A Widely Held, But Rarely Articulated, Belief

Or At School You Might Have Been Prodded To Come “out Of Your Shell”—that Noxious Expression Which Fails To Appreciate That Some Animals Naturally Carry Shelter Everywhere They Go, And That Some Humans Are Just The Same.

Everyone Shines, Given The Right Lighting.

Indeed, Your Biggest Challenge May Be To Fully Harness Your Strengths. You May Be So Busy Trying To Appear Like A Zestful, Reward-sensitive Extrovert That You Undervalue Your Own Talents, Or Feel Underestimated By Those Around You. But When You’re Focused On A Project That You Care About, You Probably Find That Your Energy Is Boundless.

Remember That Introverts React Not Only To New People, But Also To New Places And Events. So Don’t Mistake A Child’s Caution In New Situations For An Inability To Relate To Others. He’s Recoiling From Novelty Or Overstimulation, Not From Human Contact. Introverts Are Just As Likely As The Next Kid To Seek Others’ Company, Though Often In Smaller Doses

Many Introverts Are Also "highly Sensitive," Which Sounds Poetic, But Is Actually A Technical Term In Psychology. If You Are A Sensitive Sort, Then You're More Apt Than The Average Person To Feel Pleasantly Overwhelmed By Beethoven's "moonlight Sonata" Or A Well-turned Phrase Or An Act Of Extraordinary Kindness. You May Be Quicker Than Others To Feel Sickened By Violence And Ugliness, And You Likely Have A Very Strong Conscience.