The Introverted Owls

Whether or not you're new to MBTI personality types, it's worth it to dig a little deeper and understand it more. Awareness does wonders to your life! You can check a simple breakdown of MBTI or the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument previously discussed on the blog.  Judging vs. Perceiving A common source of confusion is the difference between the  Judging (J)  or  Perceiving (P)   aspect of our personalities. Their names don't really help settle the matter because judging here is not all about forming an opinion or evaluating. Similarly, perceiving in terms of personality typing is not about awareness of something. We know where the confusion comes from! Let's break that cycle, shall we? Judging and perceiving refer to the way you prefer to deal with your outer world in a sense; your chosen preference is what people often see because it's how you choose to organize what is visible to them. They  are preferences in our personalities that are innately opposite t...

With all this talk about isolation and social distancing in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, it was naturally assumed by the entire world, introverts included, that it's the year of the introverts. Endless memes swarmed social media about how an introvert's normal lifestyle has become the new cool. We introverts are guilty of sharing a few too!  It is sufficient for a good laugh in a time of uncertainty. However, as reality set in, it would seem that things are not as rainbows and butterflies for introverts as everyone expected. There is no doubt quarantine is hell for extroverts who thrive on socializing, but you would be surprised how difficult it can be for introverts as well. Check out these 4 misconceptions about introverts in quarantine: 1. Introverts Are Living the Time of Their Lives No, we are definitely not having a blast and living our dream life during this crisis. In fact, it's safe to assume that no one is. The advantage introverts have in such times ...

Have you always been more drawn to a rainy day than most people? Do you feel a hint of joy the minute you see those tiny drops fall from the sky?  Did you know that feeling this way about rain is highly associated with being an introvert? It's true! Introverts are more drawn to the beauty of a rainy day with all its possibilities to cozy up in their favorite blankets with a hot cup of cocoa, nose deep into a good book. Sounds good to me! There's actually a term for people who love everything about rain, and that's pluviophiles . If you're wondering why most introverts are classified into that very special group, here are 5 reasons why introverts love rain: 1. Rain Brings a Sense of Peace While some people may get out of the rain as soon as they can to avoid that dreaded feeling of being wet, introverts can stand for hours under the rain looking up at the sky because it's peaceful.  2. The Rain's White Noise Is Therapeutic Introverts enjoy t...

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...

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...

There are many reasons why it's important to be mindful about what affects your energy . What you choose to eat and whether or not you  exercise are great factors to consider, no doubt, yet most of us seem to forget other equally important aspects. The rhythm of our thoughts, emotions, and feelings go side by side with our energy. The environment we are in and the people we interact with decide how peaceful or how stressful we are .  Stress depletes our energy. Negativity depletes our energy. You could also be giving too much of your energy away to the point that so little or none at all remains for you, which is common for empaths and highly sensitive people . Empaths often experience compassion fatigue , which results from being too empathetic by nature. You could even be feeling what is known as an introvert hangover , which happens when an introvert personality gets too overwhelmed with external stimuli and doesn't spend enough time recharging .  We have to...

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...

The idea of solo travel can be quite daunting to us introverts . Talking to strangers and meeting new people in unfamiliar territory are the basis of solo travel, so there are a lot of reasons to scare introverts away.  Anything outside of our comfort zone is intimidating at first, but once we pluck up the courage to step outside our bubble, there's no going back.   Here are 4 reasons why every introvert should try solo traveling : 1- It Helps You Get Out of Your Head We introverts tend to enjoy living in our heads. Our thoughts are our sanctuary. Our inner world is perfect for us. That means that if we are given the choice between staying in or being out there experiencing the world , we'll be happy with the former. There's nothing wrong with that, but a balance is needed. Traveling gives you the opportunity to step outside your head for a while and take in new experiences that force your thoughts in different directions. You get to do that on your own terms when you...

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 ...

Yes, an introvert hangover is a real thing! It's not an official term, but it's a common description among introverts . Every kind of introvert can relate to that feeling. The idea might seem extreme to our extroverted friends, but it perfectly describes what we go through when we are beyond our socializing limit. The symptoms of an introvert hangover for me usually start in the form of shutting down. If I reach my limit of socializing for the day and am forced to continue in a social situation, my brain sort of freezes to taking in any new information. I start nodding and agreeing to everything to avoid small talk because I literally don't have the energy anymore to handle it. As a result, I will seem extra quiet to the people around me. When I get home, anxiety kicks in. So, I'm not only experiencing burnout, I'm analyzing every little thing I said and did, which is common with an  empathetic/highly-sensitive introvert personality . At that point, I'm bas...

What is leadership ? It would probably mean different things to different people. Today, society made us believe that extroversion is a must-have trait in order to be a successful leader in the workplace. Extroverted personalities exude charisma, confidence, and enthusiasm loudly for everyone to notice. They do it effortlessly too because their energy is gained through social interactions. The world would like to make us believe that just because introverts don't noticeably have these specific traits, their leadership style  would be ineffective. Back in 2006, a survey found that 65% of senior executives saw introversion as a "barrier to leadership." Successful leaders  are able to motivate and inspire their team. Their main goal is to forge ways for their followers to move forward. They are able to make significant decisions for the entire team when it's needed. Somewhere along the line, it became common knowledge that introverted personalities wouldn't ...

Society has taught us that if you're an introvert, then by default it puts you at a disadvantage. Being an introvert in today's world means being labeled as someone who is antisocial (I hate that word!), shy, unfriendly, or even lonely (this one specifically makes me laugh; they have no idea how much we  genuinely enjoy spending time alone!). These are all common misconceptions, of course. As introverts, we know these definitions are not who we are, yet sadly we are affected by them most of the time. As a result, we try to be better . We try to hide our true feelings and act " extroverted " because we want to fit in. I'm here to tell you this is not a healthy way to live your life. You should socialize with people on your own terms when you feel comfortable, not because you're trying to impress anybody by appearing more extroverted.  Extroverts have a lot of obvious strengths when it comes to socializing and being accepted in general. A lot of intro...

I remember the day I took the Myers Briggs personality test like it was yesterday. It was completely random. I came across an article about "signs you might be an INFJ ." I was just curious as to what that was so I opened it. As I read every point, I felt overwhelmed because all of them fit my personality. I kept thinking "It's not a me thing, it's an INFJ thing!!" Somehow I've gone through my entire adult life thinking nobody will ever understand how I see things or how I feel about certain things. And I've gotten used to that idea so I mostly bottled things up deep inside. It's very rare that I open up to someone because of that very feeling and you can imagine how that affects all kinds of relationships. After I read that article, I took the online personality test  (more than once) and it was confirmed. I'm an INFJ , the rarest personality type in the world— the "counselors" who often feel misunderstood so they tend to hide ...