The Introverted Path
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5 myths about introverts

5 myths about introverts

#MythBusters

Brian Garland
February 01, 2024

Welcome to The Introverted Path!

Happy Thursday! The Chiefs are going back to the Super Bowl. I hope y’all are ready for two weeks of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift content 😬

Today we are doing our second installment of #MythBusters

I wrote about this for the first time in a previous newsletter issue.

The premise is simple: I present 5 myths commonly associated with introverts and bust ‘em. Just like the old Discovery channel show.

In today’s email:

5 myths about introverts
My thoughts
Links to other content I enjoyed this week

Let’s dive in 🤙

5 common myths about introverts

1. Myth: Introverts don’t like to talk

I recently covered the difference between introversion and shyness.

It may seem like introverts don’t like to talk because we typically don’t talk unless we have something to say. That might sound obvious, but there are a lot of people out there who talk just to talk.

Most introverts dislike small talk and would prefer to have a more meaningful 1-on-1 conversation or in a small group.

2. Myth: Introverts don’t like people

Introverts place extreme value on their close friends.

It can take a while for introverts to warm up to people and trust them. First impressions aren’t really our thing.

But if you are lucky enough to have an introvert for a close friend, you have their friendship for life.

3. Myth: Introverts don’t like to leave their house

It’s true, big social gatherings can drain an introvert’s energy.

But getting dinner with a group of close friends? Meeting a coworker at a coffee shop? Watching a football game at the bar? Sign us up.

I’ve learned how to recharge before and after big social events, which ensures I have the energy to enjoy myself.

Everything in moderation, even moderation.

4. Myth: Introverts are downers

Since we enjoy our quiet time and think before speaking, you wouldn’t necessarily call introverts the life of the party.

But this is different from being negative or sulking.

We’re probably people watching or talking in a small group of people in another part of the party.

5. Myth: Introverts lack self-confidence

Introverts are no different from extroverts when it comes to impostor syndrome or self-confidence issues.

Introverts usually have a quite confidence. Meaning, we don’t feel the need to outwardly show our confidence.

But it’s still there.

My thoughts 💭

I’ve talked before about how everyone falls somewhere along the introvert/extrovert spectrum.

So the myths I called out above don’t apply to all introverts, but these are some common things people associate with introverts.

MythBusters stopped airing in 2016. Should I reach out to Discovery channel and get it rebooted with me as host? What do we think??