Recently, I have become completely obsessed with personality types. Particularly the Myers-Briggs typology. The Myers-Briggs typology is based on the theories of Introversion and Extroversion. So, I’m going to give a little summary on introversion and extroversion, and then talk a little about my experience as an introvert.
Extroversion simply means the primary mode of living and being energized is through interaction with the external world.
Introversion is the opposite. The primary mode of living and being energized is through interaction with the internal world. Introverts are energized by reflection.
Some people may think extroversion is to rudeness as introversion is to shyness. However, that isn’t the case. Extroverts tend to talk a lot but they don’t have to be loud or rude. Introverts are quiet, not necessarily because they are scared to speak (shyness), but simply because they don’t see a need to say anything most of the time. Introverts don’t want to waste their energy on “pointless babble”.
When an introvert goes home after a long day of work, he wants nothing more than to be left alone to have time to reflect on the day and unwind and prepare for the next day.
When an extrovert goes home after work (if he even goes home first), he wants to go spend time with friends and socialize.
As an introvert, this has caused some tension between my extroverted friends and I. They don’t seem to understand why I don’t answer my phone or why I decline their offer to hang out when I have nothing planned.
“Do you want to do something tonight?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I don’t feel like it.”
“What else are you going to do?”
At this point, I’m usually thinking, “What do you mean, what else am I going to do? I’m going to do absolutely nothing and it will be great!” But I usually simply get annoyed and say something like, “I just don’t want to, I’m tired.”
Most people simply drain me of energy. However, this isn’t true for everyone. Some people, when I spend time with them one-on-one do energize me. But they have to be people who are okay with pauses in conversation and think about what they are saying before they open their mouths. In other words, if I’m spending one-on-one time with another introvert, it can be very refreshing because we can reflect internally together. Introverts understand that silence simply means the other person is mulling something over in their head.
Andrew Thomasson 
Dear mymind1086,
I really like your blog! The fact that it is quite a bit like mine probably has something to do with why I like it. I even set mine up with Vigilance! Crazy.
This post really hits home. I am so much an introvert. Of course, we are very different in that I’m old enough to be your mother (and I’m female – did you guess). I relate totally to the last paragraph in this post. I crave my time alone. My extrovert friends are dumbfounded and sometimes will argue with me! to convince me to come out and play. Ha, try another day. And silences in conversations are welcome.
I write about so many of the same things, but you say it in different words; another direction of explanation.
I would like to link here from my blog unless you protest.
debi
I found this article I thought you might be interested in:
Click to access 108226.pdf
debi
Thanks for the link!
I think it’s funny that I’s are always paired with E’s as their ideal mates. I’m not sure I would know how to deal with an E. Especially if she was extremely extroverted. She’s probably wear me out.
Hiya ! Nice blog 🙂
I agree with the blog post- I feel like that too!! 🙂
I have many extroverted friends though, and they always pester me to go out “to have fun” and “relax”… when in fact that’s not really my idea of fun-more like boredom 😀