You’re Allowed To Embrace Your Inner Introvert

 / 

,
Embrace Your Inner Introvert

“Introverts live in two worlds: We visit the world of people, but solitude and the inner world will always be our home.” – Jenn Granneman, author. Nothing describes embracing your inner introvert better than this.

I’ve been an extrovert for the majority of my life. An outgoing child, I grew into a popular teenager who turned into a party girl for pretty much the entirety of my twenties. I loved being an extrovert. I was proud of it. And to be honest, didn’t understand – or care to understand – introverts. They didn’t make sense to me. How could you possibly want to stay home all the time? Don’t you get bored?

Then something changed in me. It was slow and subtle at first. I started to lose the urge to constantly go out. I started to get tired of all of it. Actually, I started to question everything about it, from why I was constantly going out to if I even wanted to be out.

I began to lose interest in small talk. I didn’t see the point in it. I didn’t want to talk about shows or other people anymore, I wanted to talk about life and get to know the depths of the person I was talking to.

Related: How Introvert and Extrovert Brains Differ: 6 Differences According to Science

My inner extrovert fought these changes and fought hard, constantly trying to convince me to “just go out and have a good time.” She used jabs about my age, telling me I was no longer young and fun. I hated hearing that.

But there was a new part of me surfacing. A quieter part. A part that was completely fine staying in on a Friday night – heck, an entire weekend! She didn’t get bored at all. In fact, it was quite the opposite. She found all these new things to be interested in – podcasts she wanted to listen to, books she wanted to read, and thoughts she wanted to write.

She started spending weekend days at coffee shops writing or reading while her counterpart scoffed and rolled her eyes, telling her how lame it all was.

It was a hard-fought battle between the two of them for quite some time until slowly but surely the desires of my inner extrovert completely faded into the background. She’s still there. She’ll rear her head from time to time, begging me to “just go out and have fun.” And every now and then I indulge her.

inner introvert

But it’s been a surprising – and surprisingly unsettling – process to let her go and embrace my inner introvert. I loved her, even though I no longer wanted to be her. It’s not that there was anything wrong with her. I was simply ready for a change. A new phase.

It was time to let my inner introvert have a chance at running the show. See what kind of happiness she could conjure up.

And so far, she’s been very good to me. I can’t say everyone in my life understands the change, but the only thing that matters is that I understand. And I know it’s right for me.

So for all the extroverts out there, know that you can change if you want to. You can let that quieter part of you surface. If she’s raising her hand, asking for a turn, you can give it to her if you want to. It doesn’t have to be a permanent change. I would have never expected to put my inner extrovert behind me, but I did. And maybe I’ll bring her back to the front again, who knows. Only time will tell.

Related: 10 Everyday Things Only An Extroverted Introvert Will Understand

I think the bigger point is that you have a choice. You have a choice to do what feels right to you. You don’t have to be something simply because you’ve always been it. You can change. We can all change… as many times as we want. We can reinvent ourselves every decade, every year, or even every week.

We are constantly identifying with one way of being or the other. It is always either/or. We are an extrovert or an introvert, a Democrat or Republican, this religion or that religion, a carnivore or a vegetarian, and on and on.

But the problem with that is then we are constantly identifying with a way of being, a defined personality, a set of beliefs, or certain characteristics… rather than simply who we are. And who we are can be a unique combination of a bunch of either/or’s. And it can constantly change throughout our life. We are not stagnant. We are fluid. We don’t have to be either/or. We can be both/and.

So find your own way of being, try it out, then change it if you want to. Carve out your own path. Let go of all the definitions you cling to and decide there is no set definition of you.

You are whatever you create.


Written By Kacie Main
Originally Published On Thought Catalog
Embrace Your Inner Introvert pin

— Share —

— About the Author —

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *



Up Next

The Dark Side Of An INFJ: 8 Shadow Traits

The Dark Side Of An INFJ Shadow Traits

While we like to believe in heroes and villains, in reality, all of us tend to exist in different shades of gray. Like yin and yang, all of us have a little bit of darkness within us regardless of how positive we try to be.

And this is especially true for the personality type – INFJ, which stands for introverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging.

But what exactly is an INFJ? 

A rare personality type in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), INFJs are thoughtful individuals who are full of imagination. They are driven by strong principles, personal values and inner vision.

INFJs po



Up Next

3 Common, Cringeworthy Introvert Experiences

Highly Common, Cringeworthy Introvert Experiences

Are you an introvert? If your answer is yes, then you might have had quite a few cringeworthy introvert experiences till now. There are certain situations when introverts feel uncomfortable, rather very uncomfortable. Let’s find out more about a few common awkward situations for introverts. 

For the extroverted, accurately perceiving and respectfully interacting with the introverted can be quite confusing. When in doubt, extroverts tend to plunge into the introverted bubble. Many introverts are well equipped to suffer through awkward encounters, even if they find them unenjoyable.

Still, it will be appreciated by the introverted if the extroverted in their lives had som



Up Next

How To Be More Confident With Women: An Introvert’s Guide To Wooing Women

How To Be More Confident With Women? Eight Tips And Insights

Alright, all you introverted gents, gather ’round and pull up a chair! The world of dating and romance can sometimes feel like you’re a novice acrobat, trying to find balance on a wobbly tightrope. One misstep? Yep, you’re risking that face-plant. So, how to be more confident with women? What can you do?

Amidst the jitters and those occasional stumbles, there’s a silver lining. We’re about to dive deep into some tried-and-true strategies, tailored just for you.

So, gear up, my introspective a



Up Next

Feeling Socially Drained? 9 Hacks to Communicate Without Overwhelm

Feeling Socially Drained? Nine Tips to Communicate Without Overload

Isn’t an invitation to a party the worst possible thing that can happen to you? Ugh, those social batteries! They always seem to run out, don’t they? Not feeling socially drained does sound like a miracle to you, doesn’t it? Well, that was the same situation that I was going through, until I found these tricks.

Techniques to Stop Feeling Socially Drained



Up Next

What Is The Mediator Personality Type Like? 10 Intriguing Secrets of This Unique Archetype

What Is The Mediator Personality Type? Ten Intriguing Secrets

What is the Mediator personality type? Meet the INFP; magical souls fostering harmony and understanding. But wait, what are they like?

Do you know someone who is just incredibly insightful, and has this natural ability to understand people on a deeper level? Well, let me tell you about the INFP the Mediator, the champion of understanding and connection!

You’re at a party, surrounded by a bunch of chatty folks, and amidst the noise and excitement, you spot that one person who seems a bit



Up Next

Why Are Women So Complicated? Understanding The Complexity Of The Female Mind

Why Are Women So Complicated? The Truth Behind The Myth

Why are women so complicated? It’s a question that has plagued men for generations, and one that has led to countless misunderstandings and frustrations. 

But what if we told you that the answer is not what you think? Let’s explore the real reasons why women may sometimes seem complicated, and how we can work to better understand and communicate with them.

Why are women so complicated?

Women are often perceived as complicated, fickle, and hard to understand. But is this really true? Are women really more complicated than men, or is it just a stereotype? While there are some complexities involved, there are also many simplifications and misunderstandings at play. 



Up Next

Architect Personality Traits: 11 Undeniable Characteristics Of An INTJ

Architect Personality Traits: 11 Incredible Signs Of An INTJ

Calling all visionaries and strategists! Dive deep into architect personality traits that empower and turn imagination into reality, creating extraordinary achievements along the way!

With a pencil in hand and boundless imagination, they breathe life into dreams, crafting mesmerizing structures that defy convention and captivate the senses.

Architects are the alchemists of our modern age, blending art and science, form and function, to create inspiring wonders that stand as testaments to human ingenuity.

Join us to unlock the secrets of their brilliance. Prepare to be inspired, as we will delve into the depths of architect personality traits, exploring their unique characteristics and shedding lig