"be encouraged to speak softly" - Susan Cain
I don't often get time to read other blogs... not because I don't want to but because I don't always have spare time. But with it being holidays, I've been catching up on some reading of my favourite blogs... and I was reading Francesca's blog and one of her posts about introverts really resonated with me. (Thanks Franny, this was an amazing post).
Wow - this really summed me up!
I wish someone had explained introverts to me before. I was always just labelled "shy, quiet or serious". If I am honest with myself and as long as I can remember the stories about myself as a child... I would retreat. My gran used to tell stories about how I would go "missing" but then she would find me at the bottom of the garden, in the sandpit playing happily by myself for hours.
I agree with Susan's words - everything in our world IS geared for extroverts.
From schools, church to the workplace. I also married an extrovert. I think I'm attracted to vivacious people, I guess in many ways I'm intrigued. I know for sure, we compliment each other and keep the balance. And I think in someways I have felt guilty about not being more extroverted. And I worked hard at trying to be more outgoing. But the older I've got the more I'm exhausted by it all and have almost craved the "transcendent power of solitude". And the past two years I've made a point of taking time to withdraw and be quiet. I've had fears that I was becoming a recluse. But the {silence} really recharged my soul from deep within! Hearing this TED talk and reading this blog has giving me so much more understanding... I love what Susan says... that for the sake of creativity and productivity - introverts are best doing what they do best and that we maximise our talents by putting ourselves in the zones that are right for us.
She also speaks of how some of the greatest contributors to our society, even Jesus withdrew and went to the wilderness to deep-think. Without the wilderness times - there is no revelations. And it's in the withdrawing that we get these revelations and new creative ideas and we bring that back to our communities...
"Solitude does matter!"
I have a daughter whose an introvert too and her favourite thing to do is be home and in her own space, head and time. I want to read this book so it can help me help her become the best person she can, by operating in the realms that are right for her!
"Solitude does matter!"
I have a daughter whose an introvert too and her favourite thing to do is be home and in her own space, head and time. I want to read this book so it can help me help her become the best person she can, by operating in the realms that are right for her!
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| Def my next read!!!! |
Yes - Susan Cains talk is remarkable - I shared it on fb a while back. I have the opposite problem…..people think I am an extrovert and then wonder why I suddenly disappear off the radar for weeks at a time. The biggest misnomer about introverts is that they don't like people/parties/social events! I love all of this but simply need lots of downtime to rejuvenate. I wanted ALL my extrovert mates to watch this video to better understand the introverts in their lives
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I missed your share on fb. Hmm it's true what you say... about people not understanding... I love people too (but prefer one on one and small groups, I love people who make me laugh (a lot) and I think I have a great sense of humor. I've downloaded my book and I plan to start it today! I too want to have a better understanding. :-)
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