Introvert vs. Extrovert

We all need time for ourselves. Some need more time than others. There are many definitions of the two terms introversion and extroversion and wikipedia (as always) delivers a nice summary and explanation of the two terms.

I did the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test last year or so and am an ENFP. Here is a definition.

I very much like one sentence from this wikipedia article which is “The least extroverted of the extrovert types, ENFP need significant time alone to center themselves…”

Yes! Yes! Yes! This is what I noticed (yet again) during the past week. I’ve been going through another 3-day company-initiated seminar on leadership (goal setting, employee evaluation and employee development) and while other seminar participants are going out drinking after a seminar day, I only want one thing – be alone! Going out drinking with the others is NOT relaxation for me but stress. After being together with 20 people doing interactive learning the whole day, the only thing I want is to NOT interact but shut the door behind me and not see anybody for a few hours. I desperately need this alone time to calm down, relax and “center myself”. What do I do during that alone time? Flee into my preferred world – whatever book I am currently writing or revising. So I lock myself in my hotel room and write a thousand or two thousand words, then watch some TV and play some iPad games, take a shower and go to bed. Having to constantly interact with people drains me like a vampire sucking at my throat.

So, despite being in principle outgoing (one of the teachers, who happened to ride with me on the same bus to the station after the seminar, called me a mood-maker) I need some time alone to stay sane. I knew this before, but this autumn, which is quite a high-stress autumn, has strongly confirmed this or made me aware of it.

Down time is of great importance and I shall fight for it. The high-stress period will continue for another two months or so (there is an end to all the seminars in sight end of January, yeah!). Next Friday, for example, I’ll be sitting on a plane to Malaysia for a few days (business trip, I shall report of the non-business related moments of it). So I shall be careful with my energies and get that alone-time in to prevent me from yelling at people! lol. I freely admit aggressive tendencies when I am stressed, especially during the commute, if people step into my way, they get bumped into with a vengeance. Last night on the way home after 3 days hotel and dragging my luggage around, a guy in a hurry tried to cut me off while running to catch his train, he has to pay for that by Regina not letting him pass but letting him feel my shoulder. Do not mess with Regina when she needs her down time! lol.

To get back to the introverted vs. extroverted – even though I am officially extroverted, there is a strong introverted part that draws energy not from others but from within and when I don’t get that within time I’m starting to be a gruntler rather than a mood-maker and shift into defiant child mode. Hrmpf!

Drawing energy from within also means writing books. One could say: I write to stay sane I kinda like that.

And when we are at that topic – my trilogy about alchemist Hagen Patterson is now complete! Part Three – “Give Substance to a Thought” is now available in paper form, Kindle will follow soon. Yoroshiku!