I am an introvert, and I get tired of hearing from some psychological research that extroverts are healthier and happier than introverts, and that we should encourage extroversion in ourselves and our children.
Are relationships important? Yes.
But so is the relationship with ourselves, which is what introverts excel at.
I love extroverts, and am thankfully married to one, but the idea that gets permeated that introverts are social misfits, unhappy at that, gets tiring.
The myths of introversion: 1. They don't have social skills. Wrong! They just don't need to talk a lot and tend to be OK with quiet. I have good social skills, and I am introverted. I have been called stand offish at times by others, but usually that means that I am overstimulated. 2. Introverts aren't as happy as extroverts. We all need relationships, and as long as an introvert has some close relationships in their life- that is all they need to meet their social needs. They don't need the constant social interaction to feel happy. 3. Introverts are neurotic. Well, they do tend to think about themselves and their relationships a lot, but that could also be emotional intelligence!
Introverts make up around 25% of the population and they tend to have a rich inner life, need time alone to recharge, and like small groups of people to interact with. They like to be alone and seldom get bored with their own company. They do like people and their relationships are very important to them, but they don't need a lot of relationships- a few close friends is perfect.
Being introverted is not a bad thing. Embrace that place inside you that likes your own company!
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