After two business trips in less than a month, this introvert is happy to be home! I really enjoyed journaling from the comfort of my own bed this morning and doing sun salutations in my meditation room with the sun shining in through the windows. Being on the road and around so many people reminds me that as an INFP and an HSP it’s vital for me to take quiet time to recharge.
During the conference this past weekend, when I found myself getting overstimulated and drained from all the sights, sounds and crowds, I sought the solitude of my hotel room. After taking a quick nap or simply just lying still for 20 minutes I felt ready to re-enter the hustle and bustle of the event and mingle with all the wonderful women there.
I’m glad that I now know what I need to do to take care of myself instead of judging that I’m not able to “keep up.” Learning my MBTI type several years ago and reading more about introverts and Highly Sensitive People has helped me embrace these traits as gifts. I now own that I naturally bring a sense of stillness, reflection and calm and by slowing down and observing, I often have intuitive insights on things that others may not notice right away.
I had a nice exchange with Leah of Creative Everyday after reading her blog entry “Introverts Go Out.” A great resource we both recommend for learning about what it means to be an introvert is “The Introvert Advantage.” I also liked “The Happy Introvert” which is a quick, fun read with some whimsical illustrations.
Not all introverts are Highly Sensitive People and you don’t have to be an introvert to be an HSP. I happened to learn about HSPs while reading “The Introvert Advantage” and discovered that I fit the bill for being highly sensitive, too. It sure helped explain a lot of things for me! Some books that were helpful for me where “The Highly Sensitive Person,” “Making Work Work for the Highly Sensitive Person” and “The Highly Sensitive Person’s Survival Guide.”
I love how instead of working against my inherent personality traits like I did in my old corporate life, in my new life of working for myself I’m relishing in creative, personal, meditative endeavors that nourish my soul.
[tags]MBTI, Myers-Briggs, INFP, HSP, Highly Sensitive Person, type and temperament, introverts, introversion[/tags]
i’m looking forward to reading the happy introvert! it does feel wonderful to begin to embrace the traits of an introvert as gifts. 🙂
i’m glad that you had a great time and that you’ve had some time to recharge!!
Leah and I have also had conversations about being introverts and HSP. How refreshing it is to feel okay about being that…after being hounded by family members with the rejoinder, “You’re so SENSITIVE!” … usually said with disparaging anger. Now that I’ve read another post where you’ve mentioned MBTI, I’ve stopped to think what my outcome had been when I took that test years ago. And I think it was INFP…but the person administering it had predicted ISTJ.
And I’m thinking about how I feel an almost physical reaction (and am sometimes quick to anger) when people in my workplace come to me for data queries or things having to be calculated with numbers or tell me “You’ll know the answer…you know a lot about computers…” But I don’t! I’ve HAD to learn certain things because of hideous day jobs I’ve held…but those things aren’t natural to me, I have no interest in them and would gladly run screaming out of the room at the thought of them, and LOATHE having to deal with them. Hmm…maybe there’s something to this type-ing stuff after all… 😉