Yes! You read it right. This is how most Introverts prefer to be. I have always been used to being on my toes. From excellence in clerical/office work to being disciplined and organized, not forgetting to mention my excellent creative skills and an eye to detail, I drove people crazy around me coz I was full of life. Active and having high expectations for myself and from others, I have had a roller coaster ride as well. Being around hyper people all my life, I was very surprised, intrigued and anxious to live with my calm, cool, composed and a man of less words – my better half. It was challenging initially till I realized that such people can also be successful and active and socially popular just like me. But by being calm and less hyper. They work silently. Over the years, I learnt to be patient (yet trying…). Understanding and compassionate that I was, people and family saw me growing up as an “Empathetic” girl and adult. My journey has been similar to a topsy turvy ride but it showed me my true potential. So as I agree to accept and understand people “just the way they are”, it helped me to save myself from a lot of agony, anger, hatred, annoyance, frustration and all those negative feelings that we tend to pent up for years and maybe even till we are far gone. Credits go to my husband and now my children, especially my older one.
So, this article relates more to my older one. Throughout his growing up years since he was a baby, I observed him close to my heart and I now look back and wonder how much I learnt from him more than the other way around. I often wonder and give due credits to him to have tolerated me and being patient and understanding towards me. He comforts me in ways I cannot express. If you are wondering what I am saying, then You are right. It is true that we are blocked by our mindset of children respecting and listening to elders etc. We underestimate children. Very rarely do we often look within us and see children as a source of blessing and learning to our self-improving journey. It is a taboo that children “must” and “must not” do certain things and that they cant have their own freedom to voice their opinions. They actually don’t mean to be rude but we get offended because we are trapped with our own insecurities and expect our children to fulfil them. How mean!
As I kept observing, He had/has inherited traits from his dad and he turns out to be very calm and composed. He does not need any special occasion to celebrate or special attention to throw a tantrum to get his wish fulfilled. Initially again this was challenging for me as I did not want myself to come across as nagging and dominant parent. How I changed myself and how I yet have so much to learn from my kiddo would be another article on it’s own. I read and researched. I even pursued my Counselling Degree to be able to help him and understand his own self. In fact, understand my own self.
Most often, Introverts are misunderstood as very reserved, not social, serious, quiet and egoistic. Not at all. They are just opposite of Extroverts as we call life of a party. There are four types of introverts, rather they have their own traits and colour shades. Introverts are responsive to their brain activity generated within. They remember events, they are good planners, and they have a goal chart with a couple of goals to achieve. They just respond differently than extroverts. They do not need external factors to stimulate them. Happy, grateful and content as they are, they are very pleasing to be around. They just love their own space, calmness. They love reading a lot as they are good graspers. They bounce back with energy and fullness if left alone for a while. Determined and focused, introverts are minimalistic people. On the other hand, they do not prefer loud noise at a party or too crowded places to socialize. They have just a handful of people and friends in their inner circle. They are open minded and aware. They are very creative and shock you with their creative thinking skills and logical arguments. They are out of the box thinkers. They love communicating with intelligent people and have high end conversations. They are good listeners but can have a temper that could rage one if pushed too hard. But this also comes with a challenge of knowing what’s going in their head. They would come across as rude or egoistic to people who do not know them well.
Introverts love being their own self and fake less. Simple life is their motto. They don’t enjoy or crave for popularity or pomp. Of course they love to be appreciated, assured and encouraged by repetitive motivation and verbal communication. Who doesn’t like that? They enjoy reading, writing, sports and meditation along with music. They find solitude and gratefulness in everything and everyone around them. So next time you come across an introvert, do ponder over this and understand that ‘every person is special, everyone is unique and beautiful in their own way.’
Judge less. Understand more.
20.10.20