The Introvert Diaries: Embracing the Quiet Life

 If you're here, chances are you're shy or introverted, feeling a bit lost. Don't worry, you're not alone. I've been there too. And trust me, there are millions of us. In this blog, I'll share my honest experiences growing up introverted. Let's navigate this together.

• The Introvert's Journey: Overcoming Challenges with Confidence and Ease:

If you're reading this, you're probably a shy person or an introvert, and maybe you're feeling a bit confused and lonely. I can relate. Growing up in India, a very orthodox and religious country, many people don't understand what it means to be an introvert. Even within my own family, I've heard things like, "What? Go outside, move your a**, and go out!" It can be really hurtful when your family doesn't understand your condition. 

In this blog, I'll share my unbiased and honest experiences of being an introvert in my early life and teenage years. My goal is to help you feel less alone, knowing there are millions out there just like you and me.

1.Introverts and Social Media: Navigating Overthinking and Anxiety:

 Many introverts use social media just like anyone else. Posting stories, sharing snaps, and staying updated doesn’t mean they're not introverted. If you're an introvert, you might find yourself hesitating a lot before posting. Overthinking even the smallest things, like "Should I send this reel to her or not?" or "What will she think about me?" is common.

We introverts often worry about being judged, and this can make social media a challenging space. Despite this, many of us still engage online, finding ways to express ourselves while managing our anxiety.

If you find yourself struggling with social media as an introvert, here's what I suggest based on my experience:

•Be Social, Not Isolated: It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that being isolated is cool or different. While some alone time is great, too much can lead to loneliness. So, make an effort to be social, even in small ways.

•Post Without Fear: Go ahead and "send all the reels, post whatever you feel like." Remember, no one is judging you as harshly as you judge yourself. The more you share, the more you’ll realize that people are generally supportive and understanding.

•Find Close Friends: Having one or two close friends you can talk to without hesitation makes a huge difference. These friends can be anyone you're comfortable with, even family members. For me, my sister is my best friend and the person I can be my true extroverted self with.

•Make Small Moves: Start with small steps in building relationships. Reach out to potential friends, engage in conversations, and don't be afraid to show your true self. Building a support system can make social media and real-life interactions much easier to handle.

In a nutshell, try to balance your social interactions. Build connections with a few close friends and allow yourself to share more freely online. You might find that it's not as intimidating as it seems.

 

2. Facing Social Anxiety: An Introvert's Guide to Navigating Social Interactions:

Social media feels way less intimidating than face-to-face interactions. Meeting people, especially those who know you or are the same age, can be really scary. I totally get it—it's tough and challenging.

People often think introverts don't like to interact, are always quiet, or even rude. But that's not true. I'm a shy, introverted guy who wants to speak well in front of others and interact, but I often get too nervous or fail miserably when it comes to socializing in real life.

As an introvert, you're always overthinking what others might be thinking about you. "Is he judging my face?" "Wait, he must think I'm ugly." "I'm insecure about my height." "Look at this guy, he's bad at studies." These thoughts can be overwhelming.

As your big brother, I can only share what I could have done or did to cope in these situations. I'll be sharing my honest experiences and tips for handling these challenges. You're not alone in this, and together we can navigate the ups and downs of being an introvert.

 

 

"Bro, what should we do in these situations?"

Well, honestly, the best thing you can do is "TALK LESS"

"Talk less?" Yes, champs, talk less. When you're confronted with people, whether they're relatives or strangers, don't try too hard to be an extrovert. Just pass a smile and keep your conversations short and sweet. Avoid trying to extend the conversation or bringing up new topics.

"But why, dude?"

From my experience, I've made the mistake of trying to act like an extrovert, thinking it would make people like me more. The trouble starts after the conversation ends, when you start overthinking every single thing you said. You might find yourself thinking, "Man, why did I say that?" or "Jeez, did I really say that?" or even "No, no, no, they must have laughed when I said that"

This overthinking can be inevitable and exhausting. Most of the time, people aren't judging you as harshly as you think. So, don't engage too much in conversations and stop pretending to be someone you're not.

In a nutshell, DON'T INVOLVE TOO MUCH IN CONVERSATIONS, PASS SMILE, YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. Be yourself and stay true to your introverted nature. There's no need to change your personality over these small interactions.

3. How to Overcome Loneliness as an Introvert:

As an introvert or shy person, the fear of loneliness can be overwhelming. Personally, I’ve never celebrated my birthday with a big crowd, and only a few people even know when my birthday is. I rarely get hugs, and it can suck sometimes having only 1-2 friends or no friends at all. But here’s the thing: even people with tons of friends can feel lonely. In fact, they might feel even lonelier.

Think of it this way: there's a poor guy who wishes for a bicycle, a guy with a bicycle wishes for a bike, and a guy with a bike wishes for a car. It's a never-ending loop of wanting more.

The key is to be happy with what you have. Even if you don't have many friends, you have the best person with you—yourself—and hopefully, your family.

"So, how to overcome loneliness?"

My answer is: "DON'T" Instead of seeing it as loneliness, think of it as solitude. Use this time to be productive. Since no one is bugging you, you have the perfect opportunity to focus on yourself. Learn new skills, such as writing eBooks, graphic designing, video editing, investing (starting in your 20s is very beneficial), practicing yoga, playing the guitar, or even exploring hip-hop and writing your own lyrics. The opportunities are endless.

Before you go to sleep, ask yourself a simple question: "What productive thing did I learn today?" 

Even if it's just for a couple of minutes, it's worth it.

Questions to Avoid:

- "Everyone is having fun, and I'm here alone. Am I a loser?"

- "Who will accept me?"

- "Does anyone even like me?"

These type of questions are baseless and only bring you down. They won't take you anywhere and will just disturb your mental peace.

In a nutshell:

ENJOY THE SOLITUDE, LEARN SOME SKILLS, AND STOP ASKING YOURSELF BASELESS QUESTIONS.

One TIP: Whenever you feel too stressed, take 10 deep breaths very slowly and remind yourself that you are not alone. There are millions of people who have felt what you’re feeling. It’s tough, but that’s life. You can't be satisfied all the time. There are always ups and downs, and it’s okay to break down or cry sometimes. Just stay strong.

4.  Major Challenges Faced by Introverts: Underestimating Yourself:

One of the major challenges introverts face is underestimating themselves. I spent my teenage years constantly thinking, "Nah, there are millions out there who are better than me. I can't do it" or "Man, I can't crack this exam. They won't take losers like me."

Don’t have a preconceived mindset about your boundaries and limits just because of small failures. For example:

- "I failed this class test, so I can't crack these examinations."

- "There's only a 1% selection rate. I'm sure I'll fail."

Little champs, I regret thinking like that. Please DELETE THESE PRECONCEIVED MINDSETS OVER PETTY SMALL FAILURES. The more you fail, the better person you'll become in life if you consider failures to be a gift.

One question for all of you: "Name any successful person around the world who never failed?" Can you name any? Exactly, you can't. Every successful person has seen failures, even BIG ONES—like losing their company, millions of dollars, or even their family. Did they stop? No. So why consider yourself inferior over some petty failure?

Even in my teenage, I've realized that you should just keep going, accept failure with a smile, and stop underestimating yourself.

In a nutshell:

STOP UNDERESTIMATING YOUR WORTH OVER SMALL FAILURES.

Keep pushing forward, and remember that every failure is just a step towards your success.

►So, that's all for this blog. I'll be posting more about what to do, what to avoid, and general lifestyle tips. My only goal is to share the mistakes I've made so you can avoid them and become a better person. What's done is done. Whenever you feel like you've wasted time, just set "time = 0" and start fresh from that moment onwards.

Please keep reading my upcoming blogs where I'll share more honest experiences.

GOOD LUCK, CHAMPS! You are not alone.

‣‣Don't hesitate to share in the comments! By opening up about your experiences, not only do you lighten your own load, but you also remind others they're not alone in their journey.