Are You an Introvert or Extrovert? (And Why It Matters)

Do you know whether you are an introvert or an extrovert?  Read here for insight, and learn why understanding your internal wiring can be helpful.

Are You an Introvert or an Extrovert?

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:14, NIV).

Mom’s Thoughts on Being an Introvert or Extrovert:

When I was younger, my sister used to joke that I was one person with my friends and an entirely different person at home.  I was the life of the party at school.  I was playful, cheerful, and silly.  However, the moment I walked into the house after a long school day, I wanted nothing more than to be alone.  Often, I was snippy and grumpy.

I didn’t know why I acted the way I did at the time.  I knew my sister was right, but I didn’t understand why a switch was flipped every day when I got home from school.

Looking back now, I understand what I didn’t understand at the time.  I’m an introvert.  Introverts are people who are energized by time alone and quietness.  They feel drained after too much time with other people.  They might be able to socialize well when they’re with people, but too much interaction with others leaves them feeling empty and exhausted.

On the other hand, extroverts are energized by time with people.  They love being the life of the party, and socializing makes them feel invigorated.  They don’t like too much time alone, and quiet places make them feel uncomfortable and even sad.

Most of us are somewhere on a continuum between being fully introverted and fully extroverted.  It’s helpful to recognize whether we lean toward introversion or extroversion because knowing how God wired our brains helps us care for ourselves.

I wish I had understood what it means to be an introvert when I was younger.   I would have respected my need for quiet and solitude instead of feeling ashamed of it.  Instead of being cranky with my family, I might have had the skills to tell them that I was feeling overexerted and that I needed to recharge in my room for a while.

It’s important to know yourself and to understand what fills you up and what makes you feel poured out.  God is waiting to help you honor the way he created you.

Bekah’s Thoughts (Girl to Girl):

Would you describe yourself as introverted or extroverted?  I would describe myself as a bit in the middle when it comes to being an introvert or extrovert.  Sometimes after being with friends, I feel happy and refreshed.  Other times, I feel happy but exhausted!  I also like to be alone, but too much alone time can make me feel down.

It’s important to understand who you are and accept it.  This helps you care for yourself.  It’s not wrong to be one way or another.  But it can be helpful to notice when you need to switch gears!

Have you been alone a lot lately, and you’re starting to feel down?  It’s probably time to connect with your friends!

Are you exhausted from going and going and going?  Try to get away to a quiet place for a few hours or even a whole day.  We honor God by honoring our bodies and listening to them!

Talk About It:

• On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being very introverted, 10 being extroverted, and 5 being balanced between needing quiet and needing socialization), what number would you use to describe yourself?
• What sorts of activities energize you and fill you up most when you feel worn out: activities with people or activities alone?
• How does knowing yourself help you care for your body’s needs? Do you need to make any adjustments to your daily routines based on what you read today?

Pray Together:

God, thank you for designing us each uniquely.  Help us to recognize and honor the way you made us so that our lives might bring you glory.  Amen.

A Free Devotional for You:

The Girl to Girl 7-Day Devotional offers seven devotions and includes Scripture, commentaries from us, discussion questions, and even a section for journaling.  The post you read today was taken from our 7-day devotional.  This devotional will help you talk about tricky issues, challenge you in your faith, and help you grow closer together as mother and daughter.  Get yours free with promo code GIRL right here!

Find Our New Mother-Daughter Devotional on Amazon Right Here:

Do you want to open the lines of communication with your daughter, connect on deeper levels, laugh together, and grow in your faith together?  Maybe you don’t have a daughter, but you would love to connect with a granddaughter, niece, or younger woman in your life.  Perhaps you would love to support a mother-daughter duo you care about.

If any of this resonates with you, we have a tool to help you.  Twelve-year-old Bekah and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book together, and it is designed to help moms and daughters connect and grow in faith together.  It’s called Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith.  It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a journaling section.  We had a blast writing it, and we are so excited to share it with you.  You can buy your paperback or eBook on Amazon right here.  This book also makes a powerful gift for the mothers and daughters you care about!  We encourage you to check it out!