A significant amount of the world identifies more as an introvert than an extrovert. Introverts are often described as comfortable spending their time alone and might be considered “shy” in various social situations.
Anywhere from 25-50% of the United States population might be considered introverts, according to Psychology Today. Since a large part of our life requires social interaction regarding personal or professional obligations, many view being introverted as a burden. However, there are some clear benefits to being an introvert that can make your life more accessible than ever.
Thinking More
Introverts are comfortable being alone, allowing them the peace to think more than many others. As a result, they can often articulate their thoughts better because they are familiar with them.
This can be quite an asset when providing critical feedback for a professional meeting. The skill of thinking before speaking can also help to manage personal family conflicts, for example, as well. Some believe that introverts are better at utilizing social media, as well. This is undoubtedly significant when one considers that more people are spending their time using social media than ever before.
Listening to More
Extroverts are often eager to communicate, which can be positive when forming friendships and improving your dating life. However, one problem with many extroverts is that they are so busy speaking that they don’t empathize with those listening. It’s easy to see how this can become an issue.
Introverts often absorb the room, information, and emotions to the point where they truly might uncover a solution simply by listening more than speaking. It might be a variation on another idea or a brand-new idea. Either way, the fact that introverts are more focused on listening than speaking can lead to increased communication and productivity.
Examples To Follow
Plenty of successful extrovert individuals are also famous, so you might be wondering how true it is that being an introvert can help improve your quality of life. The truth is that there are already examples of successful introverts that can potentially help you understand how to use your personality to your advantage.
Warren Buffett is one of the world’s most legendary investors and identifies as an introvert. He is worth billions but is praised for living a pretty frugal life. He publicly remarked that he thinks it probably helps his stress levels, stating in 2014: “My life couldn’t be happier. It’d be worse if I had six or eight houses. So, I have everything I need and don’t need anymore.”
Buffett might be one of the wealthiest people in the world, but his introversion is far from an anomaly. Other highly successful introverted entrepreneurs include Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates. One might argue that the fact that they are introverted and enjoy time alone has probably helped them save money over time.