Bravo for this article. Just a brief comment. This statement has a counterbalance. Some of us need to transform our social engagement into more shyness. Shyness is not a fault. It comes with the territory of being ultra-sensitive, and picking up many more psychic clues in the environment than many extroverts are aware of in their rush to say, do, perform, outrun, and talk too much, even quite often saying the same things redundantly. And, extroverts can sadly make tremendous and regrettable mistakes in judgement in being overly critical of what they do not see nor comprehend in others, yet more importantly, they miss what their criticisms and judgements blind them to seeing within themselves. There is much to learn from the grace of reticence. Some of us need to actually practice, consciously practice reticence. Sometimes, shy persons do need to evolve into larger social beings for their own benefit and the greater good of their community, yet this is only possible within their own timing; like butterflies emerging in their own time from their chrysalis, they cannot be forced. Extroverts need to ponder that a lot of hidden info and the gathering of multi-levels of knowledge and understanding is contained in humility, in taking a backseat, in observation, in witnessing, in gentleness, in learning to be more aware as an open, interested, and curious observer and listener. Eg. all great writers are keenly observant, both of their environment and the characters and conversations around them, and humor comes directly out of close listening and observation. Someday, humanity will discover that all personas carry treasures, and a great deal of them are hidden. Look and watch for them. They are there waiting. They were aware of you long ago. And, when you do begin to quietly notice and be more aware of the hidden, and often shyly-prized gifts of others, it will be a revelation.
On Mar 13, 2015 KarenY wrote:
4. Transform shyness into social engagement.
Bravo for this article.
Just a brief comment. This statement has a counterbalance. Some of us need to transform our social engagement into more shyness. Shyness is not a fault. It comes with the territory of being ultra-sensitive, and picking up many more psychic clues in the environment than many extroverts are aware of in their rush to say, do, perform, outrun, and talk too much, even quite often saying the same things redundantly. And, extroverts can sadly make tremendous and regrettable mistakes in judgement in being overly critical of what they do not see nor comprehend in others, yet more importantly, they miss what their criticisms and judgements blind them to seeing within themselves. There is much to learn from the grace of reticence. Some of us need to actually practice, consciously practice reticence.
Sometimes, shy persons do need to evolve into larger social beings for their own benefit and the greater good of their community, yet this is only possible within their own timing; like butterflies emerging in their own time from their chrysalis, they cannot be forced. Extroverts need to ponder that a lot of hidden info and the gathering of multi-levels of knowledge and understanding is contained in humility, in taking a backseat, in observation, in witnessing, in gentleness, in learning to be more aware as an open, interested, and curious observer and listener. Eg. all great writers are keenly observant, both of their environment and the characters and conversations around them, and humor comes directly out of close listening and observation.
Someday, humanity will discover that all personas carry treasures, and a great deal of them are hidden. Look and watch for them. They are there waiting. They were aware of you long ago. And, when you do begin to quietly notice and be more aware of the hidden, and often shyly-prized gifts of others, it will be a revelation.