July 2nd Monday: Being introvert

Throughout my life, I have been suffered from the common misconception that being an "introvert" as a bad thing. Surprisingly to me, the statistics suggests that there are more extrovert people than introverts in this world. However, when I reflect back my past life, I realize that there are many times that I felt helpless and rejected for being introverts. Speaking up in front of people, sharing your thoughts all the times in problem solving situation, and always focusing team collaboration are society's expectation on you to do, while it seems like to me that it is easier for introverts to just think innerly in those situations. I remember feeling very stressed when I was in high school  my teachers always forced me to go out with Friday night party or social events, when all I wanted to do is watching some Youtube videos of my favorite Youtubers or talk to my closest friends. One time I remember my dorm parent told me "you just hate people" just because I wanted to stay quiet and do not want to be a part of something. I never felt sad not because I was alone (in fact I wasn't alone at all because I had a good best friends as well ) but because I felt rejected for being "introvert", or being who you are comfortable with yourself. So one time I tried to be very extrovert, faking myself as if I was having 100% fun in the social event, but at the end of the day, you feel drain from faking yourself too much and all you want to do is just having a fun time being alone. It does not mean you don't need friends. I love connecting with people and honestly my friendship with friends are stronger than others, since introverts care and feel a lot more than you think. According the famous ted talk "The power of introverts" by Susan Cain, so many great historical leaders are known for being introvert. In fact, the study from Warton school by Adam Grant suggests introverts deliver better outcomes than extroverts do, since they are much more likely to let those employees run with their ideas, whereas an extrovert can, quite unwittingly, get so excited about things that they are putting their own stamp on things, and other people's ideas might not as easily then bubble up to the surface. The power of introverts tends to be neglected. The society needs to respect our thoughts and inner thoughts more often and accept there are two types of people exist in this world. Quest people have the loudest mind - Stephen Hawkin.