The quiet power of introverts | BBC Ideas

[female speaker]
I am an introvert... and I love it.

And I'm not alone.

Introverts are everywhere

and our quiet approach to life,

our need for solitary time, isn't a flaw.

It's a gift.

But, as an introvert, it's not always easy
to realize how wonderful you are.

The world feels like a place
that rewards extroverts.

Where being loud is mistaken
for being confident and happy.

Where everyone has something to say,
but nobody listens.

A world of "Open Plan" offices,
networking parties, and big personalities.

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

As a child, I blended
in to the background.

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

but that wasn't true.

People often think introverts are
shy or antisocial,

but these are misconceptions.

Introverts, like anyone,
can find socializing fun.

But, where parties leave extroverts
energized, after some time,

introverts need to recharge
away from everyone.

There's a scientific theory for this.

There are two important chemicals
found in all our brains:

dopamine and acetylcholine.

Dopamine is like a hit of energy
when we take risks or meet new people,

and it makes extroverts feel great.

But introverts are more
sensitive to dopamine

and get quickly overstimulated.

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

when our brains release acetylcholine.

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

It makes us introverts feel relaxed,
alert, and content,

but it barely registers with extroverts.

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

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

known as an ambivert.

Now, I understand myself better.

I am deeply grateful for how I am.

Instead of filling up space
with small talk,

I listen patiently and
make my words matter.

I have few friends,
but our connection is deep.

I love spending time alone.

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

I can reflect and listen to my thoughts

and eventually reconnect with myself.

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

I have learned strategies for
finding comfort in our noisy world,

from using music to
create bubbles of peace

to escaping to a quiet park
at lunch time.

I adore the intensity and
chaotic beauty of the world,

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

If introversion were
more valued by society,

it could make a massive
difference to our collective future.

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

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

[Male speaker]
Thanks for watching.

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