What it Means to be an Introvert.

Recharging the battery and minimizing energy loss.

​If I could sum up what it means to be an introvert I would say that I enjoy vast amount of solitude but not all of the time. However, it’s a bit more complex in that I spend a lot of time in my own thoughts and tend to work alone but I also enjoy the company of others from time to time. I don’t consider myself a cold and standoffish type person, at least not to everyone. I’d like to think of myself as a warm and caring person with a lot to say. If the right person comes around and I’m able to have a meaning conversation then all goes well. However, if too many people are around me then I tend to speak less and just observe, speaking up when I feel the time is right. This might make me seem timid and shy but that’s definitely not the case.

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Introverts like myself tend to need to recharge their batteries, especially when around extreme extroverts. To be able to hold your own around these energy sucking vampires, introverts need to really project in order to be heard. Having one around is a challenge and being in a room full of them like a meeting or party can sometimes feel paralyzing. Small talk is not an introverts forte. We prefer meaningful, level headed discussions.
 
There are times when an introvert like myself can come off as being mistaken for an extrovert. There is certainly a range between extreme introvert and extreme extrovert. I believe I fall somewhere in the middle. I took the Briggs and Myer personality test a few years ago and found out that I’m an INFJ type which is someone with introverted intuition and extraverted feelings. It’s the most rarest of all personality types (only about 1% of the population) so I guess we’re a bit of an enigma. I prefer to spend most of my time in solitude but I’m generally interested in people. Sometimes this makes me come off as an extrovert because I stay engaged asking a lot of questions and listening. I’m generally interested in people, why they act the way they do, their experiences, their motives, their outlook of the world and their opinions. However, when I’m done, I definitely need time alone to recharge. I guess an introvert is just about recharging my battery and when I’m around people it’s all about minimizing the energy I exert.