Introversion can be tough sometimes.

Hey buddy, I say this all with the best intentions:

You're describing problems that everyone I know has, to some degree.

Please, stop blaming some boogie monster (introversion). When you blame something else for your problems, you're taking the easy way out and pretending that it's something you have little or no control over.

All of these things are absolutely something you have control over.

I'm sorry but "I'm introverted" is not an excuse to not develop your social/communication skills.

Feel awkward around people? Chat up store clerks. Put yourself into uncomfortable situations. Say one thing in every conversation you normally wouldn't say. Read some books such as "How to Win Friends and Influence People". Etc. Eventually it'll become natural to you.

Feel like you need more time to yourself? Communicate. Explain to your girlfriend that you just need to spend time alone for your own mental health, and if she doesn't understand, she probably isn't the one for you.

My best friend can't be alone for more than 3 seconds or he starts going bonkers. He's extremely extroverted. Yet he's almost 30 and literally sometimes asks me "how do you talk to people?". Like...he doesn't know how to have a regular conversation with people and ends up being a jerk because that's the only way he knows how. His relationships are also a disaster.

It's not because he's "too extroverted", it's because he never bothered to learn how to relate to people.

I'm insanely introverted. I can spend 2 weeks alone in my room on my laptop and be fine. I used to be in your shoes, where I was lonely and couldn't talk to anyone. So I read books, I downloaded Tinder and went on a bunch of dates I didn't feel like going on, I joined a bunch of classes that I was horrified to go to. I got out of my comfort zone and did some scary shit - it was even scarier for me because I get panic attacks and just leaving the house is often a battle. But...I've gone from being scared to talk to the gas station attendant to being very good with women and strangers and generally very charming with social interactions.

The purpose of this post is not to be mean nor to suck my own dick. The purpose of this post is to point out that your way of thinking is flawed.

Introversion/extroversion is a trait, like hair color or height. It does not define you. It does not create barriers in your life and in your happiness. You do.

The fact of the matter is, 99.9% of people have a difficult life full of struggles. That's life. Everyone experiences unhappiness, loneliness, dissatisfaction, failure, etc.

The ones who succeed are the ones who do something about it. The ones who fail are the ones who give up and resort to excuses.

"Well I can't be happy because I'm introverted/overweight/black/Hispanic/have a big nose/short/poor/etc."

Stop using introversion as an excuse to not take control of your life. Get out there and start kicking ass.

/r/introvert Thread