An introspective individual often finds it difficult to express himself. The desire to show themselves to the world more voraciously may exist, but worry and awkwardness can discourage them. While there’s nothing wrong with having an introspective personality, too much introspection can put you in less than pleasant situations.
But what is an introspective person?
Introspection is not to be confused with shyness. A shy person feels uncomfortable in social situations because he fears the judgment of others. The introspective person does not necessarily share this fear. She simply has her attention turned to her inner world, and she may or may not have a degree of social phobia.
The introspective individual is withdrawn but communicative. His reserved personality is often confused with apathy, disinterest or arrogance. However, silence and lack of participation in social activities are more related to the difficulty of dealing with external environment stimuli.
Introspection is also not associated with sadness or discouragement. The reactions of people with this personality trait tend to be less expressive simply because they are like that. It’s a different way of communicating with the world.
Extroversion is the opposite. Extroverted people can manage the stimuli arising from social interactions and busy environments with ease.
They actually feel energized and happier when they’re around people. Today’s society attributes an overvaluation of these characteristics, but this does not mean that they are the model to be followed.
Each person’s personality must be respected for what it is. Both extraversion and introspection have positive and negative attributes, which make them more or less valuable depending on the situation.
Characteristics of the introspective person
You can be introspective if:
feels comfortable with silence;
he doesn’t feel the need to be surrounded by people;
enjoy deep conversations that cover complex topics, such as self-knowledge, culture, history, art, among others;
think long and hard before putting an idea into action;
tends to be methodical;
is easily distracted by your thoughts;
has an aversion to networking and other social interactions that he considers “forced”;
hates changes in plans, especially if they happen at the last minute;
feel alone even in a crowd;
has difficulty expressing emotions;
constantly lost in thought;
likes activities and creative work;
is interested in books;
is happy when a mandatory appointment (medical appointment, for example) is canceled;
is very selective when it comes to friendships and love relationships;
prefer to observe than actively participate.
When does introspection become an issue?
It is possible to have a successful life, as per your definitions of success, by being introspective. Some of the most famous personalities in the modern world are holders of this personality, such as Barack Obama (politics), J.K. Rowling and Mário Quintana (literature), Bill Gates (technology and business) and Steven Spielberg (cinema).
Introspection becomes a problem when it prevents a person from living normally. When it interferes with your work, relationships and well-being.
It is necessary to emphasize that unhappiness must be present, not just introspection. The introspective individual is usually misunderstood. Others may see some of your behavior as strange or expressions of grief when in reality they are not.
Introspection is only a problem when the introspective person is frustrated by not being able to express themselves, communicate, achieve simple goals, and relate. Recurring frustrations can cause your isolation.
7 tips for being less introspective and showing more of yourself to others
She may believe that avoiding interactions altogether is to her advantage and not making an effort to break out of her cocoon. You may also think that you will not be able to turn your professional or personal aspirations into reality. So why should I try? Thus, it starts to self-sabotage, missing opportunities and remaining stagnant in life.
Another problem may not be introspection, but the introspector’s lack of knowledge about his or her own personality. He may choose an inappropriate career or a partner who has nothing to do with him because he doesn’t know what’s best for him.
Lack of knowledge about who we are often takes us down paths defined by other people or society.
How to be less introspective?
The introspective have a natural tendency to delve deeper and deeper into their own introspection. Loneliness can become both welcoming and unpleasant.
While they enjoy spending more time in their own company than others, they may want a more active life and not know how to go about it.
it.
Therefore, too much introspection can be detrimental to a person’s functioning. She may navigate the different segments of her existence inappropriately, becoming frustrated and depressed at each new obstacle encountered. Those who are introspective and creative, in particular, may find it difficult to share their work with the world.
It is possible to soften this personality trait so that it does not become a hindrance in your life. In the steps below, you will find some ways to do this. Try to follow them naturally, without putting pressure on yourself. Introspectives don’t usually take the concept of obligation very well, so see them as suggestions rather than rules.
practice small talk
For introspectives, social interactions must have a purpose. Shallow conversations are considered forced and useless. They easily tire of this kind of social interaction.
However, these conversations are the most common form of interaction. Therefore, it pays to learn to make small talk to maintain good relationships.
Start by talking about the weather, a neutral topic that everyone can relate to. Then make a comment about the environment you are in.
If you have difficulty talking about yourself, force the person to talk through questions. Don’t forget to smile to break the ice!
Promote your qualities
Introspective people have many qualities, even if they are not so easy to see. If you are observant, detail-oriented, self-aware, concerned about the feelings of others, creative, among other common introspective qualities, value these traits and promote them to the world. Don’t be afraid to take responsibility for your achievements!
give the new a chance
Another common difficulty for people with excessive introspection is doing new things. They prefer to stay in the comfort zone, where everything is familiar and pleasant.
This attitude, however, is counterproductive and prevents them from evolving. Life is made up of transformations, changes and novelties. Inertia is the enemy of progress.
So leave your inner critic at home and embark on little adventures. Visit local sights, attend your city’s events, check out an art exhibition, travel to nearby cities or distant countries, and try out new sports.
If possible, do some of these activities unaccompanied.
be part of a group
7 tips for being less introspective and showing more of yourself to others
Despite their aversion to commitments, introspective people need to learn to deal with them. After all, they are part of human experience. To help with this, join a local group.
It can be through volunteering with NGOs and religious institutions, meeting like-minded people, or even online.
As you become more familiar with people, you will be able to express more of your personality and will find that sharing your individuality with others is not such a difficult task.
act before thinking
This concept may seem very scary at first! How do you know if your actions will bring positive results? What if they result in something bad? It is only by testing your hypotheses that you will be able to answer these questions.
While thinking before acting is a great quality, too much thinking can put you in a position of inaction. The most efficient way to get rid of the fear of acting without considering the consequences (sensibly, of course) is precisely to do what you fear most.
share your gifts
Show off your creative work (writing, painting, drawing, music, dancing) to family and friends. Then show it to strangers. The internet is a great place to start showing off some of your talents.
Likewise, take credit for a job well done. Explain how you arrived at the result without fear of judgment. Accept that you are a competent person and don’t be afraid to let others know it. When you don’t recognize your strengths, you’re stepping on your self-esteem.
