PSYCHOLOGY
It's Ok to Be an Introvert!
Ekaterina Osipova
Head of DO.ART creative space,
Blagoveshchensk (Russia)
We live in the world of stereotypes. If
you're attractive, it's easier to find a partner
for life, if you're an artist you're always full of
ideas, the rich never cry. And my personal
favourite: extroverts rule the world. Why?
That`s just because they're communicative,
make friends on the spot and never feel shy
when it comes to presenting their projects
and standing their ground in different
disputes and discussions. I've read it sooo
many times in magazines, books and on the
Internet.
When I was a teen and a student, I
always felt uncomfortable among my talkative
peers. I kept asking myself: 'Why? Why can't I
just be like them? Why do I get so shy when it
comes to meeting new people? What's wrong
with meee?!' Certainly, I found no answers. At
some point I was ready to label myself as 'a
weirdo' and accept that I'm doomed to live in
'my small cave' forever, almost hidden from
the world. Because books said so. Because
people said so. And they all knew better than
me, right? They knew better that introverts
are too calm for success, that introverts may
have lots of ideas, but they can't express
them without blushing.
February 2019 №2
SUNRISE
So, I decided to be 'a stereotypical
introvert': I worked either with small groups or
with one student, I prefered translating
papers rather than interpreting. And it lasted
for a looong period of time, I should confess.
I don't remember what date it was, or
what weather was outside but one day, I
realised that being an introvert was not about
staying away from people and guarding your
comfort zone. Well, ok. It wasn't a miraculous
insight, I watched some psychology videos on
Youtube and talked to one or two wise people.
You caught me!
And I became more active. That time I'd
already started doing some art works with
lettering and modern calligraphy and I decided
to give my first master-class. It was a big
challenge, but I managed to do it. I kept
pushing my inner limits and killing stereotypes
like 'introverts always hide in their inner world'
or 'introverts can't be real leaders'. In one year
I managed: to give an interview for a
newspaper, to be a speaker on the radio
(Gosh, that was scary!), to give 2 interviews on
TV, one of which was live (!) and to start
managing an art space. I met and talked to
hundreds of people (maybe more up to now),
organized more than 19 music events in the art
space and the coffee shop and proved that
introverts are not so shy!
S o m e t i m e s I fe e l r e a l l y t i r e d o f
communicating with people and want to hide
under my blanket for a week or two, because I
haven't turned into an extrovert, and I'm not
going to. I know who I am and I accept it with
pleasure and gratitude. If I'm tired, it's a signal
to read a book, to switch my phone to the
mute mode and talk to my introvert cat.
So, don't believe stereotypes, never
set limits for yourself and love your inner
introvert with all your heart. Don't hide yourself
in your inner cave because somebody labeled
you as 'shy', but find some possibility to reveal
your potential and contribute to the world. You
can do it. I've checked.
Follow Ekaterina on Instagram:
@do_art_space
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