Understanding Introverts: Shedding Light on the Worldview of the Quiet Ones

Introverts are often misunderstood, viewed as aloof, uncaring, or even misanthropic. However, these labels couldn’t be further from the truth. Owing to the fact that introverts do not easily talk about themselves in front of large audiences, I take it to task to share some little known facts about us. Here are some points that can help shed some light on our worldview and dispositions, and also how you might come to understand better our relationship with you.

We <3 Extroverts In general, we find good complementarity with extrovert characters. They keep the momentum going and fill in the gap. Our energies can mix very well. We give extroverts the space to talk and express themselves while extroverts give us the space to be us while they are busy being them. It can be a very harmonious relationship. We Love to Socialize…in Very Small Doses While there is no way you will drag us to a raging party or a crowded bar, we don’t outright abhor social gatherings. Yes, we would be more comfortable with people we are already acquainted with and in small groups, but we also approve of a fair bit of socializing in general. We also recognize its benefits and enjoyment. But, please understand that we need time to recharge after a social event. We Love to Communicate. We Just Hate Small Talk An introvert is a good communicator. We just don’t like petty gossip, small talk, and superficial nonsense. Most of us are good communicators, whether in speech or in writing. We like to discuss and get deep into conversations about all sorts of interesting subjects and topics that catch our fantasy. Our conversations are often more profound and thought-provoking than small talk. Don’t Be Annoyed If We Don’t Call First, Because We Just Won’t Admittedly it is true that we are not quite good at taking initiative in relationships. So, if you are looking to be involved with an introvert, please get over the fact that he or she won’t call you first or start the discussion or perhaps suggest an initiative. It’s not because we don’t care—it’s just the way we flow. We'd be happy to talk and interact with you, but please understand that we need our space and downtime. We Care for Others’ Feelings More Than You Think We have a bit of a stigma for being uncaring and detached. This is not true. Just because we don’t wear our emotions on our sleeves doesn’t mean we don’t care. Quite oppositely, we are more sensitive to what others are feeling because we observe more and participate less than extroverts. Though we might not respond to it openly, we are empathetic. We Are Not Loners, We Just Need Space We might pass on your invitation for a social activity and tell you we are going to spend the night in. The thing is, dear readers, we love our space. It’s a bit sacred. It doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy company, but we also like to spend time in our space. We feel comfortable in our own world and get energized by being alone. We Don’t Like Clubs, Parties or Discos Clearly, these are no-go areas. As an introvert, I sincerely don’t know what bugs us most from these environments. It might be the noise, the chaos, or the fact that they are often frequented by people who have a general carefree attitude towards life. You won’t catch us at such events. We Enjoy Peace and Alone Time I mentioned already that we like to have our space. What some non-introverts fail to understand is how it is that we love to be alone. For some people, being alone or traveling alone comes across as weird or uncomfortable. There is no weirdness in this for introverts because we love our peace and are quite at peace being with just ourselves. We Are Masters at Observing Others In large groups or settings with people we don’t yet know, we take a back seat at first. We take time to observe people before interacting. It’s not a sign of insecurity but more one of precaution or strategy. This has made us extremely skilful at observing people deeply and interpreting their actions and expressions. Give Us Time and We’ll Get to Know Each Other Better Than Average Granted that we are not good at taking initiative and we are quite slow starting up any relationship, given time, we tend to get to know others better than average. This could be because the communication is deeper or because we tend to discard the superficial stuff quite quickly. However, we can be very good loyal friends or partners for life. Closing Words Last but not least, I must add that in view of or despite all the facts mentioned above, we make up an amazing group of people who have a lot to contribute. Introverts tend to be creative and can bring a unique perspective to the table. Please understand that we are not trying to justify or make a point of being introverted. It's just who we are, and we hope you have a better understanding of us now.