Introvert Versus Extrovert
What do I mean by them?
That the introvert is the one who prefers the path of a lone wolf, and the extrovert the path of a party maniac?
No. By “versus” I mean the differences of both. Obviously. But lemme say that: It is not what, but it’s how the differences can make us. Not against each other, but connected to each other.
I’m an introvert. And I will be frank saying that I have no problem making friends. I open conversations sometimes, and extroverts do not make me hinder in any way. But I still prefer to be alone. I recharge when I’m alone. If I didn’t go in a room for some Self-time, I will be a mess talking to people.
Call introversion what you want, but that is what I can call introversion myself. The love of being alone as a resort more than staying with even trusted friends. You probably claim you’re like that. But imagine yourself in situations when you face problems: would you rather face them alone, or would you take a step forward with your true friends as one?
Both are just as good. But that yet does not matter. For my point here is to emphasize how introversion and extroversion can connect just as much, and even more, as two of the same “social type”.
The worst distance between two people is misunderstanding.
Introversion
As introverts, we don’t like to open up to many things we consider better off not said (or even more than that). We instead listen from others what they have. It might seem greedy, which is all the more why some do not like such people. But extroverts that sit with them face-to-face and give a good talk will let the following occur: they will speak of their stories, and the ‘good and true’ introverts, as I find, are those who not only listen well but contribute to their stories and problems with advice or even strong comments of what they think about it, as they themselves might have been through it similarly. Their comments are a scent of their secrets and who they are.
Extroversion
Extroverts tend to open up. Unpredictably, however. I have found with personal experience that extroverts, although they tell their stories to you that have been told to hundreds before, they rarely get the chance to express themselves during those experiences they had. They only do so well with two types of people: their families, and those who they find to be good listeners and sympathizers. Their expressions are a scent of who they truly are from within, even as they don’t realize it.
Introversion “Versus” Extroversion
At the commence of college, there were two individuals: me and a person who I never thought I’d be friends with. I took the role of the introvert, he the role of the “social king”. He was charismatic and all the such that you may name yourself. He wouldn’t give, of all the people, a noticing eye to a person who’d sit alone in a cafe, right?
Here’s what happened as I remember, in a day when we, coincidentally, found each other walking the same way in the metro back to our homes:-
We walk with silence for a moment.
Extrovert: You did well on that project back there?
Introvert: I guess I did. You?
Extrovert: Yeah, hopefully. Just a little hard it was. I was hot-tempered back then.
Introvert: That so? Didn’t take you for a hot-tempered fellow.
Extrovert: I don’t know man. It’s just that [story of the project, a story commonly told].
Introvert: Still though, you knew your mistake.
Extrovert: …What do you mean?
Introvert: You were self-aware. People made mistakes, and you did yourself. The difference between them and you is that you realized it. You were upset and hoped for a better you, right? I like that!
Here it seems to have went quickly personal because of the brevity of the scenario. But what happened after this shocked me.
He was deeper than any person I saw. He unveiled his unique Self. He told me about what he sees within himself everytime he looks around others. He gave examples of people and what they reminded him of to him personally. He gave an instance of a person who was facing a social hurdle, which made him reveal that he was like that long ago.
His eyes went tearing. Both of us talked since then for two hours (more or less) that felt like seconds, in the middle of metro lines across, feeling no one amongst the many crowds that passed by us as we talked. Both of us talked about our experiences.
Introversion + Extroversion
The sole idea here is not what you are and how you are.
It’s not about that guy/girl sitting all alone means that “he/she is a loner.”
It’s not about that party animal means that she/he is a common fool.
An extrovert can be as much of a good thinker and self-aware as an introvert, and vice-versa. It’s not about what you are socially, it’s about what you do when you’re alone. Your real character uncovers when no one’s around, both for the introverts and the extroverts. Us referring to others as them being this or that does not give us the right call to claim that they can or cannot be what they wanna be, even if it sounds absurd. Every person is unpredictable. Even if he/she is, life’s unpredictability will change them unexpectedly.
What matters now is what you seek within you. How much you self-reflect (yes, even extroverts can reflect), rather than wasting time daydreaming of showing off and being loved. Love amongst people is achieved when the people themselves give it, not try and get it. For the latter will produce only a dust of vague feelings, perhaps even, at worst cases, hatred and jealousy with people.
That’s the key to ‘Social Peace’, to be connected through showing kindness, generosity, and sharing our experiences to teach others how they can benefit from it.
That in itself is success, even in times of darkness, despite such differences like an introvert and an extrovert, let alone cultural or religious differences.
Real friendship is shown in times of trouble; prosperity is full of friends.
— Euripides
