Multiple times I have been told to "come out of my
shell". This has been said to me by my family, friends, and even myself. I
have told myself over and over to just break out of this shell and be a
likeable, sociable person. So I have put on a mask many times just for everyone
to like me. Not too long ago I put on my extrovert mask to do an interview for
a job I really wanted. It's kindof sad to know that I have to become someone
who is energetic, full of pep, and also extremely confident just to get a job that
I want. Every shift not only did I clock in but I also put on my mask. I became
a different person so customers would come back, give a good survey for the
store, and impress my supervisors. Yes I can do this for almost eight hours but
I am not a person who can do this all day, everyday. I am the person that
enjoys her alone time. I'm aware that I'm not a full blown introvert because of
how Quiet describes them. I believe
I'm more of an ambivert which described in the book is someone who is both introvert
and extrovert. However, according to the twenty true and false questions I lean a little more to the introvert side. I expected this to be the outcome. I
like to have fun but instead of parties with my friends, sometimes I'd rather
just sit in my room and play an MMO or watch countless hours of Game of Thrones.
I like my alone time, I like to observe rather than talk your ear off, and I like to
think everything through before making a rash decision. This book, Quiet, is definitely teaching me that I am not as bad
as a person as society believes introverts to be. I could go on forever of examples
of how I am an ambivert with more of an introvert side and what my friends and
family often say that make me hate the introvert in me. However, no one has
time to read a lengthy and boring autobiography. I know I can be a fun person
when I choose to be and I can also be a confident person when I need to be. Unfortunately,
all I have to do is put on this extrovert mask to make society happy and in the
end make me happy knowing that society likes me.
I'm with you 100%. I live by your same ideals and to be honest the world is changing with each generation. The baby boomers are staring to die out and the millennials are taking the stage. Im and artist so i have seen the struggle that artist have been throughout history and it is starting to happen for ambiverts as well. The world is starting to think for itself and not care what another thinks of it. Just wait we will have our moment at some point in our lives and when that day comes I’m sure I will be sitting inside play whatever new video game has come out in the future. Future game!!
ReplyDeletehello Alexa,
ReplyDeleteI must admit you did a great job with explaining the introvert side of you.After reading your post I am convince that I’m more of an introvert than that of an extrovert because we both have lots of similarities in behaviors. I agree that a person with introvert personality must put on extrovert mask to get society attention. I sometime find myself putting on my extrovert mask when I’m at an interview, work or at a social gathering. I believe that due to society labeling personality, it makes it even hard to know a person true personality nowadays.
Good evening Alexa. After reading your post I agree with you 100%. I see myself putting on a "mask" just like you do in certain situations. It seems that is what society and work situations are requiring of us these days. We must act out an ideal that has been around and seems to be required. I,like you, do what is required at certain social situations so as to not seem like a wallflower of have people ask me if everything is okay or if I am having fun. So what person are we truly. The one we are at home or the one we are with in a group.
ReplyDeleteI very much understand that feeling of having to put on a mask. I am a very different person at work then I am when I’m with my close friends or family. At work I am also having to find myself to put on that fake smile to prove to everyone that I’m happy, in a good mood, or fake that I like being around people when all I want to do is be in my room where there is no one and I can be alone and build the energy I need to get through the rest of the day. The person that everyone else sees is not usually the real me. I totally understand what you are going through and how you feel.
ReplyDeleteAlexa,
ReplyDeleteYour post was very inspiring and thanks for sharing such personal feeling. I see myself being more of an Extrovert and at first it was hard for me to relate to the book because it didn't seem like it was coming from a real person. But thanks to your and other discussion post I can definitely see your side of the story. It just made things more real, and made me understand and introverts feelings in a different light. I'm glad that you are now confident and don't see being an introvert as a weakness. Susan Cain, the author of the book, was for a while a Wall Street Lawyer and she still identified as an introvert. I think its a fascinating concept. Great Job!