E29. Are You Ready to Feel Proud That You're an Introvert? Here's How to Start Seeing Our Deficit as Our Advantage

My work on this podcast and on my blog is all about examining our implicit assumptions about ourselves and the cultures we live in, and in this episode I tackle a big topic: why I think despite all the introvert advocacy online in the last decade, being an introvert still carries a stigma. I think understanding and acceptance of the character trait of introversion is still nominal at best. I want to change that.

In this episode I talk about a big paradigm shift that occurred recently for me in how I see myself as an introvert. Instead of thinking about introversion as signifying I lack something (i.e. the ability to go out in the wider world and be around people without having my energy drained), I am learning how to see it as an advantage. As an introvert, I have an amazing ability to generate my own energy, and most people can't do that - they have to get their energy by interacting with others. I think it's time we start shifting how we talk about introverts, and in this episode I tell you how I'm already doing that.

I also discuss a special subset of introverts, the intuitive types (INFPs and INFJs), who have their own particular skills. Plus, stories from my childhood as a shy, introverted kid abound! So let me ask you: are you ready to feel proud that you're an introvert? If so, this episode is for you!