What's So Good About Introversion?

 If you’re an introvert you may ask yourself this question from time to time—especially if you spend a lot of time dealing with extroverts. You may encounter your fair share of criticism through no fault of your own. You might even feel so opposite from what our society typically regards as the norm, that you sometimes wonder if who you are and what you have to offer has much value…but the truth is, the world could not function well without your unique personality traits.

So to answer the question: ‘What’s so good about introversion?’ here’s a quick list of what makes you so valuable at work, at play and in relationships.

Introverts are:

      Analytical—you excel in complex thinking and problem solving

            Creative—you are the thought leaders in out-of-the-box thinking

            Focused—you have a strong ability to concentrate on the task at hand

            Highly Independent—you work well alone (or in small groups)

            Self-Reflective—you enjoy thinking about your thoughts

            Deep Thinker—you would rather know a lot about a few things than a little about a lot of things.

            Highly Curious—the world fascinates you; nothing escapes your interest

            Sincere and Trustworthy Friend—you maintain long-term relationships

            Self-Contained—you prefer to find your own solutions and often do not share your thoughts until    

            you’ve worked the answer out.

These are some pretty strong positive traits that few could argue with. So why is it that an introvert is sometimes not given credit where credit is due? Often it is because our inner world is so rich and entertaining to us that we don’t operate at the same speed as our extroverted counterparts. Our preference to think before speaking tends to leave us behind in many group conversations so our voices are not always heard. Our avoidance of social situations makes us seem antisocial rather than simply private and reserved. The truth is most introverts I know would rather spend time with a good friend or a good book than spend time in a large social scene; not because they dislike people, but because they prefer small, cozy environments.

If you’re an introvert, it is a good idea to keep these unique qualities close at hand and even post them in a prominent spot to help you embrace your positive side.  This will, in turn, help keep you balanced as you navigate your world. One great thing to realize is that many extroverts who give you negative feedback about your innate personality traits won’t focus on you for long, and will leave you to get back to your rich, inner world where you excel.