I’m this person and I often get misunderstood. I can be the center of a room and I’m loud not quiet. People attribute this with being an extrovert. I am absolutely not, I am an introvert. It’s draining for me to be front and center but I don’t mind doing it. I recharge by being alone. I have to explain this to folks often.
In my mind, it’s a best of both worlds being able to do both. But the introvert/extrovert is about how you gain energy, not whether you are shy or center of attention.
I’m not really this person but I’ve often been told I am too comfortable with people to be an introvert.
I can attest to this though. Even if I’m not front and center of a social gathering, it’s still incredibly draining to me, and would take a few days to recharge. Even longer if I’ve got to be in charge and be front and center (takes a few weeks to recharge from that).
I think it’s a difference between what is natural (being alone, recharging, etc.) and what is forced (being front and center in a crowd). Being an introvert doesn’t mean you can’t learn being comfortable being front and center in a crowd. As you’ve said, it’s a matter of how you gain energy and what mode you’re most at home with.
I think a lot of people convolute introversion with social anxiety.
My social life vastly improved when I switched to working remotely. When I wasn’t, I was burning all my social energy at work and nights and weekends I’d go into hermit mode. Now I’m sitting on my social charger all day and have the energy to hang out with my friends after work/on weekends. Lots of them don’t believe I’m introverted.
A bartender friend coined the term “closet extrovert” to describe me and I don’t hate it.
I’m this person and I often get misunderstood. I can be the center of a room and I’m loud not quiet. People attribute this with being an extrovert. I am absolutely not, I am an introvert. It’s draining for me to be front and center but I don’t mind doing it. I recharge by being alone. I have to explain this to folks often.
In my mind, it’s a best of both worlds being able to do both. But the introvert/extrovert is about how you gain energy, not whether you are shy or center of attention.
I’m not really this person but I’ve often been told I am too comfortable with people to be an introvert.
I can attest to this though. Even if I’m not front and center of a social gathering, it’s still incredibly draining to me, and would take a few days to recharge. Even longer if I’ve got to be in charge and be front and center (takes a few weeks to recharge from that).
I think it’s a difference between what is natural (being alone, recharging, etc.) and what is forced (being front and center in a crowd). Being an introvert doesn’t mean you can’t learn being comfortable being front and center in a crowd. As you’ve said, it’s a matter of how you gain energy and what mode you’re most at home with.
I think a lot of people convolute introversion with social anxiety.
My social life vastly improved when I switched to working remotely. When I wasn’t, I was burning all my social energy at work and nights and weekends I’d go into hermit mode. Now I’m sitting on my social charger all day and have the energy to hang out with my friends after work/on weekends. Lots of them don’t believe I’m introverted.
A bartender friend coined the term “closet extrovert” to describe me and I don’t hate it.