10. Have your voice heard without uttering a single word
9. A chance to quiet the vocal minority, who are just a bunch of over-excited extroverts
8. Abraham Lincoln. Leader. Patriot. Introvert.
7. For all you Nevada Introverts, I'm pretty sure Harry Reid is a flaming Extrovert (this reason paid for by Sharron Angle for Senate)
6. Vote for candidate willing to cater to the Introvert electorate by replacing federal holiday, Columbus Day, with the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day being the new holiday (this just makes sense, people!)
5. Write-in vote opportunity for Introvert Advantage author Marti Olsen Laney!
4. Introversion is to be listed as a disease covered by insurance under new "Obama care."
3. There's no better place to be recharged by solitude than the confines of a cozy voting booth
2. Our elected officials could benefit from some good ole fashioned internal processing
And the #1 reason why every introvert should vote on election day...
1. How does an Introvert majority in Congress sound?! YES WE CAN!!!
What are some other reasons that I missed?
Interview with Adam McHugh
Ok, so the picture of this gentlemen to the right probably doesn't mean much to you. Honestly, I wouldn't have a clue either if I hadn't read his book over the summer (a huge catalyst for this blog) and thus stumbled across an interview of him that featured this glamour shot. So this is none other than Adam McHugh, author of Introverts in the church.
Here's an excerpt from the interview about gifts the Introvert can give to the church:
What gifts do introverts bring to their church community?
This is such an important question. So often we define introversion by what it's not, and I would like us to start defining introversion by its assets, not its liabilities.
People in our culture so rarely have the experience of being truly listened to--having not only their words taken seriously, but also having their feelings, questions, and doubts underneath those words paid attention to. Even though listening is always a discipline to be cultivated, introverts may have a head start on listening. Because we process internally, and take up less social space, we can offer a nonjudgmental posture that frees people to open up to us. I also think that people who go deep into their own souls--and find both the good stuff and the bad stuff--are capable of a powerful compassion for others. These are just two of the several gifts I explore in the book.
I gleaned a lot from the interview and a lot from the book, obviously. Check out the full interview here.
What are some ways you see the Introvert fitting in the church?
Who Knew?! Famous Introverts
Many of you, (especially if you’re at work), might look at your computer and see the brand “DELL” plastered somewhere on it. The person who began the technology giant is named Michael Dell…and guess what…INTROVERT! (BAM!)
How do I know such intimate details of Dell’s personality? I just completed a great book called Integrity, which looks at the aspects the character of successful people. Dell is one of the leaders briefly profiled.
The excerpt on p.72-73 of the book is taken from the November 3, 2003 issue in Business Week magazine. It reads:
“…personality tests given to key execs repeatedly showed Dell to be an “off-the-charts introvert…”
I shed a tear of joy as my heart leapt a little in my chest in reading that. A successful, well-known introvert! There’s hope! But the next part of that sentence in the excerpt troubled me:
“…and such an admission from him had to have been painful.”
Nooooooo! What a roller coaster ride of emotions all in one sentence. How DARE you, Business Week?! I obviously don’t see the admission of being an introvert as being painful. Why should it be taboo to observe ourselves to be an introvert? While on my way to Barnes & Noble to purchase all Business Week copies for a bonfire protest in the parking lot (I'll show you an off-the-charts introvert, Business Week!), I came to my senses and realized that statements like that are a reason why this blog exists. So I’ll stick it to them in blog-form with a tribute to a famous introvert, Michael Dell.
In fairness to the excerpt, the context of the article was to point out how Dell was viewed as impersonal and emotionally detached by his employees, and he was striving to connect with his employees by being vulnerable and authentic. Dell had obviously not been managing his introversion well, and I guess having to face that fact is the painful part.
But we should not be ashamed of our introversion. I mean, Dell did start a hugely successful technology company. I would imagine that the same introverted qualities viewed as a virtue while growing the company were the same qualities viewed as a hindrance when the company morale was faltering. The article does go on to say about how Dell reformed his introversion in such a way that made him vulnerable and relatable, without abandoning who he is.
For the ability to reform and manage his introversion as a strength, we salute you, Michael Dell.
Do you know of any other famous introverts?
Novelty vs Creativity
Here at the Introverted Soul, it's all about digging down deep and trying our best to come back up from depths with some clarity. So occasionally during an "internal processing" session, I'll come up with some clarity on a subject, and I'll want to share it here.
So today I was thinking of the difference between something being a novelty and something being creative. There's always creativity involved with novelty, but not everything creative is a novelty. The true value is going beyond novelty and gaining the status of being called creative.
Novelty is derived from the Latin word "new," and that is what a novelty is all about. It's about being new just for the sake of being new, and it does draw attention because we love the "new" thing. But the novelty is fleeting because it doesn't have any real impact beyond the attention-grabber. The power of creativity is hijacked when it's used only as an attention-grabber.
But using creativity to grab our attention, then going a step further by delivering a new idea or a twist on an established idea that shifts perspectives, is when we can classify something as truly creative. The moment that it goes beyond the "newness" into lasting impact and influence, is when the power of creativity has been harnessed.
So if you are lucky enough to gain the attention, are you ready to deliver something of impact? Or are you going to milk the novelty aspect for a few moments until the next attention-grabber comes on the scene? The ones who can attract and then deliver an impact, have something truly creative.
Are you lucky enough to have people's attention, and if so, what are you creating with that?
So today I was thinking of the difference between something being a novelty and something being creative. There's always creativity involved with novelty, but not everything creative is a novelty. The true value is going beyond novelty and gaining the status of being called creative.
Novelty is derived from the Latin word "new," and that is what a novelty is all about. It's about being new just for the sake of being new, and it does draw attention because we love the "new" thing. But the novelty is fleeting because it doesn't have any real impact beyond the attention-grabber. The power of creativity is hijacked when it's used only as an attention-grabber.
But using creativity to grab our attention, then going a step further by delivering a new idea or a twist on an established idea that shifts perspectives, is when we can classify something as truly creative. The moment that it goes beyond the "newness" into lasting impact and influence, is when the power of creativity has been harnessed.
So if you are lucky enough to gain the attention, are you ready to deliver something of impact? Or are you going to milk the novelty aspect for a few moments until the next attention-grabber comes on the scene? The ones who can attract and then deliver an impact, have something truly creative.
Are you lucky enough to have people's attention, and if so, what are you creating with that?
Thoughtfulness Overload
One of markings of a good introvert is thoughtfulness or internal processing. Sometimes the Introvert can get frustrated because people see them being thoughtful and they chalk it up to indecisiveness, apathy, or lack of leadership. We try to debunk that myth here at the Introverted Soul, but after some thought and some conviction from scripture, I have to admit that sometimes this is true.
I notice that oftentimes I can think things through, have the best of intentions of following through, but then I don't follow through. Call it laziness, selfishness, or apathy, but none of those are attributes that I desire. James 2:17 constantly convicts of me this. I can have all the faith in the world (to me this represents the Introvert who has the internal faith) but if that faith doesn't manifest itself outwardly (this would be the Extrovert who is naturally more outwardly expressive) then I've got some issues.
So as much as I believe in thoughtfulness, I can easily overload on it, and lean on it as a crutch for inaction. The inaction makes all the thoughtfulness, good intentions, and faith, mean nothing.
I notice that oftentimes I can think things through, have the best of intentions of following through, but then I don't follow through. Call it laziness, selfishness, or apathy, but none of those are attributes that I desire. James 2:17 constantly convicts of me this. I can have all the faith in the world (to me this represents the Introvert who has the internal faith) but if that faith doesn't manifest itself outwardly (this would be the Extrovert who is naturally more outwardly expressive) then I've got some issues.
So as much as I believe in thoughtfulness, I can easily overload on it, and lean on it as a crutch for inaction. The inaction makes all the thoughtfulness, good intentions, and faith, mean nothing.
Introverted Inspirtation in Scripture
In late 2009, I committed to memorizong 100 Psalms. I failed. I only memorized 24, and now the ones I had memorized have started to fade away so I can only recall bits and pieces. BUT it was still a fruitful exercise, so much so that I've recommitted to that goal but this time taking route that is more thought-through (in typical introverted fashion), adopting the "marathon" mindset rather than the "sprint" mindset.
One of the Psalms I recently committed to memory was Psalm 131. There's a line in there that gives me some peace and inspiration as the Introveted Soul. The line reads: "I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me, but I have stilled and quieted my soul."
This passage has both reminded me and challenged me.
It has reminded me of the perfection God. One moment he's challenging the Introvert with the call to shout for joy and lift our hands , and then the next He's reminding the Introvert that there's purpose and value in how He has created us by calling us to stillness and quietness.
It challenges me to harness that natural response of stillness and quietness and make it an intentional feeding of my soul, not just an outward behavior. It is an awesome challenge, and thankfully I believe the Introvert is well equipped for this.
How is God reminding and challenging you through His Word?
One of the Psalms I recently committed to memory was Psalm 131. There's a line in there that gives me some peace and inspiration as the Introveted Soul. The line reads: "I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me, but I have stilled and quieted my soul."
This passage has both reminded me and challenged me.
It has reminded me of the perfection God. One moment he's challenging the Introvert with the call to shout for joy and lift our hands , and then the next He's reminding the Introvert that there's purpose and value in how He has created us by calling us to stillness and quietness.
It challenges me to harness that natural response of stillness and quietness and make it an intentional feeding of my soul, not just an outward behavior. It is an awesome challenge, and thankfully I believe the Introvert is well equipped for this.
How is God reminding and challenging you through His Word?
Praying for your spouse
I've recently embarked on a quest to be more intentional about praying for my wife. We got off to a great start, but we've stumbled in the past couple of weeks, so this post from my good friend Harrison lit the fire under me again. This is the quote that particularly spoke to me:
Dr Fincham suspects that the act of praying about romantic partners leads people to view their relationship as something sacred and not to be damaged. This, he argues, is the force that is reducing infidelity in the study.
Here at the Introverted Soul, I constantly try to promote the assets of being the Introvert, but there are times when those assets drift into hindrances. For example, the Introvert is very thoughtful, which I think can lead to wisdom and clarity of action, but sometimes that's all the Introvert does! We get bogged down by thinking that there's never any action. I'm the king of good intentions...I spend so much time thinking about good things I need to do (like praying for and with my wife) but I'm also the king of excuses. I can easily rationalize why I never implement my good intentions.
This interview and study challenged me to take action with my prayer, and also clarified why I need to do this. A pastor at my church, Phil Hargrove, said that prayer with/for your wife can be more intimate than sex...I can definitely see the truth in that, because prayer with/for your wife creates a spiritual connection, and our perspetive of our wives shifts from being just a sexual parnter to a spiritual and divine partnership. It's hard to imagine a deeper connection than that.
Bottom line, I need to get about the business of doing the things now (intentional prayer for my wife) that will lead to what I want down the road (a strong, deep, spiritual relationship with my bride).
Check out Harrison's blog post:
the bottlenecked blog: Limits of Human Progress and the Power of Prayer: "Earlier this year I posted C.S. Lewis' fictional description of hell, a world without scarcity. Before that I had confessed that a world wit..."
Dr Fincham suspects that the act of praying about romantic partners leads people to view their relationship as something sacred and not to be damaged. This, he argues, is the force that is reducing infidelity in the study.
Here at the Introverted Soul, I constantly try to promote the assets of being the Introvert, but there are times when those assets drift into hindrances. For example, the Introvert is very thoughtful, which I think can lead to wisdom and clarity of action, but sometimes that's all the Introvert does! We get bogged down by thinking that there's never any action. I'm the king of good intentions...I spend so much time thinking about good things I need to do (like praying for and with my wife) but I'm also the king of excuses. I can easily rationalize why I never implement my good intentions.
This interview and study challenged me to take action with my prayer, and also clarified why I need to do this. A pastor at my church, Phil Hargrove, said that prayer with/for your wife can be more intimate than sex...I can definitely see the truth in that, because prayer with/for your wife creates a spiritual connection, and our perspetive of our wives shifts from being just a sexual parnter to a spiritual and divine partnership. It's hard to imagine a deeper connection than that.
Bottom line, I need to get about the business of doing the things now (intentional prayer for my wife) that will lead to what I want down the road (a strong, deep, spiritual relationship with my bride).
Check out Harrison's blog post:
the bottlenecked blog: Limits of Human Progress and the Power of Prayer: "Earlier this year I posted C.S. Lewis' fictional description of hell, a world without scarcity. Before that I had confessed that a world wit..."
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