“Why do you always like sitting by yourself? Don’t you like people?” these are the two common questions asked to introverts, who are a minority of 25% of the population.
This means just one out of every three people is an introvert. Due to this, the ideal student, colleague, son/Daughter is expected to be an extrovert. And if an introvert, he/she is made to feel it’s abnormal and is often pressurized to get out more. This of course weighs down on us introverts, and becomes a constant struggle. We all wish we too could be the life of the party. We are amazed at how extroverts can easily garner a dozen of friends per second at a social gathering yet we could only make one over the whole ten hour gathering. How these people have a mojo for small chitchat and seem to be magnets.
However, in as much as there is a lot to being an introvert, there is so much that people get twisted. It’s high time for the remaining 75% to stop assuming things they have no clue about. Here is a list of misconceptions about introverts:
They are shy
Shyness refers to the fear of social judgment, and this is way beyond what introverts are all about. What we need is reason to interact, not that we are afraid. Introverts don’t talk just for the sake of interacting. Just a heads up, if you want to talk to an introvert, just do it. Don’t worry about being polite.
They always want to be alone
Introverts crave an authentic, sincere conversation with ONE PERSON at a time. They like to have puzzles to solve and can get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with.
Don’t like people
They intensely value the few friends they can count on one hand. You’ve most probably found a loyal ally all your life if you happen to count at least one introvert as a friend. Once you’ve earned their respect as a person of standard, you’re in.
Introverts can fix themselves and become extroverts
This is absolutely false. In as much as either personalities can handle the other’s environment, we all have our different areas of stimulation. Introverts need some time off the crazy, rowdy extrovert hype to some peaceful quite to recharge. Same way extroverts need their own loud areas of stimulation to recharge.
Don’t like to talk
Get an introvert to talk about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days. All they crave is meaning. So petty party chitchat feels like sandpaper to their psyche. If there is too much talking and noise, they shut down.
They are aloof nerds
It’s just that introverts are more stimulated by their inner world. They primarily look inward, paying close attention to their own emotions and thoughts. Not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them.
Don’t like to go out in public
We don’t need that long to get the groove of a social gathering. Thirty minutes of the event are just enough for us to go back home, to recharge and process it all. Often do introverts take a break in parties to go outside for some five minutes of fresh air. This is usually to recharge from the whole loud and hyped environment that wears them out and drains their energy.
Are weird
They are often individualists, don’t follow the crowd. They challenge the norm. They do not make decisions based on what’s popular or trendy. They’d rather be valued for their novel ways of living.
Don’t know how to relax and have fun
I wonder who made the constitution that contains rules of “having fun”. That it should be like this and not like that. Well introverts do not necessarily need busy places to have the time of their lives. Staying home watching movies, reading a novel or just a serene environment that enables them to connect with their inner selves can be a lot of fun to an introvert.
Are rude
This comes about with them just wanting everyone to be real and honest, which is unfortunately not so acceptable in most settings. So they feel a lot of pressure to fit in.
And just a heads up, we don’t really care about your birthday, neither will we throw tantrums if you forget ours. In the meantime, remember to celebrate with us every 2nd of January, World Introverts Day. Which again we wouldn’t really care if you don’t remember. The party will however go on in the serenity of a quiet movie night or novel reading. We might appear a little crazy, awkward and lonely but who doesn’t at times?