The social introverts
The introvert/extrovert classification is lacking
We made it to Friday! Here’s today’s reason to hate me:
Three people go into a room, but only two of them walk out. The room, however, is empty. Where is the third person?
Answer, at the end. If you’re enjoying this newsletter, please obsessively forward this to people and tell them to:
Patterns, baby.
Our brain loves them. We’d probably go mental (pun intended) without them. We’re basically pattern recognition machines.
This is why it’s so hard to come up with truly original ideas. If we all have more or less the same process, depending on what materials we put it, we’re gonna eventually come to similar conclusions.
It’s why lateral thinking is fun - it tries, and sometimes succeeds, in breaking those patterns.
That’s not fun for everyone, though, because lack of order is scary.
Because of our pattern proclivity, we also rush to put people in different categories that we’re familiar with. Meeting someone that we don’t understand is exciting, but also a bit horrifying.
One of the first things your brain does is that it tries to figure out what you have in common with that person based on what you think your personality is like.
Is that person passionate about the same things?
Do they have a similar life experience?
Are they an introvert or an extrovert?
And here we are. The age old classification of introverts and extroverts.
Which is which?
The introvert, by definition, is focused more on their inside world and the common view is that they would rather not socialize.
The extrovert, by definition, is focused on things outside themselves - the common view is that they’re the life of the party.
Here’s where I think this is wrong.
I’ve met so many introverts that are the life of the party.
Being social or not has nothing to do with being an introvert or an extrovert. You can learn being social and getting people excited.
The core difference, though, is charging mechanism.
Yup, you read that right. Think of humans as batteries.
Some are solar powered and need to be outside in order to recharge.
Others use a normal outlet and need to be left alone while they charge.
Most people that know me would say I’m an extrovert. People who know me really well know that’s not the case. I love being around people and interacting with them, but it drains my battery life. True extroverts get energy out of their interaction, I spend it.
Next time you meet someone, try to spruce up your pattern recognition and ask yourself this:
Do they need time off after socializing or does it seem like they could go on forever?
You’d be surprised how much people like you when they see you’re trying to relate to them and not just jumping to conclusions.
Answer: the third person is in a wheelchair. They wheeled out.
I told you you’re gonna hate me. See you all on Monday!