When I was a teenager, I didn’t get a job until I was 17. My father didn’t understand me as an introvert- or in any other area for that matter, and simplified my complex personality by telling me I was lazy. No I wasn’t. I just couldn’t stand the thought of interacting with so many strangers- co-workers and customers- as the only jobs available for…
It was a Friday afternoon at the clinic I was practicing at. My supervisor stuck his head in my office, and asked me if I had plans for the weekend. I replied I had a hotel room reserved and I was going to go to another city for the weekend. He hesitated and said OK, like that wasn’t the answer he was expecting. In my…
A necessary part of my job is continuing education. Even after earning degrees and being licensed or certified, therapists have to attend professional conferences, trainings, and workshop. Some are an hour long; some are all day, or multi- day events. Some trainings are very high quality. Others I have been to are not worth the time. I have grown to dislike many aspects of the…
Introverts are different. There are certain social situations which make us suffer. I could spend the next 1000 words or so griping and complaining about these situations, which every introvert knows all too well. More productively, I could offer some ways to decrease the pain and dial it down to a tolerable level. 1. Small talk. This is just acutely painful. It is an expected…
Introverts see and experience the world very differently from others, particularly, our polar opposites, extraverts. Thus we interact with the world differently. 1. Introverts are not preoccupied with the latest trends. I only wear classic clothing. Dark Jeans, solid color T shirts, polo shirts, Henley’s, chinos, leather jackets, and solid color button down shirts. I have worn the same type of clothing for my entire…
The stimulating nature of the world around us means that nights in are invaluable to introverts. We value these evenings highly, because they allow us to plug into a “life charger” that energizes us in a way that most scenarios simply can’t. Not sure what to do with all your free time? Read on for a few suggestions. 1. Cook for yourself. Because introverts burn…
Any group that is lesser known to the public is bound to be misunderstood, and introversion is no exception. A great many myths have been attributed to this quieter 1/3 to 1/2 of the population, but many have deeper explanations and roots than one could ever imagine- not unlike introverts themselves. Let’s dive in, and see what lies beneath the assumptions you may have heard…
I was set up on a blind date. I walked into the bar, and immediately saw she was my type physically. She had long chestnut hair, (on her head, not her knuckles) beautiful brown eyes and was in great shape. She was smart, cultured, sophisticated, and well mannered. She looked like she just stepped out of a magazine. So did I if that magazine had…
Being able to speak in front of others to deliver information is a critical business skill. You may be called upon to do this at some point in many different professions, or public speaking may be a regular part of your job, or you may be considering public speaking as an independent business venture. Social phobia vs. Glossophobia vs Introversion Introversion is a personality type,…
At a clinic I worked at, I noticed someone new in the medical records room. I asked if she was new there, and she said yes. I introduced myself, and there was an awkward silence. I waited about 10 seconds and said “it’s customary to state your own name when someone else tells you there’s”. Typical introvert directness. By definition, Introverts are not shy. Shyness…
