Being the social
power house around people is what most people strive for especially when in a
school setting. There is always that one loud mouth that is always at the end
of your Professors sentence with a witty remark to get the class going. Many times
I look at these people and wonder if I can be like that and of course the
answer is usually no. I would put myself in the role of an introvert but many
times I can be very much a hybrid of the two. Since I was a baby my parents
told me that I rarely ever cried. I would just stare blankly and never tried to
get too much attention. There was a time in my young childhood that I was energetic
and talkative but I have since reverted back into the so called “shell” that I originated
from. I use to hate group projects and still do to this day it’s just that
sense of having to impress another person that forced me to try to be someone I’m
not. Then one day it sort of clicked in my head. I really don’t care at all
what people think about me and the social norms are stupid. I started hanging
out with people I wanted to and many times stayed by myself. I discovered that I
didn’t need people to be happy with my life there, were more of an added bonus.
Not to say that an extroverted person doesn’t bring excitement to a group of
people.
Now here is the
really strange part. Depending on the people I surround myself with; I tend to
become more extroverted. I’ll be outgoing, try to make people laugh, and
basically put on a show so that all eyes will turn to me instead of another. There
is a quote by Shakespeare (wither he said it or not I’ll give him the credit)
that I like to live my life by: “all the world’s a stage.” When you go for an
interview, when you meet new family, when you sell a product, when you perform
a play, you have to put yourself in an extroverted mindset. Even if you are an
introvert, you put on a façade that changes your image for a moment just enough
to be noticed. It’s this style that allows me to learn what it is to be both
introverted and extroverted. Sometimes being the one listening make you learn a
lot more than the one taking the lead. Plus it keeps you from losing your
voice. That’s a bonus.
Hi Josh!
ReplyDeleteYou and I seem to have a lot in common. When I was younger I was much “louder” but as I got older I became quieter and more tucked into my shell. In most situations I would rather work by myself and am happier just spending some time with a few close friends rather than a big group of people. I’ve spent plenty of time having people tell me I need to change and even trying to change me. I finally reached a point where I too no longer cared what other people think about me. It doesn’t matter. I don’t need to impress others or fit in to be happy. I am a very introverted person and still happen to lead a very happy and fulfilling life. But like you, I also seem to have the ability to become more extroverted in nature. When I’m with family and close friends, or even sometimes strangers who I just met I can be very talkative. I once had a college dean tell me I seemed very bubbly and outgoing during an interview. I also think that you learn so much by just listening to what’s going on around you. My former classmates would be shocked to learn how much I really heard and knew about them.
Ha! Josh I really enjoyed reading that. There were quite a few statements you made that were spot on to lines which have passed through my psyche. Specifically that of hating group projects, feeling the need to have to impress the other onlookers, and eventually not really caring at all what others think.
ReplyDeleteI agree fully with your comments regarding “Life’s a Stage” and the putting on of a mask. I think an introvert can really come to enjoy that mask, as long as it isn’t worn too long or for the wrong reasons. There was talk in the book about introverts at meetings who had the ability to go a bit one on one with other listeners, and found great success. But when it comes to center stage, I agree that the typical introvert attitude won’t keep them watching, you’ve got to twirl the cane around a bit between dance steps.
A very enjoyable post Josh. Nice title too! Thank you.
Josh,
ReplyDeleteYour title drew me in right away, I had to find out more. I have also often wondered how I also could become that person who always has to have an answer or a question when it came to the school setting. Instead of becoming that person what I did was marry that person. Because I married a person with this personality I often am let off the hook when it comes to social gatherings. I let him do all the talking while I watch and listen learning all I can from people's body language and other tells. However, I also can take the "stage", as you said when it is my time for the spotlight. It is a balancing act for almost everything we do in life and learning when to make our entrance is something we must do with some trial and error.
Thanks guys. I'm glad you all enjoyed it. in writing the title has always been my favorite because it is indeed the first thing people see.
ReplyDelete