showing reluctance to participa...

Introverts are, by their very nature, highly pensive. This, as introverts know all too well, can be a double-edged sword. Living in our thoughts can be a great thing if all is going great in our lives, but if we find ourselves harping on unfavorable past or future events, it can do a number on our psyche.  In this post, I'd like to focus on one particular way introverts can wield their introspective nature for the betterment of their and others' lives. Truthfully, this tip can apply to and bear fruit for just about anyone -- not just introverts. But since introverts have such active minds, they should have an easier time getting "in the zone" than those who don't exactly call themselves deep thinkers.  Gratitude had been proven to boost happiness in those who practice it regularly. Those who take a few minutes out of their busy day to notice and reflect on the things and people they're thankful for experience more positive emotions. In fact, studies show that ...

Growing up, I knew something about me was different. These are the kinds of questions that ran through my mind almost interminably: Why am I not gregarious like my peers? Why don't I seem to get as worked up about stuff? Why don't I enjoy drawing attention to myself like my friends do? Why do others give me such a hard time for being quiet and keeping to myself? If you're an introvert, I'm sure you can relate. Chances are it wasn't until you reached your teens or young adulthood (perhaps even later, as did I) that you discovered there wasn't anything wrong with you.  Society had simply conditioned you and me to believe there was because it is extroverts -- the loud, chatty folks who yearn for the spotlight -- who seem in the majority, and they harbor a healthy distrust of mild-mannered, self-contained individuals.  Take job ads you see online or in the paper. How many times have seen keywords/phrases like these peppered in said listings: Self-starter Quick on yo...

Introverts find the everyday grind to be monotonous for one reason: We guard our time fiercely and loathe seeing it wasted, whether in traffic jams, long lines at the grocery store, or mindless chitchat.  Who'd know better about the value of time than the very people who spend so much time contemplating life? Unless we make an active effort to enrich our lives with things that transcend the day-to-day humdrum, we can find ourselves rather bored and glum. Here's the good news: With their exceptionally active minds, introverts have no trouble finding ways to preoccupy themselves.  For starters, many of us are perpetual daydreamers who often get lost in our thoughts. If you happen to see an introvert zoning out, it might be because he or she is ruminating over: - a new idea for a book they're writing - the next destination on their travel list - the motives of a person in their life - the cosmos, philosophy, or some other profound subject But sometimes we need a tad of inspira...

Great news: You've arrived at the newly launched home for introverts on the web -- at the start of a new year, no less! My name is Jeff. I'm a writer by trade, and I've been an introvert my entire life. That's right. Like many of you fellow introverts , I remember questioning as far back as grade school whether something was wrong with me in that I wasn't as talkative, sociable, or energetic as my peers. And the fact many of them made fun of me for my quiet, low-key demeanor certainly didn't aid my cause. But as I grew older and learned more about introversion , I came to realize I wasn't weird, antisocial, or deserving of any other labels foisted upon me. I was just different in my internal wiring.  Introspective and quiet? Check. A tendency to think through what I'm going to say before opening my mouth? Yep. A need for solitude in order to recharge my batteries following heavy social interaction? Absolutely. A deep interest in solitary pursuits, part...