Stepping Inside My Introverted Oasis

A Warm Welcome to My World.

There are many ways to describe an introvert; creative, reflective, anxious, empathetic, the list goes on. We may not all have exactly the same traits but we can recognise ourselves in the mix.

I don’t like being labelled or placed in a box, especially for the sake of it. Or because it is the current trend. I do, however, believe that on a human level we all share aspects of our personalities. Understanding this can be helpful in navigating life, particularly for those times when you feel like you don’t fit in with those around you.

Finding similarities as well as differences should be a good thing. It means we are not alone or odd or weird, despite what some people may think.

As introverts we have a different way of processing information and interacting with the world. While extroverts may thrive in social situations, introverts can feel drained and overwhelmed, needing time to recharge our energy levels. For me this was evident even at school. I couldn’t wait to get home and just chill out. I liked school but looking back, I clearly needed to decompress and recharge my energy after being in the bustling school environment all day.

I was used to spending a lot of time on my own at home and I loved it. My siblings were a lot older than me and my parents both worked, so it was normal to be ‘home alone’. I had plenty of friends, but I preferred to spend time sewing or drawing. Drawing was a huge part of my childhood and I decided early on that I wanted to be a designer of some sort.

On the surface this seems a straightforward decision. But factor in an introverted personality and things can get messy. For example, I do not like being watched as I create. I can take criticism on what I have produced, just not while I am producing it. I can even remember feeling like this way back in primary school, so it’s been with me a long, long time!

Add in my fear that someone will steal my ideas, designs, or products, and it’s a wonder I ever get anything done! It’s a constant battle with myself but I do recognise this fear now which is a huge step in overcoming it.

Hand in hand with my fear of being judged over my creative projects, I’m also guarded when it comes to expressing my personal opinions or views with people outside of my immediate family. Embarking on this journey with The Creative Introvert Club and putting myself out there, so to speak, is a new and very scary experience for me.

I hope we can navigate it together.

Hit reply and let me know your thoughts, I’d love to hear form you.

Until next time…

Gaynor xx