I am an introvert and I love it.
And I'm not alone.
Introverts are everywhere,
and our quiet approach to life,
our need for solitary time,
isn't a flaw - it's a gift.
But as an introvert
it's not always easy to realise
how wonderful you are.
The world feels like a place
that rewards extroverts.
Where being loud is mistaken
for being confident and happy.
Where everyone has something to say,
but nobody listens.
A world of open-plan offices,
networking parties,
and big personalities.
For those who speak softly,
it's easy to feel left out.
As a child,
I blended into the background.
Many thought that I had little to say
or that I simply didn't like others.
But that wasn't true.
People often think that
introverts are shy, or antisocial.
But these are misconceptions.
Introverts, like anyone,
can find socialising fun.
But while parties
leave extroverts energised,
after some time,
introverts need to recharge...
away from everyone.
There is a scientific theory
for this.
There are two important chemicals
found in all our brains -
dopamine and acetylcholine.
Dopamine is like a hit of energy
when we take risks
or meet new people -
and it makes extroverts feel great.
But introverts are
more sensitive to dopamine
and get quickly over-stimulated.
That's why we prefer the more
slow-burn feeling we get
when our brains
release acetylcholine.
That happens when we concentrate,
read, or focus our minds.
It makes us introverts feel
relaxed, alert and content.
But it barely registers
with extroverts.
Of course, like anything,
it's a sliding scale.
You can lean one way or another.
Or be a bit of both -
known as an ambivert.
Now I understand myself better,
I am deeply grateful for how I am.
Instead of filling up space with
small talk, I listen patiently
and make my words matter.
I have few friends
but our connection is deep.
I love spending time alone.
It's where the chaos of a long day
can finally settle.
I can reflect
and listen to my thoughts,
and eventually reconnect with myself.
Only after that am I ready to share
with the world again.
I have learnt strategies for finding
comfort in our noisy world -
from using music
to create bubbles of peace,
to escaping to a quiet park
at lunchtime.
I adore the intensity and chaotic
beauty of the world.
But it's in quiet spaces
where I feel truly at home.
If introversion were
more valued by society,
it could make a massive difference
to our collective future.
The unique attributes of introverts
really are a deep, quiet strength.
And as Gandhi, put it, "In a gentle
way, you can shake the world."
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