Chapter 8

[EN]

"Quiet people have the loudest minds" – Part 1

◼️Hi there!

It’s been 2 months since we met and I’m so grateful towards the people who have chosen to share their stories with me in the meantime, as it seems that this platform has made them comfortable to do so.

As an introvert myself, I am fully aware that some of you may not be the most outspoken. The most interesting conversation that comes to mind right now, is one where someone expressed how they wished to be more adventurous and courageous, but they knew they were too shy to voice their opinion, which was not allowing them to reach their full potential - professionally-speaking.

That brings me to this week's topic 💡

I am an introvert.

However, being an introvert doesn't necessarily mean I am shy.

Actually, far from it.

Being an introvert just means that I prefer my peace, quiet surroundings and solitude, over loud social gatherings 2/3 of the time so I can have space to think about my next plan, idea, or production. At the same time, and with the right people, I also enjoy having fun, going out, and making friends with those I can learn something from. I enjoy taking time off of my day to do an introspection on my life so I can identify which areas need improvement and what I have to change in order to meet my ultimate wants and needs.

As a whole, introverts tend to listen more and talk less. The irony of it all, and the main reason that drove me to bring you this topic this week, is that society has a pre-judgement already settled around them… especially in the business environment.

According to the fast-paced business landscape being an introvert is bad for you, and therefore, those who are more naturally quiet are forced to adapt against their will. When in reality, introverts tend to be people who have abundant insights and ideas precisely because they think about things extensively from different views and perspectives, which most employers benefit greatly from. It is important to give introverts the freedom to express themselves and to understand their mindset, instead of applying an immediate judgement solely based on whether they are forthright and loud.

Different people express themselves in different ways and while some are able to speak their thoughts in a split second, some might need a little bit more time and space and there shouldn't be anything wrong with that. I've seen it with my own eyes how it is also true that those who are more impulsive, make the most mistakes, so why are we imposing such behavioural changes when it is not that advantageous at long last?

‘Curiosity killed the cat’ is a phrase I adore yet abhor.

Being curious can range from intellectually curious to playfully curious, as there are a few types around us. I, myself, categorise as a naturally curious being, since I am always looking for new ways to learn new information and gather new knowledge, embracing curiosity to find solutions and overcome challenges in the most trouble-free way. However, I am not and have never been curious about what other people are doing. Rather, what the world has to offer.

Those who meet me on a personal level, often describe me as "calm and collected". While that may not be a wrong assumption on the outer layer of expression, covertly my mind is tumbling in every direction. I can go a day without speaking a word, but my mind will be a whirlwind of unconnected thoughts playing both in the imaginative realm and the realistic one, jumping back and forth with one foot on each side. But above all, I know I know the difference so I let it be as free as it wants to be and foster the creative process. From trying to understand why we are the only planet of the solar system with confirmed life, to “unpacking” coincidental events and daydreaming phenomena. I can tell you straight away I don’t fully believe that coincidences in life exist; But I do believe that everything happens for a reason.

In Steve Jobs’ final essay, he mentioned that “the six best doctors in the world are sunlight, rest, exercise, diet, self-confidence and friends”. According to him, in order to maintain a long and healthy life, all 6 must be present in one way or another.

Oftentimes I find myself in situations where I have to prioritise my own rest and peaceful solitude, and oftentimes I am faced with the same reaction: “You need rest? You are young, how can you possibly be tired if you haven’t done much yet”. Now: It is true that ‘rest’ in itself is a very broad word that could mean a ton of different things from lack of activity to lack of responsibility, but I don't believe it should be minimised or looked down upon, as any definition of 'age' is a relative perception.

Personally, I find solace in nature. The sound of the birds chirping in the background, the water flowing down the lake, and the moment a butterfly lands on your knee is beyond irreplaceable. Every time I start feeling overwhelmed, I go on a walk and breathe clean air freshly from its source and it magically transforms a once gloomy atmosphere into a colourful habitat.

In 2019, nature became unconsciously part of my healing journey and, in a way, acted as my escape plan. The friends who know me well know that from time to time I disappear for a few days and have this innate need to find a remote location where the internet signal is bad or limited. More often than not, that remote place is in the middle of nowhere surrounded by nature, the sun (if possible), simple food without long ingredient lists – avoiding everything that would result in my grandmother not recognising half of them if I asked – and uncontaminated souls.

That is not to say I am a fundamentalist. In fact, in my opinion, all extreme ideals such as radicalism or fanaticism should be abolished from the world as they bring nothing good in return. Seeing the world only in black & white when there is a roomy spectrum of shades of grey in between is sorrowful... But who am I to judge?

One conclusion I have come to, nonetheless, is how politicians rely on rhetoric speeches, advertisers rely on rhetoric images and catchy slogans, lawyers rely on rhetoric arguments, and freedom builds on rhetoric thought.

Wide green spaces give me a sense of freedom for the duration of time I am walking or sitting outside, and to some I may appear aloof by being on a date with the world at best. On account of this I ask, why is an inborn need for personal space a synonym for being aloof? It’s not about being distant or anti-social; It’s about valuing quality over quantity, and that applies to all aspects of life.◻️