20 Myths About Introverts

Introverts certainly love their alone time because it gives us time to recharge from a busy week or complete tasks that we've been meaning to do. Despite this, we still enjoy socializing! Whether it's with friends, family, co-workers, or those that share the same interests, we can have a lot of fun hanging out. 

Our society stigmatizes those that like being alone as being strange. Sometimes, we're often happier being by ourselves because we greatly enjoy our own company. 

People assume that because introverts like their alone time, they don’t like people. 

In reality, most introverts enjoy seeing people regularly. They simply need their alone time to recharge.

Some introverts are shy, some are not. 

Even if someone is quiet, it may just mean they are selective with their words or enjoy listening to what others have to say.

Just because someone doesn’t enjoy spending all their time around people, it doesn’t mean they don’t have the qualities of a good leader: integrity, passion, and patience.

Both introverts and extroverts can make remarkable leaders.

Some of the greatest known speakers of all time were/are known introverts: Eleanor Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, and Barack Obama, to name a few. 

Introverts tend to serve the audience, which helps them captivate whomever they are speaking to.

Introverts aren’t always the ones hiding in the corner of the room. Some are the life of the party when they are around people.

In the same respect, not all extroverts are talkative 24/7.

Frequent silence and brevity when speaking is often taken for arrogance, but oftentimes it’s simply because that person chooses their words carefully and doesn’t care for pointless small talk.

It's always better to think before you speak.

Just because an introvert is reserved and does not boast about themselves, it doesn’t mean they have low self-esteem. 

Many introverts have high self-esteem, which is evidenced by their lack of need for outside validation.

Introverts don’t always want to stay at home (just most of the time). 

Many of us are perfectly happy going out with friends to a bar or restaurant, but we also enjoy the comfort of a familiar place.

Yeah, we are probably a little weird, but honestly, who isn’t? Being weird makes you interesting and memorable. 

This one is actually a compliment to most of us!

It’s true that many introverts enjoy the company of a good book or video game, but for every one of those introverts, there’s another who is hooked on reality television or some other non-stereotypical introvert activity.

Introverts are just as diverse as any other group of people.

We introverts let loose in our own way! Sometimes, all it requires for us to unwind and relax is a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. 

Going to a nightclub and drinking $50 worth of alcohol isn’t everyone’s definition of a good time.

Most introverts don’t have massive social circles, but nearly all of us have a small group of tight-knit friends.

A lot of introverts even have one or two friends they can hang around all the time!

Many introverts are both quiet and intelligent, which automatically leads people to believe that they’re sly and devious. 

Yet, it’s unfair to assume that just because someone rarely speaks that they’re plotting behind your back (paranoid much?).

For a long time, people thought that introversion was something that can and should be ‘cured.’ For one thing, it can’t be cured. For another, it shouldn’t be! 

There are a lot of benefits that come with being an introvert, and we don’t want to lose them!

More alone-time gives you more time to think and analyze things in your life -- that much is true unless you’re delving headfirst into your favorite book. 

However, just because we’re ruminating on something doesn’t mean that we have negative thoughts or personalities. We can be just as upbeat as an extrovert when we feel like it.  

Being by yourself is often linked to depression – it’s actually listed as a symptom of depression. However, we don’t really get depressed just because we’re by ourselves. 

Maybe this rumor comes from extroverts that prefer to be around friends or else they become depressed, but most of us introverts are just fine on our own.

There are plenty of myths that suggest introverts are more creative than extroverts, and that’s just not true. Sure, there are some introverts that have been incredibly smart, like Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin, but extroverts can be just as intelligent and creative. 

Steve Jobs and Margaret Thatcher were extroverts and both creative and extremely intellectual.

Introverts are more than capable of developing fantastic social skills. In fact, some can be incredibly hilarious or ooze charm when they feel like talking. 

Lack of talking in certain situations doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t talk at all, either.

Just like anyone, we enjoy talking about things we love, but we may need an invitation to do so. 

It’s true that introverts spend more time listening than talking, but that doesn’t mean we’re always up to listening to someone else. Ask about our passions and you shall receive.