This individual would typically try their best to hide in the shadows, devoid of attention and prefer solitude over mayhem. They’d prefer their bed over midnight bars, a one-on-one coffee date with a friend over a group get-together, and reading a book over cruising the bustling city during the weekend.

So, having a whole month dedicated to them seems daunting, exhausting and above all else, unnecessary.  

But, instead of throwing a party to celebrate, we’re shifting perspectives and reforming mindsets. Besides, a “celebration" for an introvert would really mean a quiet night in with some good snacks, tucked under comfy covers and ready to binge their favourite TV show. Perhaps with their cat snoozing next to them - that is, if they want company. 

Before World Introvert Month was introduced, World Introvert Day - now celebrated annually on January 2nd, was founded in 2011 when a German psychologist and author, Felicitas Heyne published a post on her blog (iPersonic) vocalizing the need for a day to acknowledge the more quiet, deep thinkers of the world. She decided that it was best for it to be observed right after the Christmas and New Year’s festivities since it seemed like the perfect time to be excused as a social hermit and finally enjoy some much-needed me time.

Later, the month of January was declared World Introvert Month by the National Centre of Intersectional Studies along with Awesome Enterprises LLC, which aims to celebrate the diverse lives and experiences of introverts worldwide. It is now considered a movement for introverts to embrace their unique nature and encourage them to live life as authentically as possible. 

A closer look at introversion

Introverts are individuals who tend to be more quiet, reserved and introspective. Their most prominent trait is that they require time by themselves to “recharge” after social interactions. Small talk may bore them, and spending time with a large group of people, for example, at a party, can quickly deplete their energy compared to an extrovert who relies on social interactions to feel energised. 

Some other common traits of introversion include:

• Learning through observation: Introverts are known to make mental notes of their surroundings to understand their situations better.
• Feeling comfortable being alone: Introverts may feel lonely at times without company, however, they prefer to honour their solitude and be with a small but close group of friends.
• Exercising self-awareness: Whether intentionally or not, their nature allows them to be aware of themselves, their motivations and their feelings.
• Needing quiet to concentrate: Introverts may work better alone than in groups and require quiet time to focus and ponder their thoughts.
• Taking time to make decisions: They are often detail-oriented and will need time to consider all their options before making a decision. They usually think deeply before acting or speaking.
• Being self-sufficient: Introverts are highly independent and self-sufficient, sometimes to their own detriment.

The Introvert Brain

The reason why introverts are the way they are can be traced back to their brain and neural pathways as it is known to impact how they process information and react to external stimuli. 

• Dopamine sensitivity: dopamine or the “feel good” hormone, is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in the brain’s pleasure and reward centers. Research shows that extroverts appear to have more dopamine receptors than introverts, meaning introverts require less of it to experience its effects, and can therefore shut down when there is too much happening simultaneously in active public settings, as a result of being overstimulated.
• Acetylcholine pathway: Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that produces a sense of happiness when engaged in activities that require contemplation and introspection. Introverts use this pathway dominantly and may enjoy inward-focused activities as a result, developing long-term memory and the ability to stay calm and alert.
• Prefrontal cortex: Introverts have a thicker prefrontal cortex compared to extroverts, which is associated with deep thought and decision-making.
• Resting brain activity: Studies have shown that introverts exhibit more brain activity even at rest, particularly in areas related to internal thinking and self-reflection suggesting that they are naturally inclined to think deeply, with minimal external stimulation.

Although these seem like admirable traits, our extrovert-driven society has fallen back on stereotypes, allowing the wrong idea of introverts to spread. Some of them include:

• Being perceived as arrogant and impolite as they prefer to avoid unimportant social interactions and find comfort in silence.
• Often misunderstood as shy, unable to be assertive or have fun. 
• Being confused as antisocial and considered depressed or lonely.

We took to asking some introverts to discuss their thoughts and struggles in an extrovert-driven society. Here are a few of their comments:

“When I got into high school, it was hard to connect with my peers and be social. I had a small friend group that consisted of 4 people, including myself, and we would hang out frequently. Sometimes, this would become overwhelming for me because I felt as if I had to “perform” while hanging out. I didn’t have a close-knit group of friends for a while, until recently. Now, I have a wonderful group of sisters in faith who I adore and love. They are always there for me and beyond understanding, which I am forever grateful for. Still, when it comes to calling or socialising, sometimes I disappear. The only person I can handle being with every day and actually look forward to calling is my partner. He helps me recharge after a big event or after I’ve had to socialise more than I’m comfortable with due to burnout. Also, depending on the size of the event, it could take me a day or two to “recharge”, and the only people I can handle being around or conversing with during burnout, are people I’m most comfortable with.” - Khadeeja

“I can’t deny that being an introvert has ruined my relationships with some people because I just couldn’t keep up with their energy and my social battery runs out easily. It’s also hard to make genuine friends when people think they can take advantage of you because you’re quiet most of the time. So, even though I like to be alone, it does get lonely sometimes. I have also missed out on some life-changing opportunities due to how scared I was to come out of my shell. Honestly, there are times when I wish I was different. I would like some friends who are accepting of my reclusive nature as I can be jovial around people I’m comfortable with. I have been trying new things like volunteering, but I give up easily and go back to my shell because it's more comfortable. The disadvantage is that I end up ghosting people and losing friends this way.” - Sameera

“There is an extent to which I enjoy socialising because I am someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy loneliness all too much. It is solitude that I take delight in as an introvert, not loneliness. So, as an extroverted introvert, for me, it all depends on who I socialise with. If it is someone close to me and if we’re on the same wavelength on ideas and values, then it wouldn’t be a struggle. I would also prefer it to be a one-on-one interaction, than in a crowd full of people. This also follows me in my career as a writer. It’s a struggle to find the time to write leisurely and create, but there’s also a whole other side to it where you need to market yourself as a writer. This is where you need to socialise as much as possible to network with people and make connections in order to bring exposure to your work.  That takes a lot of effort from your end as an individual, as well as the internal struggle that you go through to force yourself to blend in and get out of your comfort zone. Personally, I don’t spend too much time networking and I don’t see that as a flaw because I enjoy my own company as an independent writer and it’s better to not be influenced by peer pressure and other external distractions that can impact my way of working as a creative.” - Rushda

“Making small talk has got to be the biggest struggle I face. I’ve had to practice it over the years just to get by, but it hasn’t really gotten any easier. I am happy that it’s ever so slowly becoming more socially acceptable to be introverted, especially after the pandemic introduced literal social distancing. It was not easy growing up and feeling like something was wrong with me because I wasn’t as outgoing as everyone else.” - Yashodha

This January, let’s take a step to acknowledge the quiet ones. You may not hear them often, but they do take up space in our diverse world and are responsible for many advancements in our society that require critical thinking and creativity.

If you are an introvert, hear me out; life gets a whole lot easier once you start to embrace your true nature. You do not have to forcefully wear that smile and walk into that party. You do not have to worry about entertaining your coworkers if you can’t come up with a joke or two. You do not have to answer that one relative’s nagging question “Why are you so quiet?”

Being an introvert is not a flaw or imperfection. Nor is it something to snap out of. It’s merely a state of mind and a unique personality along with its strengths and weaknesses. Welcome your quiet side with open arms, and own who you are. You may not be a social butterfly, but there’s always room for a significant wallflower.