subject: Cultural Disowning of Introversion [print this page] Defining introversion and extroversion Defining introversion and extroversion
Initial of all let's define the terms introversion and extroversion. Introversion is the act of directing one's attention inward or to things inside the self, like thoughts and feelings, instead of the external environment. Extroversion is the opposite. It's outlined as the act of directing one's attention outward to external things as opposed to one's own inner world of thought and feeling.
Cultural bias
I suppose most people would agree that our fashionable western culture tends to favor the extrovert personality. The stress is very a lot of on obtaining things done and staying busy all the time. It's nearly an offence to merely sit around and really fancy the moment totally without the stress of needing to be someplace else or doing one thing as a suggests that to an end. Many of us feel guilty when there is nothing to do and we tend to get a nagging sensation from deep inside that we have a tendency to should be doing something. For some reason our culture frowns on this a lot of passive, reflective and healing state of being. No surprise the world is uptight.
Some individuals who tend to reside on this more introverted finish of the spectrum will feel unimaginable self hate toward themselves if they obtain into the cultural belief that life is about going faster, achieving a lot of and staying occupied all the time. They'll get trapped in a very downward spiral of feeling unhealthy as a result of they are not 'doing' in addition to others, looking around and noticing how they are falling behind and feeling even worse and on and on.
Having said that, there's a time for a additional outwardly focused and action oriented approach. I am not suggesting that culture is wrong to value extroversion. I just believe that it's got stuck in a very 'high gear' and would profit from learning a way to curtail a bit.
We cannot live entirely in our own thoughts and feelings. It's stressful for our mental, emotional and physical health. Equally, we have a tendency to can not be doing, doing, doing incessantly either as a result of that too is stressful.
Flexibility
The way forward then is for us as individuals, and as a culture as a full to become more flexible. It is vital that we tend to don't label ourselves as an introvert or an extrovert however notice that we tend to all continue to exist a spectrum. Every individual is capable of moving up and down this spectrum given the demands of the situation.
For instance, there are times when being additional introverted is beneficial like when you would like to focus on ideas or create plans or do calculations or to deeply relax. It's also necessary to enter this more receptive and passive state to permit our minds to integrate and method new learning's and experiences.
Equally, there are occasions when being a lot of outwardly targeted may be a lot of acceptable like when interacting with folks, making connections, having fun or when playing sports.
The trap that the majority folks fall into is that they identify with these states of introversion and extroversion. They assume that they ARE either introvert or extrovert when really it's something we have a tendency to DO. The key to happiness and success in the planet is to become aware, or aware, of HOW we have a tendency to do introversion and extroversion so that we can be at selection over our behavior and how we tend to act. This gives us flexibility and endows us with great personal power that makes us additional effective in creating the results we want in our lives.
Developing the flexibility to move up and down this spectrum isn't easy. It will take years of self study and practice. Luckily, there is a tool that produces it ridiculously effortless and easy.
