By many, being introverted is seen as a weakness. Introverts rather stay on the background,
often hesitate to make a decision and get fatigued by social interaction. But these so-called weaknesses are easily
compensated by a series of strengths that are generally overlooked, despite the fact
that they are invaluable in many different settings. The fact of the matter is: we live an extroverted
world, in which extroverted qualities are desirable over introverted qualities. So, to enhance the emancipation of the introvert
a little bit, and because I'm quite introverted myself, I present to you eight strengths of
introverts. (1) Deep thinking Introverts often spend a good portion of their
time in solitude, during which they think deeply about life. Overthinking comes with dangers, which I explain
in my video called 4 Dangers Of Overthinking (link below), but thinking in general can
also be a great source of strength. An introvert's brain works differently than
an extrovert's brain, which makes an introvert process information more deeply. A strong aspect of thinking is the ability
to reflect on life and explore different future scenarios. Although this could lead to worrying and rumination,
it is an opportunity to design a life that suits them, and build strategies to accomplish
it. Introverts are not only deep thinkers; they
are often great writers too. The practice of journaling, is a powerful
tool to reflect on the past and make sense out of it, in order to design a better future. An introverted mind is great at planning out
life step by step, because it carefully imagines pitfalls and possibilities, and is aware of
things that many extroverts will probably overlook. (2) Productivity in solitude People often say being around people energizes
the extrovert, but exhausts the introvert. And, from my own experience, I think that's
true. After a period of socialization we need time
alone to recover and replenish our energy. This means that we are most energized when
alone, and, thus, the most productive. When you are most productive in solitude,
you are gifted with an opportunity to pursue great, creative accomplishments. This could be something artistic, or perhaps
creating an application, or writing a book. These things are not made during meetings
nor on networking events; they are made by non-nonsense labour and discipline, executed
in solitude. Nikola Tesla is an example of what extraordinary
things can be accomplished when you work alone. I made a video about him; you´ll find a link
in the description. (3) Creativity in expressing ourselves A coping mechanism of not wanting to be in
the center of the attention is, basically, finding ways to express ourselves nonetheless. That's why many introverts become good at
arts. When I was a child I used to express myself
by drawing. Today, I often express myself with memes or
stupid self-made videos to show my appreciation towards my friends. And, the videos on this channel, the editing,
the choice of music, is a much more natural way for me to express myself than giving a
speech. So, an introvert´s creativity is partly born
out of the avoidance of small talk and being around people all the time. (4) Observation Introverts are great observers. While the extroverted people are busy shouting
at each other, an introvert remains in the background and simply watches. He or she closely registers what is said,
and only speaks when there is something useful to say. The legendary Taoist big shot Lao Tzu said
and I quote: "He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know´. End quote. Lao Tzu simply points to the idea that when
you speak, you cut yourself off from, possibly, valuable information that the environment
gives you. That's why we see many extroverts talk on
and on, while they don't even know what's going on, just for the rewarding act of getting
your voice heard. Introverts, however, do know what's going
on because they have seen it. This gives them a position of power, because
they know what others don't know. (5) Eye for detail Because introverts tend to be great observers
and often overanalyze things in solitude, we have trained ourselves to pay attention
to details that extroverted people overlook, because they are too busy chatting with each
other. Some people may perceive this characteristic
as a bit annoying, but I think it is an invaluable trait. How can mankind reach greatness if there aren't
people who pay attention to the small stuff? As they say: the devil is in the details. So, if we want to beat the devil, it is necessary
to have people with the ability to look at things from different perspectives, explore
different scenarios and highlight weaknesses. Without the observing eye of the introvert,
an ambitious project might go to waste at the blink of an eye. (6) Deep relationships Introverts are great listeners. And I think that listening is a vital component
of a healthy relationship with another person. Because they are good listeners they process
and internalize a lot of information about the other person, so they get a deeper understanding
of them. This way, introverts can empathize with others
more easily, because they know what their are going through. Especially because they have the ability to
think deeply and imagine another person's suffrage for themselves. The way introverts handle their loved ones
often leads leads to a deep and long lasting bonds. (7) Autonomy and independence I think that highly introverted people that
love being alone, are unlikely to be codependent. They are people that cannot live without partner and cannot imagine spending the Saturday evenings alone. According to the Stoics, not needing external
things to live a happy life is strength. Because, at the end of the day, other people
are beyond your control. In our society we are always dependent, in
some way, on other people. But the simple fact that you find contentment
in being by yourself exerts power: it prevents other people abusing the need for companionship
that many people have. Companionship can a be a great addition to
your life. But because you don't need it, you´re not
enslaved by it. (8) Leadership Although I dread public speaking, and did
not like speaking in the boardroom when I was working at the bank, at all, when I did
speak up, people listened to me. It took me some effort to get the attention
of all those extroverted shouting co-workers, but when I had it, everyone was quiet. Partly because of my deep voice, but also
because I spent at least a few minutes thinking about what I was going to say, and the time
before I have probably listened closely to what others had to say. You listen, you prepare, you know your stuff,
and you observe very well what's going on. Also, I have led a meeting a several times
during my career, and I hated every minute of it. But, people always loved it because of the
structure I brought into these meetings. Ironically, I had to do that for my own sanity. Nevertheless, I'm glad that extroverted people
appreciate being led by an introvert, who creates some order out of their, oftentimes,
chaotic and incoherent maelstrom. Thank you for watching.
