As far back as I remember, it had always been a â€œgood thingâ€ to go and seek out for yourself: to be people-oriented, street smart, be friendly to company, be good at conversation, to be loud and assertive and a leader,and whatever else goes along with it. Thatâ€™s the sort of thing growing up and school drills in your head anyway: you donâ€™t get a lot of attention from the teachers if youâ€™re quiet in class or quiet with your talents, neither do you get any recognition whatsoever. Iâ€™ve seen so many get overlooked just because they didnâ€™t make themselves noticeable enough. And all of this just told me how much of a virtue it was to be an extrovert.

In the last few years, however, introversion as a major personality trait has swept over social media like wildfire: whether its memes or aesthetic art posts or quotes or whatnot. I wonâ€™t say being introvert has somehow become the cool thing â€“ maybe, the fact is, we all feel too lonely inside that weâ€™re all really introverts trying to branch out into the world. Probably not true, but introversion sure has become an epidemic. And with all the â€œtreat yourselfâ€ and â€œfocus on yourselfâ€ energy going around, thereâ€™s a lot more emphasis on the individualâ€™s inner self rather than the way they see and treat the external world.
Yet, the fact remains that introverts all over the world do suffer a little due to this personality trait. I might be pushing the case, but I have had my own experiences of always being pushed out of things which I feel I deserved, of not getting credit or my due because Iâ€™d been quiet about it, of not being able to laugh and talk the way most people do in public. There are studies that talk about how extroverts function well in corporate environments, how you have a better chances of getting a job if youâ€™re extrovert and assert your space, how people are always drawn to those who know how to talk the talk.

Point being, that being an introvert can be a major source of anxiety, a strong cause for depression, and in general, not a very good trait to have, one which you can hardly be proud of. Itâ€™s hard to make quality conversation when youâ€™re not that used to words or to voicing your thoughts and emotions, and itâ€™s harder still to make lasting bonds when youâ€™re so used to being on your own.

Is there a silver lining to all of it? Definitely. Itâ€™s not like introverts are complete unsocial beings, and weâ€™re easier to talk to when it comes to talk therapy or comfort or the sort of deep talk people need for soul food. Iâ€™ve found that when it comes to friendships, quality trumps quantity every time and being an introvert allows you that. And thereâ€™s nothing wrong in solace, in finding beauty in self reflection, and becoming a better person because of it.

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