Warning: You Should Not Drink If You Are an Introvert
Introversion and extroversion are at opposite ends of the personality scale. It’s like comparing far-right to far-left on a political scale. Carl Jung, an understudy of Sigmund Freud, is credited with coining these terms.
As defined by The Merriam Webster-Dictionary:
Introvert: A typically reserved or quiet person who tends to be introspective and enjoys spending time alone.
Extrovert: A typically gregarious and unreserved person who enjoys and seeks out social interaction.
Ambivert: A person having characteristics of both extrovert and introvert.
As an introvert I can tell you when I have ample time and space to recharge, the above definition is accurate but when I am subjected to too much social activity and interaction I can become outspoken and loud. I get worn out by acting social and need time to recuperate.
Not being gregarious does not mean being shy. Most introverts, myself included, are not shy. We choose to spend our time doing what we enjoy. Can I cut loose and become the life of a party? Certainly. Would I choose to do this instead of reading, writing, or sitting quietly alone? Definitely NOT. I am not anti-social; I prefer smaller groups because they provide the opportunity for more meaningful conversations.
The misconception that bothers me most about being an introvert is that I know many people misconstrue my studious nature as arrogant. Empathy and self-awareness are values I value as much as openness and honesty. I do not look down on anyone because their passions do not align with mine.
Carl Jung did not use the term ambivert but did recognize what he called a “normal” area which was a balance between extroversion and introversion. Unlike the political scale where a middle ground is necessary, most personalities lean toward extroversion or introversion.
Extroverts and introverts can not understand one another. Not that they can not get along but that they are different. A recent report on CNBC stated that a Harvard study found that the brains of introverts do not function the same as those of extroverts. Companies fail to accommodate the needs of introverts, causing them to lose a wealth of exceptional talent, even though extroverts tend to function better in the workplace due to their social nature.
I know that I could never begin to learn how everything works even if I could live forever but neither could I ever say that anything does not matter as long as it works. I had to study for countless hours to understand the concept of time. It took me years to understand how television stations modulated RF signals and transmitted them through the air and how my thirteen-inch black and white television demodulated those signals so I could watch Apollo missions and Lee Austin. I do not understand how anyone would not need to know how anything they use works.
If it were not for a problem with alcohol I might have been a surgeon. Chemistry is vital to understanding everything, and I also spent a great deal of time studying that. I have a sister who is a schoolteacher. While I was recovering from some serious neck surgeries she told me about this trivia phone game called QuizUp. I started with Anatomy and Physiology and earned trophies for Best in the State of Nevada, followed by Best in the United States, and did not quit until I earned a Best in the World trophy. Pretty good for a blue-collar working guy.
I will never stop reading and learning but retention does not improve with age. If you are a young introvert do not fall prey to thinking you should fit in and be an extrovert. I have no regrets, but I can tell you from a lifetime of blue-collar jobs that science and education are the better ticket.
