That’s an interesting observation. I really resonate with that need to switch gears from concepts to words, and almost go through an act of translation between the two. Thanks for your insights.

Those of us who think cognitively (conceptually opposed to verbally) must necessarily pause between thought and speech. The act of speaking requires some brain’s (for lack of a better description) RAM.

I am concerned to what extreme rampant cell phone usage has delivered our culture. Have we exchanged improved communication for individual responsibility, both in development of our thoughts and in decision making?

Thank you for articulating something so well that I have tried to communicate to various people in my life. I end up sounding like I’m anti-change, when I’m really not. Change and maturity will happen in my life, but not necessarily where others think it has to happen. Also I think it won’t happen by trying to “eliminate” core parts of me. The best changes in my life happen in the context of me being the me that I am, not in my trying to be like somebody else.

Traits common to introverts may be another verse of the same song. Introverts can absolutely learn to behave in ways contrary to their nature, but I’m not so sure that’s always a good thing. What I’d love to see more of is extroverts having the realization that it’s OK for introverts to be who and how they are, rather than expecting them to be like “everybody else.”

Thanks so much for your comment. I knew when I started this site that I couldn’t possibly speak for every introvert out there, but hoped that some of what I had to say would resonate with most. I know there can be great differences between introverts; for example, my husband and I are both introverts, but we express it in very different ways. He enjoys public speaking, I usually don’t. I crave time spent with friends, he is happy to mostly spend time alone.

That being said, according to the information out there about introverts (such as Marti Olson Laney’s book, The Introvert Advantage), needing to think before talking or making a decision is a common trait among introverts. I applaud you for taking steps to overcome this behavior in order to perform better in the activities you’ve chosen, but I don’t really feel the need to change this aspect of myself. This slow decision-making process has actually helped me to make good decisions in the past, ones that I am proud of, and I wouldn’t want to try to replace that. Also, I think that the habit of thinking before speaking is a good one, and not something I’d like to train myself out of.

Yes, there is pressure in these situations, but there is a third way to handle it (which I think the post speaks to): to become aware of my own patterns and to accept that I will handle it differently than most, but in a way that works for me.

You don’t need to remain in the zone where you feel ‘pressured’ to make quick decisions, you can work on getting better at the quick decision… thus removing the stress of the decision-making moment. Or, like I’ve seen so many other people do, just remain in the that pressure zone and then feel sorry for yourself.