Extroverted introvert

“I’m an extroverted introvert – weird right?!”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I get this message in my DMs almost daily⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So I’m going to address it head on…⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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No, you’re not⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What this usually means is ‘I consider myself an introvert, but I like being around people too’⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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As a society we like to put labels on things. Put people into categories. It makes it easier for our brains to process information & make quick decisions based on what we already (think we) know⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Carl Jung’s original terms were ‘introverted’ & ‘extroverted’. He talked of a scale of introversion & extroversion that each individual sat somewhere along. He thought it highly unlikely anyone would be 100% one or the other. He acknowledged that where we are on the scale isn’t fixed, but dynamic to an extent.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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In modern day society we use the terms ‘introvert & ‘extrovert’, which feel much more rigid, much more label-ish⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Jung’s research defined introverted as two characteristics:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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• We process information internally⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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•We recharge our energy alone⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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As opposed to extroverted folk, who:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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•Process information externally⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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•Recharge by being around people⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Nowhere does he say anything about how much we like people or not!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So, is it possible to be an extroverted introvert? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Probably not – that would mean you met all 4 of the criteria above, which would probably mean you’re slap bang in the middle of the scale (this has been called an ambivert by some)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Is it possible to be a sociable introvert who enjoys the company of others? Absolutely! You’ll just probably need your alone time to recharge afterwards 🙂 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Sound familiar?