Hi, my name is Jessi and I'm proud to admit that I've been living my life as an introvert.
Say it with me, Liz!
My life as an introvert hasn't been a secret to my friends and family, but always shocks people who know me as a friend, as an athlete and people in my work environment. Because I enjoy attention, engaging people in conversation and have no fear speaking up and speaking confidently there's a facade that I'm 'outgoing'. Truth is, you can be all of those things and still be an introvert at your core. Introversion speaks to how you respond to social stimulation.
As an introvert, I know that my most creative and powerful moments are when I'm alone in my own head. Runs {alone} are where I find my inner peace and going out for a dinner party of 10 isn't exactly on my must do for summer list. I respond much better to a night in my pajamas and a weekend with no plans.
Introverts often get a bad reputation for standing back, observing and thinking as these characteristics are interpreted as shy, quiet, unfit for leadership and anti-social.
The truth of the matter is, we enjoy taking time to ourselves to think and recharge - like this handsomely introverted sloth I got for you:
I've shared this video before my TED Tuesday series began and it deserves a deeper look.
Susan Cain goes from personal experiences to real world examples of the way we live today that stifles the creativity of the 33-50% of introverts walking among us.
Open Environment work spaces (like the 12 people all staring at each other in mine) and desks facing each other in pods rather than rows in the school systems are geared toward extroverts. What this does is teaches us to believe introverts are doing it wrong, and it also doesn't teach the extroverts how to think before speaking, think independently or appreciate a good night of down-time.
Susan's Calls to Action at the end of the talk include:
- Stop already with all this awful think inside the box group work
- Go to the wilderness (or at least disconnect every once in a while)
- Show the world your energy preference and stop trying so hard to work against it.
Once you've watched and you're hungry for more, Rachel's post last week reviews the book by Susan Cain titled "Quiet" and her own feelings living life as a beautiful introvert - it's worth a read!
PS: Susan Cain is also an introvert and see what you think of her as a public speaker!
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