Health & Wellness Magazine Live + Thrive Magazine - Summer 2018 | Page 13

subject of introversion, he produced
an animated, graphics-intensive public
service announcement about what
it means to be quiet. Drew posted it
on YouTube, but that was only the
start. He was also a producer of the
high school’s television news show.
Once a week, every student in the
school watched the latest episode,
and in one of these Drew included
his PSA on introverts. The response
was overwhelming; even one of the
teachers, who was secretly introverted,
expressed his gratitude. “I was able
to bring the whole school community
to an understanding,” Drew said.
“For weeks afterward, people would
come up to me and say, ‘Hey, that was
awesome!’” His friend Robby thanked
him more than anyone.
Every school could benefit from a
deeper understanding of the different
strengths and needs of introverted and
extroverted students. The middle and
high school years are the most difficult
times to be introverted, because when
hundreds of kids are crammed together
in a single building it can feel as if the
only way to gain respect and friendship
is through vivacity and visibility. But
there are so many other great qualities
to have, such as the ability to focus
deeply on topics and activities, and
a talent for listening with empathy
and patience. These are two of the
“superpowers” of introverts. Channel
them; find your passions and pursue
them wholeheartedly. Then you will
not only survive but also thrive.
STANDING OUT QUIETLY
Sometimes it’s natural for the stress and
drama of the school day to get to you.
But you can rise above all that with
your inner self intact. Here are a few
quick tips that you can always refer
back to:
UNDERSTAND YOUR NEEDS:
The boisterous environments common
to schools are often taxing to introverts.
Acknowledge that sometimes there will
be a mismatch between you and your
environment, but try not to let it stop
you from being you. Find quiet times
and places to recharge your batteries.
And if you prefer to socialize with one
or two friends at a time, rather than
in a big group, that’s just fine! It can be
a relief to find people who feel the same
way, or who just understand where you’re
coming from.
LOOK FOR YOUR OWN CIRCLE:
You may find that your sweet spot is with
athletes, coders, or with people who
are just plain nice whether or not your
interests are perfectly aligned. If you need
to make a checklist of things to talk about
in order to get a friendship rolling, go for
it.
COMMUNICATE:
Make sure your closest friends understand
why you retreat or become quiet at
times during school; talk to them about
introversion and extroversion. If they’re
extroverts, ask them what they need from
you.
FIND YOUR PASSION:
This is crucial to everyone, regardless
of personality type, but it’s especially
important for introverts, because many of
us like to focus our energy on one or two
projects we really care about. Also, when
you’re feeling scared, genuine passion will
lift you up and give you the excitement
you need to propel you through your fear.
EXPAND YOUR COMFORT ZONE: We
can all stretch to some degree, pushing
past our apparent limitations in the service
of a cause or a passion project. And if
you’re stretching into an area that really
frightens you — for many people, public
speaking falls into this category — make
sure to practice in small, manageable
steps. You’ll read more about this in
chapter 13.
KNOW YOUR BODY LANGUAGE:
Smiling will not only make other people
comfortable around you — it will also
make you happier and more confident.
This is a biological phenomenon: Smiling
sends a signal to the rest of your body
that all is well. But this principle is not
just about smiles: Pay attention to what
your body does when you’re feeling
confident and at ease — and what it
does when you feel tense. Crossing your
arms, for example, is often a reaction to
nervousness, and it can make you seem —
and feel — closed off. Practice arranging
your body in the positions that don’t signal
distress — and that make it feel good.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SUSAN CAIN is the co-founder
of Quiet Revolution and the
author of the best-sellers Quiet
Power: The Secret Strengths of
Introverts, and Quiet: The Power
of Introverts in A World That
Can’t Stop Talking, which has
been translated into 40 languages,
has been on the New York Times
best-seller list for over four years,
and was named the #1 best book
of the year by Fast Company
magazine, which also named
Cain one of its Most Creative
People in Business. Cain is also
the co-founder of the Quiet
Schools Network and the Quiet
Leadership Institute. Her record-
smashing TED talk has been
viewed over 14 million times and
was named by Bill Gates one of
his all-time favorite talks.
Quietrev.com
Excerpt from Quiet Power by Susan Cain.
Copyright ©2016 by Susan Cain. Published
by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division
of Penguin Random House. Audiobook also
available.
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