I am five and I am an extravert. |
If you are an extravert you are outgoing
and become energized in groups. You usually want to share your experiences and
ideas with others and you like to talk and have conversations with others. You
think and make decisions by talking to others. You don’t seek out solitude or
alone time and you need others to feel approval and acceptance. Feedback and
sharing refuels your energy. Extroverts are impulsive, fun, and easily express
their feelings. They want to have many friends and love group work.
If you are an introvert you usually prefer
to watch and listen before you join into an activity with others. You enjoy
doing things by yourself or with one or two other people. You find it draining
to be around large groups of people and you don’t want to share your thoughts
and feelings until you ponder them. You have a strong sense of personal space
and you enjoy being alone in your own space. Unlike an extrovert, you may find
it hard to share what you are feeling and you do not process well with others.
Being social drains your energy and you need alone time to recharge. You like
to reflect and think about problems and you need uninterrupted work time. You
may not have as many friends as your extroverted friends, but the friendships
you have are deep and long lasting. You are able to entertain yourself and you
often become a master of the delayed minimal response. You like to work alone
and need to find ways to lower the sensory overload that you often experience.
The world encourages us to be extroverts.
The school system rewards extroverts who work well in groups, share and easily
bond with others. Introverts often grow up feeling that there is something
wrong with them and they quickly learn to become extroverts. There is an
attitude that introversion needs to be cured not valued in our world. Our
preference to enjoying the internal world (introverts) or external world
(extroverts) is fixed and we can learn to act outside our preference, but we
can’t be forced to leave it without feeling overwhelmed, lost and knocked off
centre. Some of us fall in the middle ground of both, but regardless the world
is a healthier place when both types are allowed to operate in their comfort
zone.
How can introverts and extroverts get
along?
When you see an introvert reading, sitting
alone, don’t assume that they are lonely and want to be interrupted. Respect
their space and ask if they are busy before interrupting them. Introverts need
to learn that it is okay to say that they are in the middle of something and
would rather not socialize. Introverts work out their ideas by thinking inside
their heads and they often need to remind extroverts that they are not ignoring
them, rather they are silently processing what they just heard. Extroverts are
talkers. This is hard and draining for introverts. Introverts need to remember
to get alone time after being with a talkative extrovert to recharge and not blame
extroverts for their need to talk or take it personally. Both types need to remember
that the other type is drained by what energizes them. The world is filled with
introverts and extroverts and we need to be more understanding and accepting of
each other.
2 comments:
Great post Karen!
I found as I read through the descriptions of each personality type that I have leanings toward both! As a young girl though, I was more introvert than extrovert, but I do enjoy working within GROUPS of like minded people and sharing my experiences with them, as I do in my monthly art journal group...
I wonder if there is a name for people who are happy to work or read alone AND like to work in groups?? =-)
PS - LOVE the colorful spring shaving cream paintings! I think I will have to try working with shaving cream - it has a great texture!
Art Therapy London Art therapy can support someone in dealing with difficult emotions and trauma, resolve problems and conflicts, improve ones sense of wellbeing, reduce pain, anxiety and stress.
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