QUESTION: Are introverts naturally shy people?

 

RESPONSE: Shyness occurs when we are scared of being judged negatively. An introvert is someone who prefers quiet or less stimulating environments; someone who recharges his or her energy by getting plenty of alone time. Basically, half of all people are introverts. Introverts enjoy social interaction; it’s just that while social interaction energizes an extrovert, social interaction drains the energy of an introvert.

I appreciate Renee Jain’s, MAPP, list of Superpowers of an Introverted Child (www.gozen.com). The list includes:

You have deep friendships because you are a very good listener.

You are careful and conscientious; because you tend to hang back and study new situations before jumping right in, you give yourself the chance to make good choices.

You have amazing ideas; because you take the time to be quiet and listen to yourself think, you end up having lots of interesting ideas that might not have come to you if you spent most of your time in a talkative group.

You are reliable; it is likely that the adults in your life have confidence in your trustworthiness; because you are organized, keeping your promises and plans is easier.

You are fair. You tend to listen to all sides before judging a situation and listen with your whole brain and not just your ears.

You are peaceful. Introverts are rarely bullies. You tend to stay calm and help the people around you stay calm, especially in difficult situations.

If you recognize these traits in your introverted child, share them with your child. Parents are people who hold up the mirrors to help children see the best in themselves.

To talk with a parenting specialist about the challenges in child-raising, call the toll-free Parent WarmLine at 1-888-584-2204/Línea de Apoyo at 1-877-434-9528. For free emergency child care call Crisis Nursery at 1-877-434-9599. Check out www.familiesandcommunities.org and the resources at the Parenting Resource Center Specialty Library (105 First Street SE, Austin).