How to Be Assertive (When You’re a Quiet Introvert)

assertivenessAletheia Luna – We’ve been the rubbernecks. The doormats. The wishy-washy, watery weaklings. Us introverts have had plenty of experience of being the unheard, uninvolved and unassertive ones in social situations.

But just as being shy doesn’t necessarily mean you’re introverted, neither does being introverted necessarily mean you’re by default an unassertive person. Unfortunately, however, our reserved and quiet natures mean that we’re frequently cautious, slow-to-speak and passive, usually resulting in a lack of personal assertiveness. Unless we are self-aware, our temperaments can serve to elevate our levels of passivity or passive-aggression.

On one hand, we can fall into the trap of being walked over because we don’t know how to be assertive. On the other hand, we can fall into the trap of becoming reactively passive-aggressive, because of our inability to practice healthy assertiveness. Either way, for most introverts learning to be quietly assertive is an invaluable life skill that will greatly enhance almost every area of your life. Continue reading

Misunderstood Characteristics Of Introverts

Dan Fries – Imagine this: You’re at a party at someone’s house. Where are you and what are you doing?

Are you in the living room talking up a storm? Or are you just waiting for the party to be over so you can go home and sleep?

Do you plan road trips or adventures during weekends or would you rather spend time with yourself or with your family or few friends? If you picked the latter in a heartbeat, you may be an introvert.

When someone mentions the word introvert, it’s often translated to mean someone who’s uncomfortable around people or is very shy, but introversion is defined as the preference for situations that are not overly stimulating. Introverts value their space, and they don’t let just anyone in it.

Extroverts, on the other hand, are the life of the party! They crave socialization and interaction, and they just love talking. Outgoing in nature, they tend to be more impulsive and open about themselves.

You Wouldn’t Expect These People to be Introverts

Surprise, surprise! We actually owe a lot of the things we love to introverts. Without introverts, there would be no Facebook, no Microsoft, and no Harry Potter! Yes, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and JK Rowling are all introverts. They aren’t the only famous people who are introverts, either.

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