3 Takeaways from “The Introvert’s Way”

By Sophia Dembling. Blogger at Psychology Today (The Introvert’s Corner) and PsychCentral.com (Real World Research), among others.

1. Clarity

The current world does not fully understand introverts yet, experts on introversion are still learning and understanding how to better define introverts. One thing is for certain, current definitions or test are grossly inaccurate. For example, behaviors describing extroverts are positive, while inaccurate behavioral descriptions of introverts are negative.

2. Understanding

Introverts are pressured to behave like extroverts in an extrovert dominated world. For all the displeasure about extroversion, the author is not suggesting that introversion is better than extroversion, but bristle at the suggestion that extroversion is better than introversion. It is more about understanding and harmony of introversion and extroversion, thought and action, silence and sound, stillness and motion.

3. Centering

This book suggests actions we can take to educate extroverts about introversion, enlightening them about ourselves. Alternatives to work around those that have difficulty understanding. Most importantly, feeling happy and fine about ourselves, just the way we are.

Slightly disappointed that I did not get the level of clarity about introversion that I was expecting from this book, it did gave me some level of understanding like what it is, and what it is not.

What exceeded my expectations was the focus on ourselves, understanding and knowing ourselves, being firm on what we need rather than giving in for the short term happiness.

Recommend for any introvert that feels they are struggling to be themselves.