Calling all introverts ...

"The Sunday Age" - 30 December 2012

It is nice to see that the term 'introvert' is increasingly being used less as a pejorative term and recognised more as an equally valid part of the spectrum of 'being human'. It was also good to see in this article a recognition that people are allowed to have different and equally valid learning styles rather than the 'one size fits all' extrovert model.

Someone who was close to me at the time once said (intended as a meaningful insult) that I was "the most introverted person" he had "ever met", and there have been plenty of other occasions where a cautious, thoughtful and reflective approach to learning and new people and situations has been regarded as defective and demonstrative of a form of mental deficiency. This is never good for the self-confidence and self-belief of an introvert and demonstrates the difficulty of making a good first impression and winning friends and influencing people in a world where extroversion is prized.

As mentioned in this article, I am familiar with the concept of 'stepping outside yourself' to deliver what the world requires, and equally familiar with the necessity of having 'quiet time' to recharge and rejuvenate. I always find it wryly amusing how some people abhor spending time alone, whereas to me a shot of time 'home alone' can be just blissful, and I do my best thinking when I can quietly focus on the task at hand.

Considering that (according to a 'Psychology Today' article – “Revenge of the Introvert” http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201008/revenge-the-introvert) introverts are the quiet 50% of the population, credible sources such as this that encourage introverts to be proud of who they are rather than being apologetic are to be encouraged!