Well Happy Monday everyone! I’ve been doing a lot of reading in the times in between these days and I’ve been lucky enough to have been recommended some phenomenal books! I just finished up the book, “Quiet” by Susan Cain, and it was rivoting! It’s a nonfiction book focusing on the dynamics of personalities and today’s society and includes a wealth of data and research to back it all up.

What I loved about this book is it made me think about things differently and step back and see the bigger picture. And it helped me to gain a better insight on myself too. I’d never thought about it until now – but do you realize that we live in an extroverted society? We, Americans, worship and encourage the extrovert ideal. Don’t believe me? Look at kids shows… how many characters on those shows are quiet and shy? iCarly isn’t – she has her tv show. Hannah Montana definitely isn’t. There’s even a show with a science kid who starts the show off by saying “let’s have a dance party” and “I’m a rock star!” These are hardly things we would see an introvert doing.

Even the school systems promote extroverted learning. How many classrooms are set up where the desks are grouped together and how many projects are group projects? I know I see more and more classrooms set up in this way. And while this arrangement works great for extroverts, it makes it very difficult to promote learning for an introverted child who does better away from the over-stimulation created by groups. And what’s interesting is that when these children are allowed and encouraged to work and study in ways that are better for them – they flourish and often are the brightest in their class (and with everything in this book, there are studies to back this up). However, when put in group settings they often suffer because the stress and stimulation of group activities overwhelms them to the point that they often shut down.

And what I find distressing is that even higher education promotes the Extrovert Ideals. Schools designed to help young adults to go out and get higher paying jobs, often leading or controlling major companies are more interested in molding their students into being loud and outspoken than taking time to think. Here’s some things the Harvard Business School actually tells their students:

“Speak with conviction. Even if you believe something only fifty-five percent, say it as if you believe it a hundred percent.”
“If you’re preparing alone for class, then you’re doing it wrong. Nothing at HBS is intended to be done alone.”
“Don’t think about the perfect answer. It’s better to get out there and say something than to never get your voice in.”

Personally I find that concerning. I would much rather have someone who takes their time and analyzes a situation before voicing a solution than someone who quickly shouts out the first idea that pops into their minds. But most companies today are lead by extroverts. People tend to be more willing to trust someone who is quick to respond with blind confidence than someone who presents all the facts before taking a leap. It explains a lot about where the stock markets have gone and about our economy and government as well.

But what I loved most about this book is that it helped me to slow down and really think about myself and who I am and how I function. Believe it or not – I’m a 100% introvert (according to most personality tests). But I’m an introvert who deeply cares for people, their feelings, and their stories. And my passion to help others helps bring me out of my shell. (Strangely enough that is pretty much word-for-word what my personality test said about me and it’s so true! After a busy work day, I usually need time when I get home to unwind and calm myself. I love people and I love my husband but if I relish my alone time too.

And I always used to think this was bad. I used to think that there was something wrong with me if I wanted to spend some time by myself. If I didn’t want to go out and party or spend tons of time around others. I felt like I was supposed to be a certain way, and that by not being this person who has a ton of friends and deals with drama all the time because that’s what girls do, that something was wrong with me. Like a switch was broken or something. But this book has helped me to see that there are a lot more people like me out there than I thought and there’s nothing wrong with the way I’m wired. It’s totally fine for me to need me time and to not be crazy social all the time. Quiet… isn’t always a bad thing.

The above quote is one of my favorites, although there were TONS that I really loved! (My copy of the book is covered in highlighter!) If you are looking for a fascinating and intellectual read, I HIGHLY recommend this book! I soaked up it’s info SUPER fast and I finished it way before I was ready for it to end. I hope you all are having a great day and I will see you back here on Wednesday!

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