Watch and Learn - The quiet power of introverts

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I am an introvert and I love it.

I am an introvert and I love it

And I'm not alone. Introverts are everywhere,

And I'm not alone Introverts are everywhere

and our quiet approach to life, our need for solitary time,

and our quiet approach to life our need for solitary time

isn't a flaw - it's a gift.

isn't a flaw it's a gift

But as an introvert it's not always easy to realise

how wonderful you are.

how wonderful you are

The world feels like a place that rewards extroverts.

The world feels like a place that rewards extroverts

Where being loud is mistaken for being confident and happy.

Where being loud is mistaken for being confident and happy

Where everyone has something to say, but nobody listens.

Where everyone has something to say but nobody listens

A world of open-plan offices, networking parties,

A world of open-plan offices networking parties

and big personalities.

and big personalities

For those who speak softly, it's easy to feel left out.

For those who speak softly it's easy to feel left out

As a child, I blended into the background.

As a child I blended into the background

Many thought that I had little to say or that I simply didn't like others.

Many thought that I had little to say or that I simply didn't like others

But that wasn't true.

But that wasn't true

People often think that introverts are shy, or antisocial.

People often think that introverts are shy or antisocial

But these are misconceptions.

But these are misconceptions

Introverts, like anyone, can find socialising fun.

Introverts like anyone can find socialising fun

But while parties leave extroverts energised,

But while parties leave extroverts energised

after some time, introverts need to recharge...

after some time introverts need to recharge

away from everyone.

away from everyone

There is a scientific theory for this.

There is a scientific theory for this

There are two important chemicals found in all our brains -

There are two important chemicals found in all our brains

dopamine and acetylcholine.

dopamine and acetylcholine

Dopamine is like a hit of energy

when we take risks or meet new people -

when we take risks or meet new people

and it makes extroverts feel great.

and it makes extroverts feel great

But introverts are more sensitive to dopamine

and get quickly over-stimulated.

and get quickly over-stimulated

That's why we prefer the more slow-burn feeling we get

when our brains release acetylcholine.

when our brains release acetylcholine

That happens when we concentrate, read, or focus our minds.

That happens when we concentrate read or focus our minds

It makes us introverts feel relaxed, alert and content.

It makes us introverts feel relaxed alert and content

But it barely registers with extroverts.

But it barely registers with extroverts

Of course, like anything, it's a sliding scale.

Of course like anything it's a sliding scale

You can lean one way or another. Or be a bit of both -

You can lean one way or another Or be a bit of both

known as an ambivert.

known as an ambivert

Now I understand myself better, I am deeply grateful for how I am.

Now I understand myself better I am deeply grateful for how I am

Instead of filling up space with small talk, I listen patiently

Instead of filling up space with small talk I listen patiently

and make my words matter.

and make my words matter

I have few friends but our connection is deep.

I have few friends but our connection is deep

I love spending time alone.

I love spending time alone

It's where the chaos of a long day can finally settle.

It's where the chaos of a long day can finally settle

I can reflect and listen to my thoughts,

I can reflect and listen to my thoughts

and eventually reconnect with myself.

and eventually reconnect with myself

Only after that am I ready to share with the world again.

Only after that am I ready to share with the world again

I have learnt strategies for finding comfort in our noisy world -

I have learnt strategies for finding comfort in our noisy world

from using music to create bubbles of peace,

from using music to create bubbles of peace

to escaping to a quiet park at lunchtime.

to escaping to a quiet park at lunchtime

I adore the intensity and chaotic beauty of the world.

I adore the intensity and chaotic beauty of the world

But it's in quiet spaces where I feel truly at home.

But it's in quiet spaces where I feel truly at home

If introversion were more valued by society,

If introversion were more valued by society

it could make a massive difference to our collective future.

it could make a massive difference to our collective future

The unique attributes of introverts really are a deep, quiet strength.

The unique attributes of introverts really are a deep quiet strength

And as Gandhi, put it, "In a gentle way, you can shake the world."

And as Gandhi put it In a gentle way you can shake the world

Thanks for watching.

Thanks for watching

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See you again soon!

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