It begins when you learn about all your great traits.
I went on my first backpacking trip this past weekend. It was a guided trip that my boyfriend Stephen and I signed up for. We were joined by 7 other strangers plus our guide. The next morning, I felt introspective and subdued. My immediate reaction was to ask, "What's wrong with you, Debby?"
How I got better.
Dictionary.com defines an introvert as a shy person. In a society that praises extroversion, charm, and assertiveness, it’s no wonder I have been judging and chastising myself. Being an introvert is more than just being shy. More studies and research on the topic are being done. This explains why an entire day of being with strangers on my camping trip left me feeling drained the following day. It was liberating to read Jonkman’s book and discover that I am not alone in rejoicing in a day of solitude. Here are your greatest strengths. For most of my life, I have wished I was an extrovert. I saw the world as extroverted and sadly peered in wondering how I would ever fit in. But when I started to get to know myself better from an objective point of view and introverts. I have learned that introverts like myself have our own set of strengths and good qualities that we can be grateful for. Rather than trying to change who we are, it’s much easier to accept our inherent traits. Happiness comes from owning your introversion. The more I learn about the characteristics of introverts, the more I can set my life up to work in harmony with them. If I know that I am going to be with a bunch of strangers on a camping trip, I can prepare by giving myself alone time. I often find in social gatherings that if I give myself a task to do, I feel more comfortable and alleviate some of the pressure to make idle chitchat. At the same time, I am helping out the host. Finding ways to play to our strengths will give us more confidence to work on our weaknesses.
Source:
Introverts, Here's How to Thrive in an Extroverted World