Introvert, Extrovert, and Energy

Oprah as an introvert?

How is this possible? Oprah has spent her entire adult life interviewing people for a living. Talking to others. In front of TV audiences of millions of people around the world.

In a recent interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah shared her own surprise at how much she enjoyed Ellen’s recent birthday party. Typically, Oprah tells Ellen, she avoids large parties, preferring the sanctity of her home with her partner, dogs, and books.

Are you surprised? I was for a moment, until I reminded myself of the truth.

In our simplistic thinking – what I like to call binary thinking – we give ourselves two choices: either we’re an introvert or we’re an extrovert. If the former, then we like being alone. If the latter, we always want to be around other people.

Wrong.

Few of us are one extreme or the other. Most of us are a combination of the two extremes.

True introverts prefer smaller groups of people and refuel themselves by being alone. True extroverts enjoy some alone time and refuel themselves by being with other people. It is the rare person who thrives by always being alone or always being with other people.

Most people think I am an extrovert, when what I really am, I learned, is a “social introvert.” As a life coach, I care deeply about other people and am passionate about helping women achieve true joy in their lives. I love being around people I adore and who “fill me up.” One of my greatest pleasures is laughing with friends.

However, it is my time in my own home, away from the world, when I refuel emotionally and mentally. Home is my respite. My friends know to call me before dropping by.

Think about how you refuel you body and soul before you label yourself an introvert or an extrovert. Better yet, don’t label yourself. [See “Labels.”]

Once you understand what refuels you, honor yourself with that sustained energy. We refuel our cars with their needed source of energy. Don’t you deserve the same?