A
so-called expert recently characterized ‘Introverts’
as those preferring less of stimulation from external sources. I differ with
this perception of introversion, and would like to call it an attribute that
stimulates the external environment to the least possible degree. The
difference in the two perceptions is quite alarming, being the difference of
preference of the person about inputs or outputs.
An
introvert person does not like to project him/herself to others but likes to be
contented with the self. Introversion is not related to the person’s interest
in others but to interest in him/herself. Of course, this also results in
his/her liking for minimal stimulation from the environment.
According
to psychologists, one half to one third of persons of a society are introverts
depending on their respective social cultures. Let us see here what is
introversion and what it is not, to understand its significance in life.
Introverts
often envy extroverts about their ways, and try to imitate to be like them.
Anybody, trying to pose who he/she is not, is bound to fail. Whenever, an
introvert imitates an extrovert, he/she fails and thus, entering a phase of
losing self-confidence and cultivating a feeling of shame and inferiority
complex in him/herself.
There is no person an introvert
or an extrovert in absolute terms, but everyone is a mix of introversion and
extroversion, with different individuals naturally gifted these traits in different
proportions. One must cultivate in him/herself the attributes in which he/she
is rich in.
What the
introversion is Not
The
Introversion is not shame, shyness, or suppression of one’s talent, as many
extroverts would like to assume. Let us see some such negative traits are and
their difference with introversion.
Shame
An
important factor keeping some persons keeping away from sights of others is
shame for a feeling of guilt for some mistake committed by them. However, if
the person realizes his/her mistake and commits not to repeat it, there is no
need of being ashamed about. We all may commit mistakes in-spite of our working
with good intentions. Those who don’t work, commit no mistake but the blunder
of not-working.
Introversion
is not same as being ashamed for something about the self. However, a shame may
make a person introvert, but an introvert is not necessarily ashamed of
anything. Introversion, in itself, is not a shame.
Shyness
Shyness
is a fear of going wrong in front of others so, a shy person hesitates in
presenting him/herself to others in general, but for no particular reason about
his/her conduct. Shyness is born out of lack of self-confidence in the person
and hence lack of contentment from the self. Introversion does not make a
person deficient in self-confidence or contentment, but on the contrary, an
introvert is more contented by the self that an extrovert who is dependent on
others for contentment from the self.
Not
Suppression of the Talent
Introversion
is not suppression of one’s talents as most extroverts opine. Introverts show
their talents using media which are quite different from those used by
extroverts. For example, an extrovert is often a good orator while an introvert
might be in another field like authorship, designing, invention, etc.
The art
of extroversion has an essential component of impressing others – truly or
falsely. There is no place for impressing others in an introvert’s agenda.
His/her objective is to produce the desired results calmly. Therefore, while an
extrovert reserves a big chunk of his/her energies for impressing others
leaving less for the actual performance, while an introvert puts all his/her
energy into the performance. The extroverts create apparent results fast but
transient while introverts create slow yet long-lasting results.
Reading,
studying, inventing, meditating, designing, thinking, cooking…or any number of
other quiet and worthwhile activities are favorite pastimes of introverts while
the extroverts spend most of their time and energies in talking.
The introverts don’t project or
hide their talents, but keep on using it and leave it to others to appreciate
rather than project these to impress others like the extroverts keep on doing.
Thus, the introverts make better use of their capabilities than that by
extroverts.
What the
Introversion consists of
Introversion
is a state of mind that is constituted of many other subordinate attributes of
mind, such as modesty, creativity, scientific temper, etc.
Modesty
Modesty
is keeping reserve in front of elders as a display of respect to them. It used
to be highly appreciated in women and expected from civilized women. This is
now considered an old-fashioned trait complied by rural women in developing and
under-developed societies. Modern and western-cultured women are allergic to
this word, once considered to be an ornament of the women. In fact, modesty is
an ornament for every human-being but not understood and appreciated by wild
beasts.
Silent
Creativity
Indeed,
creativity is always silent, and its chosen home is introversion. Extroversion
is an impediment to creativity. Most of the creative endeavors are from
introverts only, however many of these are stolen by extroverts and projected
as theirs. This has been the traditional job of extroverts.
Scientific
Temper
As said in my previous article on
comparative study of Art and Science, introverts are gifted with scientific
temper better than extroverts. However, extroverts have a knack of
materialization of scientific concepts. All scientific developments are gifts
from introverts to the humanity with a majority of extroverts.
How Introverts and Extroverts Differ
Introverts have a world of their own different from that of the extroverts,
for some exclusive differences between the two groups of people.
Thinking and Expressing
An extrovert often says before thinking and may repent later, while an
introvert thinks before saying something to ensure not to go wrong. This is
also indicative that introverts are more sensitive and sensible than the
extroverts. Even then, extroverts manage their lives better than introverts are
able to do for their wide gap in manovering capabilities.
Doing and getting things Done
Extroverts are better mangers than the performing creed of introverts.
Therefore, while introverts can perform better than extroverts, but the
extroverts know better how to get a thing done. This may be said to be better
managing capability of extroverts.
Extroverts suffer from a psychosis of taking credit for others’ works,
so are not liked by performers – mostly introverts. This develops a general
disliking to an extrovert. For the same reason, performers prefer to work with
and under introverts. This makes introverts to be better leaders than the
extroverts.
Group-working
Introverts prefer working in solitude, therefore, often fail in group
working often organized in schools and training and appraisal exercises to
enhance creativity and productivity in individuals through induction from
others. Although, this may bring some introverts out from their cells of
introversion, for most other introverts, such exercises prove detrimental
sowing seeds of inferiority complex in them.
In a group environment, introverts fail to express their dissent even if
they may have it. This leads to suppression of their feelings and may cause
complications in personalities of introverts, such as shame or inferiority
complex.
Usually, introverts
are often considered inferior by extroverts, but the introverts have no
negative feelings about themselves or the extroverts, hence are more humane and
with positive outlook about others. The extroverts often suffer from
superiority complex.
What Introverts must Realize
1. Introversion is a
better way of living in the sense that introverts keep their ultimate goal in
focus while extroverts try to derive maximum benefits for themselves by
dominating and exploiting others and their innovative ideas. Thus, introverts
make better business leaders than the extroverts. In fact, most of the people
prefer working under introverts rather than under extroverts. Gandhi, Eleanor
Roosevelt, Rosa Parks and most of the world’s greatest philosophers have been
introverts.
2. Introverts are made
for being creative rather than being productive. They must focus and remain
limited to the field of their strength – the creativity.
3. Everyone is an
introvert to some degree as even an extrovert works through first being an
introvert.
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