Introvert Pride

From an early age, I knew there was something about me -- my personality, my temperament -- that differentiated me from my peers. I just didn't know what it was. I sensed I was more retiring, less hungry for attention, and more at ease in solitude than most people.  Now that I'm an adult and comfortable in my introversion, I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm proud of my uniqueness, and every introvert on this page ought to be as well.  That isn't to say the road to self-awareness has been an easy one.  Whether at school or work, I've lost count of the number of people over the years who've either questioned or criticized my quiet, unassuming disposition.  In the workplace, supervisors and co-workers have pulled no punches with their biting sarcasm, saying things like "Hey, keep it down over here. You're too loud!" For whatever reason, it makes some folks uneasy when there's someone at work who keeps to themselves. They might suspect they...

It isn't easy for introverts to thrive in a world that is constantly trying to get them to change --to become more outgoing, to turn more extroverted.  Take it from me, an introvert who has heard the "you're too quiet line" more times than I can count. Lucky for us, there are others who understand our plight because they've been there themselves.  In order to thrive, we introverts should aim to be around people who accept us for who they are.  But we have to accept ourselves first! The worst thing we can do is cave in to pressure to shed our introversion just to fit in with the crowd. It is tantamount to living a lie, one that is sure to deliver no shortage of discontent over the course of our lives. Now, it's impossible to rid ourselves of all those who take exception to our introverted ways.  Your boss may get on your case for not being outspoken enough, but that doesn't mean you should resign the next day. Nor should you, in one fell swoop, dump every f...