GROWTH for INTROVERTS (Part 1)


PREVIOUS: INFJ

SITEs: MBTI Types as animals, some famous people, + Cognitive Functions

Life of an Introvert – illustrated (heart map)

Are an E or an I?

 

I-ness = Introversion

HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS (modified from Dr Alice Boyes)
1. Get to know your BIS (Behavioral Inhibition System)
BIS is a brain-based system that prevents a person from moving forward when they have competing needs (achieve success while avoiding all negative outcomes), or conflicting motivations (pleasing a parent vs. pleasing oneself).

• People with a strong BIS tend to be highly anxious – worried about real or potential ‘punishment’ – which can include negative responses (criticism) or something positive taken away (loss of solitude)…… When faced with an internal dilemma, a strong ‘stop’ signal will kick in, OR they may start & then stop – unable to finish.

• Introverts (Is) with a particularly sensitive BIS can benefit from staying alert for punishment signals from others (being judged, ignored, disappointed….) & fend them off before getting run over by their BIS.
🔅 Look for & accept rewarding opportunities in your daily life (complements, encouragement, praise, a raise…..) & learn to get as much of them as possible. (See post “Resilience – Traits : Positivity ratio” – scroll down)

2. Accept & appreciate your TEMPERAMENT
DEF: Personality is the whole being, & Temperament is the basic force that drives a person to behave in certain ways, unique to them.

Introversion is neither a virtue nor flaw – just a natural part of ones personality. Many Is grew up being shamed by family & peers for being ‘different’, leaving them feeling ashamed for being ‘less-than’.  That belief can now be corrected. (CHART….) — (also the Temp. Blends)

EXP: It’s normal for Is to be cautious about starting new relationships.
BUT, if you’re also brain-wired or been trained from childhood – to assume negatives first – it’ll slow connections down even more.
🔆 Work on looking for positive opportunities & risk reaching out once you’ve spent a little time observing how someone talks & acts. Trust your instincts.

EXP: It’s normal for Is to be focus inward – on being creative, paying attention to details & knowing things in depth.
BUT if you are also highly ambitious with a strong independent streak, you can become an entrepreneur, create a new product, fight inequality or ‘city hall’….
🔆 Identify long-term interests & passions, pursue them & self-correct when necessary. Explain your temperament when you need to, so others can understand your responses. (9 childhood aspects of temperament – some relating to I-ness)

3. Accept being “SLOW to WARM”
✒︎ This is part of your temperament style, expressed as:
✧ a little suspicious of new people, getting to know them rather than automatically trusting
✧ standing back to get a read on social situations before participating
✧ your warmth & friendliness are mainly for people you know & trust

✒︎ Identify anything that over-stimulates you. Once you know what drains you, avoid or minimize exposure, or find ways to work around them. EXP :
• Being in a huge store with too many options (‘Bed, Bath & Beyond‘)
• Forced to go in & out of social mode too often (work projects vs meetings)
• Noisy family gatherings….
• Interrupted to make a decision when trying to concentrate
• Severely irritated by loud commercials, street noises….
• Stadiums or concert halls full of screaming, clapping extroverts
• Too many emails, social media posts…..
• Too many people on the sidewalk you’re trying to navigate

Learning physiological & emotional self-regulation strategies will help you recover faster after being with stressful people or environments. (Resilience posts) // (14 Stress relief tips)

4. Accept ‘NO-REWARD’ Outcomes
These can be things like any delay that require patience.   Sometimes it’s about getting no response at all – to a text, a call, a biz proposal …..
⭐︎ Understand that : not getting what you want – right away, or at all – is not punishment, so do NOT take them as personal rejections.
Other people may be away, busy, ignorant or just jerks. And in business, some people or groups won’t know how to or can’t use what you’re offering
Remember that ‘Delay is OK” & “Man’s rejection is God’s protection”
(Tips for Not Personalizing Rejection)

NEXT: I Growth (#2)

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