I am an introvert at heart. And this is something I’ve been working on my entire life. Not that there is anything wrong with being introverted, but I can recount many times when I had to step out of my comfort zone and gather every bit of confidence I had in order to overcome my fears.
Someone once told me that there are 3 types of people: introverts, extroverts and hybrids.
An introvert is a “person who prefers calm environments, limits social engagement, or embraces a greater than average preference for solitude.” – dictionary.com
An extrovert, on the other hand, is “an outgoing, gregarious person who thrives in dynamic environments and seeks to maximize social engagement.”- dictionary.com
I tend to fit in the third category, hybrids, also known as ambiverts. An ambivert is “someone who exhibits qualities of both introversion and extroversion, and can flip into either depending on their mood, context, and goals.” – Scienceofpeople.com
Ambiverts, often called outgoing or social introverts, are introverted at the core but have managed, over the years, to develop social skills in order to interact with other people. To put it simply, they are shy, reserved people who try to overcome or have overcome their shyness and fear of social interaction.
I can’t say I have overcome mine just yet but it gets easier with time. Things that used to overwhelm me don’t bother me as much anymore. I am officially introvertedly extroverted! Yes, I know…I’m confused too, LOL.
What about you? Where do you fit on the spectrum?
I’ve always tended toward being an extrovert. But the hybrid idea makes a lot of sense. Trying to categorize people as either introvert or extrovert if troublesome…it seems to me that how people respond in specific situations depends largely on the context of the situation; the topic at hand, the person’s experience in that area, etc…
Another aspect of introverts and extroverts is how they refuel/recharge. Introverts retreat into alone time to refuel and extroverts spend time with people to refuel. I’m definitely an introvert, also an INFJ.
So true!