For the past 10 years I have heard mixed reviews on who I should be. Some say I need to be more serious, some say I need to be me. This can get very confusing. Deep down I think we all want to be liked, we want to be part of the “cool” group. But at what expense?
Denying who you are can cause serious problems. When you are authentic people can tell. They are drawn to you, whether you are an introvert or an extrovert. If you are an introvert embrace that. Don’t look at it as being shy, look at it as being selective who you wish to talk to. Perhaps speaking in front of a huge crowd scares you. That’s fine, try and find situations where you can be in a smaller group.
If you are an extrovert and are outgoing, that’s great. You are still allowed to occasionally sit in the corner and watch. This doesn’t mean every day, every minute you have to be the social one. We are all allowed down time, and often need it to recharge.
I am definitely an extrovert. But sometimes, I just need to be by myself. I need quiet time. I also know that I am wacky and crazy. It’s just part of my charm. When I try to act all quiet, people will ask me if something is wrong. It’s just not me, and it shows.
Originally published in the Democrat & Chronicle on August 5th, 2015.