It's Okay To Be
An Introvert

Dateline: 9 December 2014



I’ve always been an introvert, and a fairly serious one. But only recently have I given it much thought. It started when I read Ten Ways Introverts Interact Differently With The World. Then I watched This Ted Talk with Susan Cain, author of the book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

It is estimated that 1/4 to 1/3 of the population is introverted to some degree. Maybe you are an introvert. If so, you may have had a difficult time growing up. That's because we live in a society where the qualities of an extrovert ( the “extrovert ideal”) are seen as better or more desirable than the qualities of an introvert. 

There are a lot of misconceptions about introverts and 10 Myths About Introverts is well worth reading if you would like to understand people like me (or maybe yourself) better. Myth #7 is so particularly me that I am compelled to share it here...
Myth #7—Introverts are weird.    Introverts are often individualists. They don't follow the crowd. They'd prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don't make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

In reading about the qualities of introverts I came upon the statement that introverts tend to be more deliberate than extroverts. Well, no wonder I latched onto the The Deliberate Agrarian as the ideal title for my blog. 

 Like I said, I'm a fairly serious introvert. Another example of this is my lifelong dream to have a home-based mail order business. It's the perfect business for an introvert. And I don't have a business phone (introverts don't like to talk on the phone). 

I encourage you to watch the TED talk. See if  you can relate to what Susan Cain says. And check out her Quiet Web Site for more information. Also, you may find Susan's Manifesto For Introverts of interest.

I have ordered the audio version of Quiet to listen to. I'm very anxious to hear this book. I’m sure I’ll have more to say on this subject in the future.
The quote is from Emerson. I don't believe that being yourself is "the greatest accomplishment," but I do think it is a worthy goal. And it is also  a noteworthy accomplishment to live contra mundum (against the world system), which is pretty much what living a deliberate agrarian lifestyle is all about.


4 comments:

  1. An At Home DaughterDecember 10, 2014

    I am also from the land of less desirable's ; )

    I will have to check our library for that book.

    Kimberly

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  2. Craig StevensDecember 10, 2014

    I also am an introvert, so when I saw this book out a couple of years ago I immediately bought the audio version. It is very well done.

    So many things were made more clear to me as to why I think and act the way I do. It was very freeing to think I might not actually be so weird just because I'd rather stay home and read a book than go to a party and be around a bunch of people.

    My wife, who is an extrovert, also listened to the book. I think it was probably more useful for her in that she now understands me better.

    Highly recommend the book!

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  3. CjDecember 11, 2014

    Quiet... How much do you have to turn up the volume when you listen to the audio book? Hehe... sorry.

    That article made me feel better. I've always known I am more introverted, but never realized how that spilled over into my extreme dislike for being in areas of high population density (cities, malls, crowds, etc.) and other areas of my life.

    It was a welcome reminder that while I am not average, I'm certainly not the only one!

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  4. AnonymousDecember 16, 2014

    You would also like the book "Introvert Advantage" by Marti Olsen Laney. I, too, am an introvert and this book was SO helpful in understanding myself.

    ReplyDelete