Many people believe that introversion is about being antisocial, and that's really a misperception. Because actually it's just that introverts are differently social. So they would prefer to have a glass of wine with a close friend as opposed to going to a loud party full of strangers.
Susan CainOr at school you might have been prodded to come โout of your shellโโthat noxious expression which fails to appreciate that some animals naturally carry shelter everywhere they go, and that some humans are just the same.
Susan CainRemember that introverts react not only to new people, but also to new places and events. So donโt mistake a childโs caution in new situations for an inability to relate to others. Heโs recoiling from novelty or overstimulation, not from human contact. Introverts are just as likely as the next kid to seek othersโ company, though often in smaller doses
Susan CainWhat if you love knowledge for its own sake, not necessarily as a blueprint to action? What if you wish there were more, not fewer reflective types in the world?
Susan CainThe emphasis is on community, on participating in more and more programs and events, on meeting more and more people. Itโs a constant tension for many introverts that theyโre not living that out. And in a religious world, thereโs more at stake when you feel that tension. It doesnโt feel like โIโm not doing as well as Iโd like.โ It feels like โGod isnโt pleased with me.โ
Susan Cain