Confessions of an Introvert

There's a pervasive belief out there that introverts don't like people (or don't like being around them anyway) and it's just plain old not true. Why so prevalent then? I think it's based on the narrow definition that so many of us have heard: if you get your energy from being around others, you're an extrovert; if you need time alone to recharge your batteries, you're an introvert. That's just too limiting for me. I've never been a fan of black and white definitions. There's just too much colour in the world. {Click to Tweet} I am without a doubt an introvert, I absolutely adore time by myself -- to create, to dream, to follow an obsession -- I always come back energized and inspired. But give me a couple of like-minded love bugs who want to talk about real things and dig into some juicy subjects and watch my energy sky rocket. So where does the idea that introverts get drained by being around other people come from? Two words: Small talk. Introverts don't hate people, we hate the energy suck that is small talk. #smalltalksucks {Click to Tweet} Why? Because few things are as draining to an introvert as having to engage in a conversation about nothing. See there's something we desperately want all the effortlessly expansive extroverts of the world to know: small talk gives most of us mild to moderate social anxiety -- like rising heart rate, sweaty palms, tight throat, stomach churning social anxiety -- which of course causes us to try and avoid it as much as humanly ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news