Ok, I'm going to say something here that is probably unpopular (and YAY, it has NOTHING to do with COVID, masks, vaccines, politics, etc)! Until I read this article, I was kind of hesitant to speak on the subject. I found some interesting side nuggets in this article...I'll post the link below....and would LOVE your thoughts!!!

My Opinion

ᴡᴀʏ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ʜɪᴅɪɴɢ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴇʟꜰ-ᴅᴇꜱᴄʀɪᴘᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ "ɪɴᴛʀᴏᴠᴇʀᴛ" ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪɴꜱᴛᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴅᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ꜱʜʏɴᴇꜱꜱ, ꜱᴇɴꜱᴏʀʏ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇꜱꜱɪɴɢ ꜱᴇɴꜱɪᴛɪᴠɪᴛʏ, ᴀɴxɪᴇᴛʏ, ʟᴏᴡ ꜱᴇʟꜰ-ᴇꜱᴛᴇᴇᴍ, ʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴇʟꜰ-ᴄᴏɴꜰɪᴅᴇɴᴄᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ/ᴏʀ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴜʀᴏᴛɪᴄ.

˜”*°•.˜”*°• 𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙈! •°*”˜.•°*”˜

From the article:

"...they kept mixing together many different traits under the general umbrella 'introversion.' For instance, some lists include shyness-related behaviors, but it's well documented that shyness is not the same thing as introversion. Shyness is more related to being anxious and neurotic. There are plenty of introverts who prefer alone time but really aren't anxious or shy when interacting with other people.

Another common misconception perpetuated ... is that introversion and sensory processing sensitivity are the same things. Actually, sensory processing sensitivity is not the same thing as introversion. There are plenty of socially introverted folks who can deal with loud sounds and bright lights, even though they may get emotionally drained from too many superficial social interactions. Vice versa, there are plenty of socially extraverted individuals who get overstimulated by sensory input. A number of studies support the idea that sensory processing sensitivity is much more strongly linked to anxiety (neuroticism) and openness to experience than introversion. "

Therefore, you can be an introvert and be 100% ok with new situations, public speaking, meeting people, and much more! If not, there's a deeper issue at play. Get help...or at least get honest with yourself.

It wasn't until I joined an introvert group on Facebook that I realized what a HUGE difference between the definition I have for "introvert" (drawing energy from being alone; turning one's thoughts inwards) versus what the people on the page seemed to define as introverts (socially awkward, sensory sensitivity issues, shyness, anxious to be with others, wanting to not leave the house, etc.).

I used to be a lot more shy. In fact, when I tell people that I'm shy, they looked at me with a shocked expression and say, "YOU?!? Shy?! No." But it was a label I had put on myself when I was young and I thought it was true because of the fear I felt inside. I thought that people who weren't shy didn't have any problem getting up in front of others. Then I started hearing about all the celebrities that got physically ill before performing...out of fear. And it changed my outlook. I started thinking that there was a way out of my self imposed prison of shyness.

SHY -- It was a label that I stuck to so strongly that in 1998, when my brother asked me to do the readings for his wedding ceremony, I told him no because I was too shy to speak in front of adults. He couldn't figure it out because I was a teacher...I spoke in front of kids all day. I told him that kids were different....I could get down on all fours and bark like a dog in front of kids! But I couldn't even give a talk in front of adults. I regretted that SO much that over the next 10 years I started agreeing (or even volunteering) to speak at public events as much as I possibly could to get over my shyness...which was really just under-confidence. And the more I talked, the easier it got. (It is most difficult when I have no idea what to say. Duh. But when I have it all written out, I'm at ease. lol) I even wrote and read my mother's eulogy and practiced it so many times crying that when I gave it, I could be clear and smooth. This past year, I've made it part of my business model by giving classes and leading speed dating events...and with each one, I'm improving my skills and raising my confidence. I'm far from perfect...and I look forward to the improvements of becoming really smooth and remembering everything I want to say!

So, in summary, if you want to be different in some way because it is affecting your quality of life, then DO SOMETHING about it. I'm really thankful for that pivotal point when I was so disappointed in saying no to read at my brother's wedding because I was too fearful that I started changing my actions and behavior. Please don't hide behind "shyness", "introvert", or any other label if you're struggling with other issues. Get help. Or just help yourself.

(to read the article, click here)