Introvert and Antisocial are not the same.
And why they are not a as bad as you may think
I get so annoyed when someone calls me Antisocial. It like they don’t even know the actual meaning of the words that they are using.
Let me define what being introverted and antisocial means.
What is an introvert?
Introverts are the people who like to be alone more than they like to be in large groups of people. Introverts restore energy by spending quality time with themselves and consider to spend time in large groups of people draining and sometimes even frustrating. Introverts find outside stimulation to be unpleasent.
What is Antisocial?
Being Antisocial does not mean that you don’t like people, it only means that you don’t like the usual ways of socializing. It means that you are against the usual rules of society. So, It only means that you probably don’t like parties and or doing large groups activities. It means that you like other ways of getting along with people, ways that most people could consider weird or unusual.
So there is a difference. In conclusion:
Introverts: Like to spend time with themselves and not with a lot of people.
Antisocial: Don’t have a problem with being around people, but they like to do it in their own ways.
Take me for example because I am both an introvert and a little bit antisocial.
I have been told countless times that I should be more expressive and talkative with people in general.
More expressive?!
I can’t think in a way to be even more expressive. Let me tell you something:
I am expressive even in the way I breath. However, being expressive has nothing to do with face-to-face talking.
Think about all of the ways we can communicate. Paintings, books, movies, blogs, podcasts, etc… All of these are greats ways of communicating and none of them have to do with going to a bar and exchange small talk with other people. Truth is…
Introverts have the loudest minds.
If you could ask to anyone who knows me they will easily say to you that I don’t like talking, at all, but when it comes to expressing ideas I can give a full hour speech without even getting close to the introduction.
Why?
Because every single minute I am thinking and analyzing all sorts of things. I love learning and I love finding new ways to improve everything around me. So I always have something on my mind.
If someone would give me the option to stay at home reading an interesting book or going out to a huge party, I would definitely stay with the book.
Quality VS Quantity
I am sure that all of you have friend on Facebook or Twitter who posts every single thing that they are doing every five minutes. Status updates that are so irrelevant and that sometimes, they even smell to desperation. Things like:
I am eating pizza #YOLO
or
Can’t find anything to wear today #Frustrated
These people crave for atention.
However you may have also friends whose posts or status updates are actually clever and meaningful. Posts that are not posted so often, but you can’t wait to read them when they get published. Posts that explore the realms of humanity or try to give you a strong insight.
That’s because introverts like to think things through before sharing their ideas with the rest of the world. Extroverts, on the other hand, only like to be they center of attention.
Based on this description I am both an introvert and antisocial and I love being that way.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being antisocial or introvert. In fact there is everything wrong with trying to turn introverts and antisocial into extroverts.
Think about people like: J. K. Rowling, Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt and Albert Einstein.
They impacted the world in a HUGE way and they both saw themselves as introverts or even shy. They did it because they felt the necesity to do so.
However, if you are an introvert and have great ideas that could make a significant change in the world you owe society to share this ideas. We have the internet now, that lets us reach the entire world or bring the entire world to us. Write a blog post, make a video, tweet something… If you have an idea, share it.
I want to share one of my favorites poems with you. It means a lot to me because it states that we all owe the best that we have to offer to mankind. Here it is:
No man is an island, Entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thine own Or of thine friend's were. Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee.
— John Donne
Finally…
Don’t be afraid to be named introvert or antisocial. See it as an honor and a unique part of your personality.
Here are two of my favorite videos on this topic:
