As much as I thought that I was in touch with my
introversion and how it played into my life, this book has highlighted
behaviors and trends that I’ve always identified with but never categorized as
side effects of introversion. Usually
when I read, I’m quick to jot down or type up quotes and passages. If I tried to do that with Quiet, I’d just be transcribing nearly
the entire book.
My biggest takeaway, and a new lens through which to
consider feelings of anxiety or discomfort, is the concept of overstimulation. Essentially introverts have less of filter
when it comes to taking things in, whether they be sights, sounds, smells,
feelings, thoughts, etc. So anything
exceptionally busy leads to a quick feeling of overstimulation, followed by
shut down mode.
I’m highly familiar with shut down mode. In fact, my current life pace has me
consciously fighting it every day right now.
Being naturally accustomed to down time, quiet time, solo time – this
frenetic pace and constant interaction are making me head reel. Although I enjoy the activities that I’m
doing and the people who accompany me, I know I’ll reach a point where there is
no other choice besides recuperation.
Until then, I’ll work on taking small doses as I can find them.
I wish that I had understood introversion better as a
child. And that more educators were
aware of how to work with kids like me, instead of pushing hard in the opposite
direction. There’s no doubt in my mind
that that world needs introverts just as much as extroverts. American society just seems to place a much
higher premium on the outgoing and gregarious.
As I get older, I do notice that I’m converting into what I’m
dubbing an “adaptive introvert”. There
are certain occasions where I’ve become capable, although not always
comfortable, with exhibiting extroverted tendencies.
There’s one dichotomy of my personality that I find
exceptionally interesting, and have probably mentioned before. When it comes to the every day, I’m risk and
change averse: like cutting my hair differently or going into a group of people
that I don’t know. Then there’s the
other part of me that seeks the foreign and unknown in a major way: moving to
unfamiliar cities alone and not knowing a sole or galavanting off to foreign
countries with only a backpack to keep me company.
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