Being misunderstood is never an easy thing to deal with. I cannot count the number of times I have rolled my eyes or wanted to just slap someone for saying I’m too timid or shy just because I was not jumping into their conversation, or for saying I was boring because I did not want to go out to the parties or other social events like everyone else did. Since when do my outward ways of life determine the type of person I am?! It is as if everyone should be the same in their eyes, like everyone should talk too damn much during the week and get drunk and act like fools on the weekend, and that just isn’t me. I talk when I feel it is necessary and go out occasionally on special occasions and I am ok with that...now!
Things have been this way for me since freshman year of high school. I am now a senior in college and although people do not seem to have changed much, I have. The main thing that has helped me grow and develop into a more tolerant and patient introvert is my love for communications and current pursuit of a communication degree. I know, I know some of you may be thinking, “how can an introvert be a communications major?” but it is possible.
Personality traits of an introvert can include but are not limited to dealing with emotions, thoughts, and observations internally. We reveal less about ourselves to others, however that does not mean we are less of a person that others. In those group conversation situations, introverts need more time to think about responding to comments and ideas before we just blurt things out. So contrary to extrovert belief, we do have opinions, ideas, etc. we just process and share them differently.
Believe it or not, the guy in the red used to be, and sometimes still is me. Introverts are ok with being alone, in fact we do our best thinking and a lot of the time we are happier when alone, but again, that does not make us the lesser people or the more boring people. We introverts can find small take tiring because the main source of our energy comes from within rather than from being around people. This does not mean we prefer to be alone for our lives, but we do need time to ourselves to recharge and refocus.
Being a part of the communications causes a person to branch out, speak to, and get to know many people through interviewing them for a story, using them as a point of contact for another person or just getting a photo. Either way as a journalist, I have been able to better understand that every person is different and works differently. Getting to know people has also presented a new way of looking at the world, which is not easy for an introvert since we feel as though everyone should know what we know.
When I first began working in journalism I would be good in preparing for the interview. My questions were prepared, typed and printed ahead of time. I covered all the areas that needed to be covered as far as getting information for my stories, such as the who, what, when, where, why and how. Yet and still, when it came down to conducting the actual interview, I instantaneously became nervous. The thought of having to talk to another person, whom I did not know, was off-setting to me. Providing news to others was something important to me, but I did not know how to, or want to know how to interact with people to get the news.
As the years went on, I slowing adjusted to my area of interest, but it wasn't until I transitioned into journalism in college that I truly came out of my shell. I became aware of the fact that although I was using my introversion as a crutch and it was doing nothing but slowing me down, something my advisor and a few professors brought to my attention without even knowing it. So I referenced five personal steps that helped me adjust to the world as an introvert.
1. Be present- I made it known that I was in this world and
that I am important to it
2. Realize- Not everyone thinks the way introverts do
3. Be willing- Understand others the way an introvert wants
to understood
4. Know- Non-verbal communication is just as important as
verbal communication
5. Accept myself- Introversion does not mean I am abnormal
Although these steps seems basic and easy, for an introvert they can be a
challenge. Even though I now enjoy getting to know the ins and outs of people, after these interviews and long days as a journalist, I still have to take some time to myself, even if it is just to listen to music by myself for ten or so minutes.
So at the present, I am able to meet knew people and am anxious to get to know who they are and how they function. I am able to let them get to know me as well, within reason. So to me it is not about being able to adjust, but being willing to get out of habit. It doesn't have to be someone to directly tell you to grow up, but a personal realization or natural life change that causes you to do so.
So for all you none introverts out there be patient, we deal with life differently. But be careful, we react differently too!
Pawlik-Kienlen, Laurie. “What Are Introverted Personality Traits?” Web 24 Nov. 2012. <http://suite101.com/article/the-introvert-a13661>.
