"Our passion for depth also applies to our understanding of ourselves...for introverts there is no end in our journey of self-discovery. Introverts are experts in our internal worlds, aware of the strata of motivations, feelings and assumptions that determine our choices and behaviors." - Introverts in the Church, p. 41

While I was reading Introverts in the Church, much of what Adam McHugh wrote resonated with me. It made me wonder: was I an introvert after all?

Being a people person and being an introvert is not mutually exclusive, in spite of the stereotypes out there. The stereotypes are likely why I identified myself as an extrovert with introvert tendencies for so long.

Family photo, around 4 years old and rather contemplative

People described me as shy when I was a little girl. I didn't like that label, especially when I knew I wasn't shy. I was selectively friendly. I had good friends. I just didn't talk to strangers right off the bat.

I took the Myers-Briggs personality test in a high school psychology class. I don't remember my results but I do know I came up as an Extrovert and that I breathed a sigh of relief. There was a subtle bias that extroverts were preferable.

From junior high through graduate school, a good chunk of my identity was wrapped up in whether I had plans and the status of friendships. Did my friends want to spend time with me? Did I have a date lined up? What party was I planning next? Truthfully I'm not sure how I held up during those frenetic years.

It's been a few years since my identity was tied up in my interactions. I didn't mask myself as an extrovert but I didn't own up to my introvertedness either. Even though I knew extroversion/introversion represented the way we process and recharge. (I'm rather tricky on the introvert-extrovert scale: After most interactions, I crave down time but 1:1 interactions can energize me, which is likely tied in to being an NF and my propensity for counseling and going deeper in relationships.)

Last month I retook the test. I tried to answer what was true most of the time.

My results: INFJ. The Counselor. "Although they are happy working at jobs (such as writing) that require solitude and close attention, Counselors do quite well with individuals or groups of people, provided that the personal interactions are not superficial, and that they find some quiet, private time every now and then to recharge their batteries." Honestly, could there be a more perfect description of me?

I see now that my introversion has been there all along. Contemplating how it has affected the way I view life has been very freeing. It's not a liability the way I'd previously thought.

(And there are so many cool people who are introverts! Yessssss.) 

My point here isn't to elevate one personality style over another. We flourish when we are true to ourselves and the way we were created.

As a fairly self-aware person, I'm a little embarrassed it took this long to own up to my introversion. Reading Introverts in the Church gave me permission to do so. For that, I sincerely thank McHugh. Where some people see weakness, he points to our strengths.

Introversion does not define me but it's a part of me.  And I happen to like myself a lot.

So...what's your personality type? 

Additional info:

Overview of the 4 MBTI Temperaments

Shorter, free version of MBTI called the Jung Typology Test

A fun visual personality test

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