Cup of Inspiration

Today, March 18^th, kicks off the third full week of March, during which time we celebrate National Introverts Week.

There is a lot of misunderstanding about introverts. Some think introverts hate being around other people. Some may think introverts could never perform in certain roles, such as public speaking. They may be viewed as shy people who just cower away from others. These viewpoints are a gross misunderstanding of introverts.

Introverts are simply people who get recharged when away from others. After a long stressful day, an introvert may prefer going home to a quiet evening rather than going out with friends. An introvert will enjoy going out with coworkers for lunch on occasion but may prefer spending their lunch hour alone most days while they rest up for a busy afternoon.

It is also important to remember that not all introverts are the same. Not all introverts desire hiding away in their apartment on a Friday night away from everyone. Introverts are like all other groups, each individual handles stress in their own way. Each individual approaches new people their own way. There is no one size fits all approach for interacting with introverts.

This week, we just recognize that there are those of us who prefer a little more alone time than others. If a coworker turns you down for lunch after a busy morning, do not take it as an insult. If a friend turns down an invitation to go out to a movie after a long work week, do not assume something is wrong. They may just need a chance to collect themselves after working to a point of exhaustion.

If you are an introvert, know there is nothing wrong with you because you do not like being the center of attention. There is nothing wrong with you because you do not enjoy going out after work on a regular basis. You can still be a great public speaker, a salesperson, or any other role that is more public facing, if you desire.

We are all different. There is nothing wrong with being an extravert, and there is nothing wrong with being an introvert. You may prefer to enjoy your morning coffee with a group of friends, ready to take on the challenges of the day. You may prefer to savor that cup alone as you prepare to conquer that next project. Either way, embrace what works for you.