Did you know that introverts make up one third to one half of the world’s population? And yet most introverts currently feel or have felt like there is something wrong with them.
I know this because every week I get emails, Twitter messages, Facebook comments and comments on this website from people who say things like:
“I have always felt that I was on the outside looking in, cursed to only observe the world.”
“I turn 49 this year and I’ve been trying to “fix” myself all of my life. This has left me literally depressed since I was a teenager. When I faced the source of my depression, I realized that thinking that my introversion was a problem WAS the problem.”
” I have to say I thought I was the only one who felt like this at times and as you mention in other posts I have often had people outright tell me there is something wrong with me.”
“For the last 2 weeks I have been reading your postings. I am feeling very proud and confident about myself. Before I thought I had some problems, but now I know I am just an introvert and am OK. your blog helped me a lot to find myself.”
The underlying message in all of these comments is, I thought there was something wrong with me.
This means that one third to one half of the entire world’s population has been made to feel defective, inferior, and misunderstood.
One third to one half of the population!
Can anyone else see how messed up that is? This is why I’m so passionate about what I do.
It’s your time
Now is the time for introverts to take back their self-worth and wear their introversion proudly. Tweet this
Now is the time for introverts to quietly revolutionize they way they see themselves.
Now is the time for introverts to set the record straight about unflattering stereotypes and myths related to introversion.
Now is the time for introverts to STOP struggling under the weight of the extrovert ideal and start living life on their own blissfully introverted terms. There is nothing wrong with you
I want you to know that there is nothing wrong with you because you are an introvert. There is nothing wrong with you if you need more alone time than your extroverted friends. There is nothing wrong with you if you feel uncomfortable in large groups of people. There is nothing wrong with you if you feel drained by crowds and social activities. There is nothing wrong with you if you want to leave the party early. There is nothing wrong with you if you talk slowly and use an economy of words.
One third to one half of the people in this big beautiful world of ours are just like you!
Crazy, right? All this time you thought you were the only one. You thought that your innate needs and desires were shameful, icky and wrong somehow. You thought you needed to fix yourself. Maybe other people tried to fix you. Well, they were wrong, love. You were wrong, too.
Because there is nothing wrong with you!!!! (did I say that already?)
What you need to know right now
Here is what I really want every introvert reading this to know right now:
I want you to know that you are enough just as you are. You are worthy of love, respect, joy and any other good thing you desire today – not when you’re more charismatic; not when you are further along in your career; not when you are more fit, or beautiful, or extroverted; not when someone tells you that you are. You are worthy just as you are in this moment. Today.
Lots of innie love,
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So i was thinking if it’s true that there are so many introverts in the world then why don’t I know any , do we hide ourselves away. Then I realised that my daughter is an introvert who sits In her room surrounded by her beloved books and tells me she’s fine, that I should stop trying to change her and to accept her the way she is. I have a lot learn .
Paul
Do you know what I was googling before I found this blog? Sociopath! Definition of sociopath! Because I really wanted to know if that’s what I was. Fortunately, that description doesn’t fit me at all, quite the opposite infact. But I was desperately trying to figure out what the heck was wrong with me! I’m 47 by the way. I have been in and out of depression since my 20s and recently find myself sliding back into a depression that I wanted out of. I am married to an extrovert. My son is an extrovert. I love my kid, but being around a lot of children just exhausts me. I was beginning to feel really guilty about that as my son is 5 and just starting his social journey in life, which means lots of parties, lots of playdates (which I also have to host), lots of standing at the school gate pretending to be interested in what other mums are saying. Lots of interaction with the school. And I don’t like it. What was wrong with me??? When I Googled ‘define introvert’ it was like an epiphany. I have just read your post above and I’m here sobbing. I feel vindicated. Of course I was told as a kid to come out of my shell, to join in, forced to do public speaking etc, etc. I just wasn’t ‘right’. Now I feel so much better. Just for discovering this one thing. Thank you for existing. Thank you for helping. I am an introvert… and proud! Leanda x
Wow, that is inspiring. I’m happy you found me, Leanda. Love. Xo
I’m on the same boat as Paul; only difference is I’m in my really early 20s. So I guess I am lucky that I’ve found this website early on in my life 🙂 I’ve been through a lot of social suppression. I was coming in and out of depression because of this. I kept getting confused as to why I’m always exhausted around people I care about (who turn out to be extroverts and have dazzling charisma). I envied them because they stick out so much. Kept on contemplating what was wrong with me. Kept thinking about why I don’t fit in and why I worry too much, despite my friends telling me otherwise. I wanted to stop being like this. But when I finally paid attention to the introversion/extroversion spectrum, I too had an epiphany like Paul. I felt like a lot of weight was taken off my shoulders and I kept googling “introversion” to discover and appreciate myself, my true self; not the mask I put on for a lot of people just to fit in. Then today, I found your blog, introvertspring, and now I’m never gonna google to discover myself anymore – because thanks to you I now understand myself. All the topics I’ve read made me feel like someone out there understands me, and it’s helping me embrace my TRUEST self 🙂 Thank you Michaela, my life is now going to turn around for the better
Hi Michaela
I’m a science enthusiast when i was in my college introverted life, i like knowing new science discovery and your site is my greatest discovery.I like finding wisdom quotes in a lot of books too and made me understand there’s nothing wrong with me, and for me “introvert spring manifesto” is my best paper i have ever read.
I wrote and editing this few words almost an hour.I really want to add more, but my mind is in trouble.
thank you so much for your effort,
Romer
Thank you Michaela 🙂
You’re welcome, Raquel! 🙂