Last night my partner read me an excerpt from a book she is reading entitled My Love Affair with England by Susan Allen Toth. The passage describes the author’s change in seasons – where she turned 50 and began to view her life with curiosity realizing that she had an increased need for solitude and privacy. She drew back from parties and public gatherings as well as occasions where she was required to “perform.” She even began to question whether her bubbly social personality had been real or just for show. As she grappled with this disconcerting question, a friend of hers summarized it this way “It’s simple. Jung could tell you about that. You’re simply discarding your false self and embarking on an interior journey. It’s that time of life.” (Carl Jung, was a very influential psychologist and classic introvert).
What I love about this quote is how beautifully it captures the introverted experience. One woman recently shared with me – “10 years ago when I took the Myers-Briggs I tested an E – but barely. I am feeling more like an I.” Yes – this is very possible because research shows that as we get older all of us tend to express our introverted selves more. Like Susan Allen Toth, we have an increased need for solitude and privacy, and we draw away from parties and large gatherings as well as occasions where we are required to perform. As I turned 50 this year this captures me to a T!
Reblogged this on duncanmason.
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Reblogged this on ally1lakeside.
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Reblogged this on galesmind and commented:
Odd I have been an introvert for most of my life but I find I am going more outside myself as I get older. Does the reverse happen??
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While there is no research documenting this as a trend It must because you are experiencing it! : )
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