The Introverted Owls

It's very easy to be busy in our lives and put our mental health at the very bottom of our list of priorities, if we put it at all. Our minds are extraordinary, but we need to guide them to recognize certain patterns because they won't do it on their own.  Our daily behavior is a perfect indicator of our mental health and one of the many habits we need to keep an eye on is called emotional mirroring. What Is Mirroring? First, you need to keep in mind what is meant by mirroring. It is exactly what the term implies—the behavior in which one person tends to imitate another person's attitude. This can include the way someone speaks, makes eye contact, or makes certain gestures with their hands.  When we mirror someone, we aren't really aware that we're doing it unless it is pointed out. Our bodies tend to do that as a way to build rapport and it's a sign that you're comfortable within your social setting. It is a good thing.  What Is Emotional Mirroring? Based o...

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...

Ever wonder what kind of role you play when you handle conflict? Not a lot of people would give this a moment's thought unless directly asked. We tend to handle a range of different conflicts in our lives, from the personal to the professional, as we encounter them. Not being aware of how our mind chooses to solve problems is what drags us and our opponents into an endless dilemma known as the Drama Triangle, simplified as follows:  What Is the Drama Triangle? All the way back during the late 1960's, psychologist Stephen Karpman described three basic roles (forming an upside down triangle) that people take on during complex interactions with one another. These roles do not define how people are generally; however, if they are not aware of their actions, they can easily be sucked into a never-ending cycle with no way out.  Karpman's dreaded drama triangle limits our abilities to lead healthy stress-free lives. Our minds unconsciously feed on self-punishing or self-satisfying...

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...

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...

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...

Empaths are all too familiar with the need to help someone in pain and make them feel better no matter the cost, even if it means we put their needs above our own.  It's who we are.  Every empath will probably have crossed paths with a narcissist or a few in their lives. Most empaths will have even ended up in a relationship with a narcissistic personality . The phrase "opposites attract" is quite fitting when it comes to narcissists and empaths . They are infinitely drawn towards each other. If you think about it, an empathic person represents the perfect victim to someone with narcissistic tendencies . On the same level, it would be very hard for an empath to avoid falling in their traps.   You have two extremely different personality types . Any relationship between them causes an endless amount of despair and emotional exhaustion , particularly to the empath . A common explanation for such a deadly attraction is simply because balance is required; it is ...

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...

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 ...

Personality type tests are quite popular online these days. We're all guilty of occasionally taking them as we stroll through social media. While some of them are designed just for the fun of it, others can literally change your life. Knowing your personality from the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument (MBTI) is one of the best things you can do for yourself. My personal experiences have taught me that and it's the reason why I'm dedicated to this blog.  Not convinced? Check out these 5 benefits to knowing your MBTI personality type : 1- Discovering Your Preferences and Answering Your "Whys" The MBTI breaks down your psychological preferences. By understanding personality types , you find out about your likes and dislikes. More importantly, you get answers to the lingering personal "Why" questions. Maybe you've always had that inner feeling sometimes that told you something is completely wrong, yet you couldn't explain why you felt this way so...