The Introverted Owls

People are complicated. Personalities are complex, to say the least. Why was there a sudden peak of interest in personality typing and testing the last couple of years? I believe that it's because when we struggle in life, we desperately want to look for a guidebook that strictly defines us and tells us what to do or who we are.  In this search, we fell into a few traps. There are many misconceptions about personality tests out there. Some people even claimed the famous Myers-Briggs test debunked from all precision whatsoever.  I think it's all about your perception of what these tests represent. Here are a few points from my personal opinion that might clear the air: Personality tests are a guide, rather than facts set in stone. If you deal with your personality test results like they are facts that cannot change, you will be disappointed. This is simply because there are many elements like upbringing, life situations, experience, and trauma that shape us and change us consta...

Personalities are what make us exactly who we are. As previously discussed, there are major Benefits to Knowing Your Personality Type that will help you in your daily life. On a more specific outlook, these benefits will come in handy at work as well.  Let’s be honest! We all probably spend more time at work than anywhere else. We meet a lot of different personalities in the workplace for sure. It can become tough to figure out how to communicate with each one to get the work done.  Understanding how you operate in a work environment is a major plus, but then understanding the people around you, from your boss to your peers, will move mountains for you! Here’s why: Conflicts Are Resolved More Efficiently Personality differences in the workplace naturally lead to conflicts we are all too familiar with. Conflicts are not really the problem, but the way they are handled can become an issue. You can’t really control the way the other person reacts or deals with conf...

Confrontation is a terrifying concept for introverts. We don't face how we feel head-on and we always need time to process things. So when something happens that upsets us, we simply don't know how to voice our feelings about it on the spot. Our defense mechanism is staying quiet about it, acting like there's nothing wrong, and keeping it lingering in our thoughts.  How introverts deal with conflict goes something like this: 1. Someone says something or does something hurtful.  2. The first instinct of an introvert is not reacting, mostly because they will be in shock of what took place. They go numb and not mention anything about the incident.  3. Overthinking starts to overwhelm them, which could go on for days. Details get blown out of proportion as they start to analyze the situation thoroughly. The other person has no idea. 4. They decide they are really upset about this. 5. They want to confront that person but chicken out every time because the...

Do you notice your child being the one always excited when there's a show or presentation in front of a big audience? Is your child the one initiating activities and being with friends?  Extroverts are most commonly linked to being quite an outward personality. They don't shy away from conversations, activities, public speaking, or socializing. It's easy to miss the signs if they are also highly sensitive because these two personality traits are not usually linked. They contradict each other. However, did you know that 30% of highly sensitive people are actually extroverts?  Here are 7 signs your child is a highly sensitive extrovert: 1. Your kid has a high sense of empathy and kindness.  2. They pay attention to the details. 3. Despite being very outgoing at ease, they sometimes require time to recharge after a long day. 4. Unlike highly sensitive introverts, they get bored if they spend too much time alone. 5. They have a deep process of thinking about eve...

Maybe you have always seen yourself as a perfectionist, and maybe not. Contrary to popular belief, most people cannot identify their own traits that characterize them as indeed perfectionists. The obvious reasons, such as being a highly-organized person, are not the main issue; check out these  5 Little-Known Signs of Perfectionism .  Now that you can recognize the pattern, it's time to learn how to overcome your perfectionism. The key is to learn about some tricks and try to gradually incorporate them into your daily life. Eventually, they will become habits. Here are a few tips on how to overcome being a perfectionist: 1. Return to Earth Perfectionism affects your thoughts and feelings, which naturally alters your behavior. It gives you permission to set insanely unrealistic standards for yourself and others, which makes you very critical (mostly of yourself). Your goal is to shift your mindset a bit and get back to reality.  Start by consciously setting...

Do you see yourself as a perfectionist? Do you often catch yourself not being satisfied with anything you achieve, always wanting to go that extra mile towards perfection? It's common for perfectionists to not see themselves as such. You can easily confuse being a high-achiever with being a perfectionist.  Psychologists define perfectionism as a personality trait in which the person sets for themselves excessively unrealistic standards and strives towards absolute flawlessness. Perfectionists tend to be very critical of themselves and others; they are known to be quite picky. Perfectionism is widely misinterpreted as a type of healthy motivator to achieve your goals when, in fact, it's the exact opposite. Anxiety, anger, overthinking, and rigidness are just some of the traits associated with it. There's a great cost to being a perfectionist, no doubt. Your perfectionism tendencies don't arise from a need to be perfect; they are rooted from a deep feeling of not...

It's easy to assume that all extroverts are the same. When the word extrovert comes to mind, you would probably associate it with someone who is social and outgoing, someone who has no problem speaking their mind. While that's true, it might come as a surprise to learn that each extroverted personality has a specific preference when it comes to communication. This information could come in handy the next time you interact with your extroverted friends or your extroverted boss. You can check the Preferred Interaction Styles of Introverts from our last post. Similarly, there are 8 Extroverted Personalities as described in the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument (MBTI) . These personalities are divided as such based on  Sensing and INtuition; Thinking and Feeling; Judging and Perceiving personality traits. The Interaction Style Module, created by psychologist and typologist Linda Berens,  divides extroverts into two categories: 1. Get-Things-Going Interaction Style (ENFP, E...

Every introverted personality type as described by the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument (MBTI)  leans towards an interaction style or a preferred way of communication . Imagine if you understood the best way to approach your loved ones or even your colleagues based on their personality type . Imagine if people around you went the extra mile to understand your preferences . Communicating wouldn't be such a hard thing to do! This is your first step towards effective communication that will help you in every aspect of your life, personal and professional.  There are 8 Introverted Personality Types   according to Myers-Briggs revolving around Sensing and INtuition; Thinking and Feeling; Judging and Perceiving personality traits. You can check out each one in more detail  here . Linda Berens is a psychologist and typologist who developed the Interaction Styles Module . The  8 introverted personalities are divided into two groups: 1- Behind-the-Scenes Intera...

When we're young, most of us fall into the trap of choosing a university major and consequently a career based on what is expected of us. We feel an obligation to fulfill what our parents, for example, think we should be doing with our lives or choose a career that is seen as more prestigious by those around us than what we really want to do. Sometimes, the issue is deeper than that. It's the fact that we don't know ourselves enough at that early yet critical stage of our lives to grasp what works for us and our personalities . The reality is we spend more time at work than anywhere else. It's important to be happy and satisfied with the path we've chosen.  Consider yourself lucky if you figured out your personality type before settling on a career. But don't get too caught up on the timing, you can always follow your passion no matter what stage you're at. You just have to be brave enough to learn and start. Personally, I read up on introverts wa...

There are great Benefits to Knowing Your Personality Type . It opens doors for you that you didn't know you needed open, which signifies the beauty of self-awareness. You've probably wondered and tried to figure out at some point whether you're an introvert or an extrovert . This simple Breakdown of the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument (MBTI) shows that there are 8 Introverted Personalities and 8 Extroverted Personalities .  Usually, you'll find yourself leaning more towards one or the other. But what if it's not that easy?  You should know that none of us are 100% extroverts or 100% introverts. We all fall on a long spectrum. Even the most introverted people have their extroverted moments, and vice versa. The greatest misconception about introverts is that they're shy when in reality we just like to process things more in our heads before we speak, and we hate small talk! We look for deep and meaningful conversations. If you find yourself having s...

There's no denying that we live in an  extroverted world .  Being parents of an introverted child  can be tough if you don't understand what your child needs. Kids don't understand themselves (most adults too!). Your kid needs you for guidance, so you have to go the extra mile to find out their  personality type  and act accordingly. Most  extroverted parents of introverts  who don't  get  why their kids act a certain way end up pushing them to be more social or slam them with more activities than they can take, which means no alone time or simply time to recharge. Some even keep sending a message to the child that the way they feel about social situations or being comfortable with only one/two friends is never enough, that something always needs to be changed to act more normal. This affects their self-confidence as they grow up. You need to be aware not to fall into these traps. If you notice that your kid is  introverted ...

Writing  has always been an escape for me. When I was in school, I would always find myself looking forward to the time I had to write anything and everything in my journal. I loved writing about my day and what happened in it in shocking details. I loved creating these huge calendars that had everything I wanted to do. I used to enjoy writing the lyrics of my favorite songs too. Looking back, I think I loved the feeling of having the complexity of my thoughts visible in front of me on paper, without really knowing that at the time. In the midst of all the adventures, surprises, life lessons, and mishaps that occur growing up , writing helped me tune out and live in my bubble for a while.  Being an introvert  means you enjoy time spent alone with nothing but your own thoughts for company, and writing goes hand in hand with solitude.  While it's not a rule that you have to be an  introvert to enjoy writing  and be good at it, it's something that ...

Being an empath can be a slippery slope. You don't really acknowledge the complications that come with it unless you experience them yourself, which usually means you've reached your limit or gone way beyond it. If you're a highly  empathetic person , then   you tend to understand on a deep level what other people are going through. When putting it this way, it doesn't seem like it can be an issue. Emotional empathy is beautiful and allows us to truly be there for each other. It allows us to connect; we naturally want these kinds of connections because it makes us feel understood and, most of all, loved . It's something that we need more of in today's society for sure. I believe that with all my heart. However, the phrase " too much of a good thing " applies here perfectly. There is a dark side to having too much empathy and it's a feeling that I know all too well; I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy! It's referred to as compassion fa...

How do you interpret the world around you? Do you focus on the reality of it or do you rely more on your imagination? Do you trust what you can see and touch or are you more inclined to believe your gut feeling? Sensing personalities (S) are observant realists; they assess situations according to the facts and they tend to be more traditional in their style of thinking. On the other hand, an intuitive personality (N)  specializes in thinking outside the box! We are observant as well, but we trust what we feel more than what we can see. Intuitive minds are not interested in small talk; we crave a deep and meaningful conversation. We are interested in what is hidden, as opposed to what is right there for everyone to see. We like to explore our endless imagination, which  opens the door for creativity and innovation. Intuitive people enjoy a few perks, no doubt, but it also means we are often misunderstood. Wanting to feel understood is a natural human need. We all wa...