Are You A Wild Introvert?

Are You a Wild Introvert?

It’s no wonder people find introverts confusing.

One minute we are the life of the party and the next minute we have disappeared inside ourselves.

The term wild introvert was coined by psychologist and author Scott Barry Kaufman.

Being a wild introvert means being open to new adventures.

As a teen I could be described as a “wild child”. I disobeyed my parents and was caught drinking on more than one occasion. My friends had curfews. I didn’t. At that time I had no idea I was an introvert. Now I’m wild in a different way. In fact, over the course of my life I have gone from wild to mild and back to wild again.

As an young adult I stopped being wild and my personality became more introverted. I was often quiet and at work I tried hard to be invisible. Speaking up at meetings and networking were a struggle for me. I went from wild to mild in a just a few years. The word vanilla comes to mind; a word that is often used to describe introverts who are boring and don’t stand out from the crowd.

Introverts Tend to Be More Quiet

One reason that introverts tend to appear quieter than extroverts is because we need time to recharge our batteries. After all the partying, teaching, parenting and just hanging out with friends we need to retreat and recharge. We can recharge by turning inward and calming our busy brains or by doing something physical like taking a walk.

During most of my life I was in high profile positions: leading teams or teaching. I could teach all day and sometimes party all night but all that extroverting took its toll. As I grew older I learned to pace myself so that I didn’t burn out

What are Wild Introverts?

According to Kaufman wild introverts are high in the personality trait of openness to experience, one of the BIG FIVE personality traits. Those of us who are open to experience are curious and adventurous.

Being a wild introvert is not an oxymoron: being an introvert doesn’t mean you can’t be wild!

Here Are Some Ways You Can Become More Adventurous

Psychologist Jeremy Sutton provides some tips to help us to discover our wild side.

–          Listen to live music, visit an art gallery or museum

–          Try a new hobby or sport

–          Challenge yourself mentally with puzzles and games that make you think

–          Build confidence slowly by going to cultural events with a friend

–          Exercise regularly

–          Become awestruck. Go for a walk and appreciate the beauty of nature

–          Talk to older generations, look at photos or visit the place you grew up.

This list of activities appears to be custom made for introverts.

Know Thyself

Knowing and accepting ourselves is a life-long journey but one that is necessary if we are to become more open. If you haven’t done this already you can learn more about your personality by taking the online self-report inventory at http://openpsychometrics.org

Conclusion

Our personalities are not black and white and we can and do change. It’s no wonder there are so many misconceptions about introverts. I’m still learning about my personality.

What about you?