Judged for being quiet? Don't miss this...

If you're quiet, you likely get plenty of flak from people around you.

You're judged left and right just for keeping to yourself. Since people can't get you to open up as often as they'd like, they take the liberty of filling the gaps on their own.

Some of them call you a snob, others say you're weird, and still others go so far as to label you antisocial.

Saying you're introspective and that you think before you speak isn't good enough for them.

Trying to explain that you're introverted -- that your energy is directed inward as opposed to an extrovert, whose energy is directed outward -- is a futile exercise.

You tell them that too much social interaction leaves you drained, and that you can only recharge by spending time alone, but it falls on deaf ears.

Sometimes it feels like no one understands you.

But I'm here to tell you one thing: I get you. I know what you're going through because I've been there.

As a quiet, studious kid, I felt ostracized for being different than my more gregarious peers.

Many classmates tried to coax me into being more like them. Though at times the social pressure became hard to bear, I never relented.

You know why? Because I liked myself and didn't want to change. I preferred being hated for who I was than loved for who I wasn't.

Even as an adult, I've never wavered on this. I'm much more talkative now than I was back then, but I'm still your typical introvert.

Big crowds continue to sap my energy, I still prefer one-to-one conversations to group interaction, and my predisposition to think before I speak remains unchanged.

I'm here to tell you this: You should never, ever feel pressured into becoming more talkative against your will -- just to please someone else.

Some people will never understand that you're just wired differently. Some people will never comprehend that you're content with your low-key, quiet demeanor.

If they can't help but criticize you for your unassuming nature, kick them to the curb. You don't need people like them in your life!

Embrace your introversion. Introverts are in the minority, so that makes you unique! Quiet people should be perceived as a breath of fresh air given the hordes of people in the world who can't keep their mouths shut.

If you're happy with the way you are, that's all that should matter -- you don't need others' approval. If your being quiet makes others insecure, then that's their problem.

Be true to yourself. Let the real you always shine through!

Comments

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually. Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker. Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar. When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca...

How To Understand People

Search This Blog