Society leads us to believe that thrusting oneself into social settings is the antidote to loneliness. Yet, many people would agree that one can feel lonelier around a big group of people than when the person is by themselves. For starters, just because a person is alone doesn't mean they're lonely. There are actually people out there, myself included, who enjoy and thrive on time spent alone -- to relax, contemplate, clear their mind. Finding yourself amidst large groups of people whom you don't know can be more isolating than being by your lonesome. Sure, you can always try to strike up a conversation with someone, but it can come off as awkward and doesn't always lead to the desired result. This is especially true when everyone around you already is engaged in conversation with someone else. I feel much more at ease interacting with people when small groups of 2 to 3 people are involved. You don't have people talking and shouting over another. You d...

There's no better feeling in the world than being self-sufficient. Does that mean being able to pay your bills, file your taxes, fix a faucet leak, buy property, and do virtually anything else without anyone's assistance? Not quite. As great as that sounds, let's face it -- not all of us are handy or conversant with all things finance. We need other people's help for certain things about which we have little knowledge and/or would rather pay others to do for us. What's more, those of us who are parents rely on our partner to help out with the kids, among other parental duties. When I say self-sufficient, I'm talking about everyday things that require no real expertise. I've spoken to people at work who admit they don't set foot in a mall unless a friend or family member is there to help them pick out clothes. Others say they refuse to hit the gym unless they have a gym buddy with them. Still others won't buy food at a restaurant unless ...

At How to Understand People, few topics are explored as extensively as that of personality. I find it to be such a compelling subject that I base at least a couple of posts on it each month. In case you missed some of my earlier posts on personality, here's a quick rundown of the chief differences between introverts and extroverts. In general, introverts: Direct their energy inward Become overwhelmed by too much stimuli (noises, colors, etc.) Become easily drained by heavy social interaction Prefer small groups of people to large ones Routinely need to recharge their batteries by being alone in a quiet setting Enjoy reading, writing, and other solitary activities Get put off by small talk Like delving deeply into subjects of interest (history, politics, science, etc.) Think carefully before they speak Don't waste words Are not confrontational Are likely to pursue careers in the arts or that require working behind the scenes In general, extroverts: Ar...