I am an emotional sponge.
I walk into a room and can instantly feel whether people are relaxed or tense. I can speak two words to you and feel what’s going on. And you can bet yer bottom dollar that I internalize whatever energy is swirling around me.
For the longest time, I felt like an outsider – and truly weirded out by the fact that things as small as people laying on their car horns in rush-hour traffic would leave me shaken for a good few minutes.
And then I found out that not only was I not alone, but that I could work with what I’ve got – and it was my greatest asset in this world.
Those ideas that you think can change the world? You should start doing them. - @IntrovertDear Click To TweetIf you’ve been reading and listening for a while, it *probably* doesn’t come as a surprise to you that I’m into personality tests, personality indicators, and the psychology behind personality types. I find any chance to learn more about the inner workings of others, and myself, absolutely fascinating.
About 6 years ago, I stumbled upon the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (here’s one you can take for free!), took the test, and the results completely blew my mind. Now EVERYTHING started to make sense.
Then I read a book that was recommended to me called the Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron. I think I cried when I read it the first time through. Because again, this was so much of who I was – that I was either trying to fight against or was struggling to understand/make others understand – I had just never had words to describe it.
Give yourself permission to feel vulnerable and do what you need to do. - @IntrovertDear Click To Tweet
Introvert, Dear is the #1 website and community dedicated to introverted personality types AND HSPs. This site is followed by literally hundreds of thousands, the community is SO strong, and it’s a resource that’s really helped me when it comes to not just understanding why I am the way I am, but communicating who I am to others (and understanding THEM better, too).
Introvert Dear is the brainchild of Jenn Granneman, a teacher, writer, introvert expert, and fellow INFJ/HSP. So basically, I knew I had to have her on the podcast (especially since I get asked so often what the heck these acronyms even mean).
Here’s the deal, in a nutshell: Myers Briggs personality types are broken down into four components – introverted vs extroverted, intuitive vs sensing, thinking vs feeling, and perceiving vs judging.
A lot of people will just focus on the introvert/extrovert part of the equation, but Myers Briggs, and Jenn’s site, dissects the fine nuance between each specific combination.)
This is who you are. That's more than okay. That's GREAT. - @IntrovertDear Click To TweetThere’s a big theme in this episode of the number one lesson every introvert (and HSP) needs to learn in order to thrive. Even if you’re not either, take a listen – we’ve all got a little bit of introvert in us, and WAY more of us are HSPs than we realize, we just never talk about it.
At the best, you’ll learn about yourself. At the very least, you’ll definitely learn about someone you care about.
Ready?
WANT JENN:
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Show Notes:
Introvert, Dear
Facebook
Twitter
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Take the personality type test
Introvert Dreams coloring book
Quiet by Susan Cain
The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron
Quiet Revolution
Space2Live
Introvertology
Introvert Spring
Like this episode? Shoot me a comment below, leave a review on iTunes (the more reviews, the more Jenn’s awesomeness is spread), share it on Facebook, tweet it out on Twitter, or post it on Instagram. Be sure to use the hashtags #WANTcast, #womenagainstnegativetalk, and/or #WANTyourself!
Each article I read on your site is better than the last – but when I read this opening paragraph, and the words “emotional sponge,” I knew I had to write.
I wondered if you have ever read about The Enneagram? The nine personality types, levels of development and the three instincts, etc….there are many sources, but I have always studied through The Enneagram Institute.
I discovered it (through a therapist) twenty years ago and it changed my life. I understood myself AND OTHERS for maybe the first time. I learned how to have relationships with people I don’t “get,” but with love and compassion for them – and peace of mind for myself.
I still use it every day.
I have never left a comment in my life, but I enjoy your site so much, and appreciate you so much, I wanted to share that with you. If you don’t know of it, I hope you will find it interesting.
Ah yes this episode and article and all the resources are speaking to my soul. I’m borderline INTJ/INFJ and highly sensitive so I definitely know how it feels to be the odd one out. I can’t wait to check out all the resources and books you talked about. Also, have you ever looked into mysophinia? It’s a sensitivity to sound that I think fits in with all these other personality traits. It’d be cool if you interviewed a specialist! Thank you Katie!