Paul Brian
Introverts are known to draw more energy from time alone or in the company of a few close friends.
Although they come in all types, introverts are generally more reserved, quiet and introspective.
But there are specific qualities of introverts that are often overlooked.
I know because I’ve spent a lot of time studying and deciding what my own personality type is and concluded I’m an extroverted introvert.
No matter what type of person you are, this article will clarify a lot for you about the skills and traits of introverts that other people don’t always recognize.
1) Thinking over decisions for a long time
Introverted people think about their decisions for a long time.
This is especially true when it comes to choices which will have a big impact and are very important.
The introvert may be a more intuitive or rational person, but either way they’re going to weigh the pros and cons and really think over what to do.
They are also likely to only ask for advice from a few people close to them, rather than fielding the opinions of a wide circle of family, friends and acquaintances.
2) Planning further ahead and long-term
When it comes to decision-making, the introvert also makes longer-term plans.
This actually has a neurological and biological basis, and isn’t just about somebody’s whims or ephemeral behavior.
In fact, neuroscientists have found that introverts have more brain power allocated to the part of your brain tasked with long-term problem-solving.
“Researchers have found that introverts have a higher blood flow to their frontal lobe than extroverts do.
This part of the brain helps you remember things, solve problems, and plan ahead.”
3) Being harder to get to know, but forming close connections once you warm up
It’s true that introverts generally have a smaller, tight-knit circle of friends.
They are harder to get to know than extroverts and move at a slower pace socially.
While introverts may be highly sociable with their close friends, meeting somebody new takes time.
The introvert is willing to form new connections and strike up new friendships, but they don’t do it overnight.
It may take months and sometimes years for them to truly warm up and let somebody in their full trust and inner circle.
Introverts aren’t unfriendly, they just take longer to befriend.
4) Highly perceptive and an astute observer and analyst of human behavior
Another of the often underestimated traits of introverts is that they are very astute observers of people and human behavior.
When it comes to people watchers, introverts are at the very top.
As for being a behavioral analyst for law enforcement or similar services, they’re right at the top of the list of talents of an introvert as well.
With a deep observational capacity along with the ability to understand and empathize with people’s behavior, introvert’s have sharp intuition that rarely fails them.
5) Seeking out jobs where you can be a self-starter and grow at your own pace
Introverts are drawn to entrepreneurship and jobs which leave a lot of room for personal growth.
They tend to avoid or dislike strictly top-down jobs where they are told what to do and not given much creative or intellectual freedom.
For this reason, you are likely to find introverts in the type of jobs where they’re able to move at their own pace and explore knowledge, new innovations and individualized paths.
This can include:
- Academia
- Research
- Writing
- Graphic design
- Photography
- Architecture
- Art
The introvert can work well in a tight-knit group and isn’t necessarily anti-authority.
But the key is that they want situations where they can discover new things and use their power of reflection and introspection.
6) Interesting in philosophies, faiths and spiritual paths that leave lots of room for personal exploration and growth
Introverts are drawn to philosophies and spiritual paths that leave room for their own discovery and contemplation.
This can include conventional religious faiths, alternative spiritual paths or philosophies that stimulate the mind.
From Schopenhauer to Christian Science and shamanism to esoteric Hinduism, the introvert is attracted to ideas and traditions that allow room for him or her to integrate their experience within a broader framework.
To put it bluntly, they don’t want to be given all the answers.
They want to work it out for themselves and find how their experiences and ideas align or diverge from revelations and ideas of those who’ve come before.
Different forms of introversion
There are many different forms of introverts.
The main type we tend to think of are known as social introverts. These folks have a tighter knit group of friends and are more reserved.
They like their space, but they’re still friendly and talkative with those they know well.
Then you have thinking introverts, which are those who are introverted primarily as a result of being so deep in thought on a regular basis.
They want time and space to consider things and come up with new ideas and projects. Thinking introverts have especially vivid imaginations and are often living partly in their own world.
They may come across as unfriendly or anti-social, but in reality they’re just living in their own world!
The last main category of introverts are anxious introverts, which are introverted because of insecurity or feeling uncomfortable around new people and groups.
Anxious introverts are usually chronic overthinkers who have trouble getting out of their own heads
They are very deliberative and think long and hard before making decisions or new friends, and they tend to be anxious about whether they are “good enough” or people like them, leading to self-isolating behaviors.
Introvert or just shy?
Introverts are more than just “shy” and actually being shy or unshy are not really very related.
Being shy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re an introvert.
In fact extroverts can be shy, but deeply desire crowds, interactions and a busy social life because they feel better and more energized around people.
Being an introvert is a personality type, and it’s not necessarily that somebody feels shy around others but more that they prefer to be alone and get more energy and inspiration from being alone.
While introverts can come across as unfriendly, the truth is they are simply usually more reserved and cautious than extroverts.
