I'm not an Introvert or an Extrovert. I'm an Ambivert.

Ever since I took the Myers-Briggs personality test my senior year of high school, I've known that I'm different from the populous as a whole. In looking at the introvert or extrovert breakdown, I hit right in the middle of both of the qualities, with a few more percentage points on the extrovert side. At first I was puzzled. How could I be both an introvert and an extrovert at the same time? When people asked which I was I would just reply that I was both, only to get confused stares, which I myself understood as I didn't understand being both either. I didn't want to be an introvert as I loved people, and wanted to talk with them all the time, but I didn't want to be an extrovert and be loud and boisterous either.

In the past month I've been researching the whole introvert/extrovert discussion, especially as it has been in the limelight on Facebook and many other social media sites. I would look at the characteristics of an introvert and relate with some but not all, and I would look at the characteristics of an extrovert with the same trend. Today however, I finally figured out that there is a midway point between these two polar opposites. I am not an introvert, or an extrovert. I am an ambivert. *cue superhero music*

An ambivert has about 50% extrovert characteristics and 50% introvert characteristics. We're really good at attunement, which means that we look at a situation and based on what would work better in the situation, choose to be more of an introvert, or more of an extrovert. Basically we combine the best parts of being an introvert with the best parts of being an extrovert! Since there are all these lists of what it means to be an introvert or an extrovert, but very few about being an ambivert I decided to make one about how I specifically am an ambivert. I put together this list by analyzing the qualities of being an introvert or an extrovert and seeing what matched up with my ambivert nature.

I-There are some days where I must be alone with my thoughts and not talk to people. This often comes after a period of giving myself extrovertly and not having much alone time.

E-However there are other days when I crave socialization and someone to talk to, laugh with and joke around with. This comes after I have been so immersed in my studies all week that I need to get out of my cave and be silly with my friends.

I-I'm very good at listening, when I'm in a one on one conversation, but in a whole group of people I want to joke around and be the center of attention and it's harder to focus on one person when so many other people are around.

E-I love to be in big groups of people only if it's with friends or acquaintances. I'm not as much a fan of mingling around a party and meeting everyone. If I am at a party, I will stick with those I am comfortable with but will happily meet new people if my friends are on my side.

I-I find small talk a pain only in certain settings. If I'm at a party, I love to crack jokes and stay very surface-level in my conversation; however, if I am talking with someone one-on-one I want to talk about deep things so that our conversation is meaningful.

E-I bring out the outgoingness in my friends. However, a few friends who are totally extroverts, bring out even more outgoingness in me which I appreciate.

I-I can formulate my thoughts much better through writing. This is a highly introverted trait, but I find that I can truly understand and ponder a situation if I have written it down and thought about it. I learn better through writing, hence I have a blog. This is also why I have a prayer journal, as I can't focus on God as well unless I'm writing to Him.

E-I love coming home and just talking, and talking and talking about my day, what I did, what happened, who I talked to. This kind of goes against the previous point, but I also sometimes just need to talk if I have been quiet all day.

I-When I come home from a long day at school, I need time to decompress. I am learning more and more the value of taking time to destress and take your mind off of the day by having some downtime.

E-I love talking on the phone. Most introverts absolutely hate talking on the phone, but I truly do love it much more than texting, and I'm trying to call people more and more as it is so much easier to talk with them and hear about their life than shooting off a quick not very thought out text in between classes.

I-I'm a very deep thinker. If you've read this blog before, you will know that I like to think deep. I don't think deep all the time (especially after using all my brainpower at school), but when a deep thought comes, I will chew on it until I am ready to write it down in order to understand it better.

E-I don't put things off. If you know me, you know that I am a planner. And even if we aren't going to be doing something until five days from now, I will already be contacting you, figuring out details and putting it on my calendar. And if I put something on my calendar, you can be darn sure I'll be there.

I-I love to people watch. Oh man this is so much fun. From "Oh wow look at that outfit" to "I wonder why that text made her smile" to "He must've had a rough day." I could do this for hours and be content just by myself, thinking.

E-I can break the ice. I hate awkward silences or lulls in conversation. I feel like it is my responsibility to prevent those lulls even if my questions or topics of conversations cause the awkward silences. Awkward silences make me hyperventilate and feel like I am failing in my ability to be social.

I love being on both sides of the spectrum. There are challenges with that, but it's fun to be different.


--GeneticGinger