Releasing the Genius Releasing the Genius Magazine - Issue 1 | Page 11
RELEASING THE GENIUS
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
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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.
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.
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.
Photo Credit: HSM Expo
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 No.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 writing
has appeared in the The New York Times,
The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and
many other publications. 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. Cain has also spoken at Microsoft,
Google, the U.S. Treasury, the S.E.C.,
Harvard, Yale, West Point and the US
Naval Academy. She received Harvard
Law School’s Celebration Award for
Thought Leadership, the Toastmasters
International Golden Gavel Award for
Communication and Leadership, and
was named one of the world’s top 50
Leadership and Management Experts by
Inc. Magazine. She is an honors graduate
of Princeton and Harvard Law School.
She lives in the Hudson River Valley
with her husband and two sons. Visit
Cain and the Quiet Revolution at
QuietRev.com.