December 13, 2012

Solitude


A Woman Reading by a Window by Danish painter, Vilhelm Hammershoi


As promised I'm writing today regarding the article I recently read about introverts. I've always know that I am an introvert. I've just never given it much thought until now.

You can read the short article by Sophia Dembling here

I was surprised to find I identify with every single one of the nine "signs" Dembling highlighted. She put words to feelings I thought were unique to me or made me some sort of whacky eccentric — I'd never thought of them as part of being introverted. 

Dembling points out that while extroverts are energized by time with other people, introverts are drained by it. Introverts gain their energy and power through reflection and solitude. Ahhhh, yes.

Our culture, however, is geared toward extroverts. The pressure to enjoy parties, chatter, and lots of interpersonal interaction can lead people to think that an inward orientation is a problem instead of an opportunity. Introverts can often be lead to feel that they're wrong or lacking in some way. I know there have been plenty of times when I felt like I was an anti-social freak because I didn't want to accept a social invitation or felt like I just didn't have the "energy" to "chitchat" with someone. I've even found myself needing extra sleep after socializing. How weird is that?

Since a lot of writers seem to be introverts, I began wondering about bloggers, as a whole.


Then I started wondering a whole lot of things. Here are some of them: 

~ Are a lot of bloggers introverts?

~ Are my friends and family members introverts or extroverts? How will knowing that info about them help me change the way I interact with them?

~ How does an introvert live harmoniously with an extreme extrovert? (yes, my husband is about as extroverted as they come) How do we, as a couple, make sure our social needs/quiet time needs are both met?

~ Do people tend to get progressively more introverted? (I think I am.) Like, will I eventually end up a hermit?

Hmmm . . . I must find out more.


My friend Steve, who's an introvert too, told me about this book: Quiet - The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking. I'm going to read. I also saw another book that sounded good called Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength.

Meanwhile, I'd love for any of you with thoughts to leave me a comment here on the blog or email me. Bring on the insight folks!




16 comments:

  1. Hi Jenny, I hesitate to comment for fear I could take up all of your comment space! :) I will try to control myself. HaHa! This post hit close to home for me. I am undeniably an introvert. I enjoy being who I am in this aspect. I can love myself, entertain myself, educate myself, keep myself company, sooth myself, make myself happy, have confidence, pride and a hundred other emotional values we as humans need without anyone giving them to me. I consider myself an observer more than a participant. I am married to a Mr.Extrovert also. He has never met anyone he wouldn't talk to or visit with. We are on oppisite ends of the social spectrum. Compromise is what makes it work for us. In the past I was thought of as a snob, stuck up, blah blah blah...I just wasn't the social butterfly that everyone else was and so I guess people just decided who they thought I was. That was and is o.k. because I know who I am and don't need the approval of society to just be me. The End. :)
    Thank you for the awesome post. I enjoyed it alot! Happy Holidays To You, Take Care, penny x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for commenting Penny. I've often felt others perceive me as stuck up or snobbish too. I wish I could be okay with that but I struggle with not needing the approval of others to make me feel good about myself. I like how you can just let it go and feel confident in who you are. Maybe reading these books will help me do that as well.

      Again, thanks so much for writing. It feels good to know there are others out there who can relate. Happy Holidays to you too.

      Delete
  2. I agree... a great post Jenny! I am married to Mr. Introvert and I think I am a combination of the two, if that is possible. I guess that means I'm bi-vertable. he he

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think there is definitely a spectrum of introvertism/extrovertism — perhaps you are the best of both worlds :)

      Delete
  3. Although I earned a degree in speech-communications and can speak publicly [if absolutely necessary :)] I am most definitely an introvert who prefers to communicate through writing.
    My husband was more of an extrovert, but when each of us used our giftedness positively we were a good team.
    Steve's book sounds very interesting...I should investigate to find out how I am powerful :)
    Please tell me what you learn, Jenny
    xx from Gracie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for commenting Gracie. I'm interested to know how being introverted makes us "powerful" too. I'll be sure to fill you in when I find out more.

      I wonder if a lot of couples are opposites on the into/extrovert scale. It seems like they could have a nice "balancing" effect on each other, like you're suggesting.

      Delete
  4. Just another thought here:
    what if two total extroverts were married? Would they just be complete party animals? Would they have oodles of children? Would there never be a quiet moment in the house?

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think I am a bi-polar-vert, some days I just want to be left alone and others I want to invite the whole world over for tea and talk, I want to be everyone's best friend! My husband is more of an introvert as is my oldest daughter, she loves to be the observer and is happy doing just that, I've learned from her that not everyone wants to be noticed.
    Mostly I am just so curious about other people and want to find out what is going on, where they came from and what they think, I love to tell and hear stories, chat, chat, chat, and then leave me alone for a few days:)
    I'm glad that even tho you're an introvert you open up and share on your blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's interesting because even though I'm an introvert I have days when I just want to get a group of girlfriends together and chat, chat, chat too! But then I'm good for a while. Plus I'm super chatty around my family — maybe because I've been saving up all those thoughts for a while and I need to tell someone?

      Thanks for commenting Rebecca. :) xxx

      Delete
  6. I totally relate! I love when people are like me and understand! It feels like most people don't. I read an article about this very topic that I loved, and made me laugh, a few months ago. Here's the link:
    http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2003/03/caring-for-your-introvert/302696/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for calling by at my blog and I am so pleased to have found your lovely blog, I have added it to my list.

    I could have written this post, it is uncanny. Every word resonated with me. I have recently bought the book Quiet for my daughter and myself as we are both introverts. Have you read The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron (sp?)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh dear, I am most definitely not an introvert. But I'm not an extrovert either. I must full somewhere in the middle.

    I am a big fan of Hammershoi - thank you for posting a beautiful painting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just recently discovered Hammershoi. I'm in artlove.

      Delete
  9. Hi Jenny,

    Your blog is lovely!

    And well, I'm certainly an introvert (I have a recent post solely dedicated to this matter!). I read "Introvert Power" and highly recommend it. I could learn that many of my 'weird' characteristics were related to my introverted nature, and so I could learn to better accept (and value!) them :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for visiting!

      I will have to find your introvert post and give it a read. Also thanks for recommending "Introvert Power." I'm looking forward to doing lots of reading after the holidays.

      Delete
  10. Hi Jenny. I'm more introvert than extrovert but I do like a good party! Dembling's 'Nine Signs That You Might Be An Introvert' are very interesting - the ones I wholeheartedly identify with are no.3 (busy brain)and no.8 (what do people find to talk about?) I think you are right about a lot of writers being introverts - I can struggle with chit-chat in real life but never run out of words when I'm writing. I too will be reading 'Introvert Power' over the holidays. A fascinating post xo

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comments. Hearing from you makes my day!