One of the questions that I received during my webinar, Networking For Introverts, last Wednesday was: "What is the evolutionary value of introversion?"
It's a great question and I wasn't very satisfied with the answer I gave at the time. So here are some of my further thoughts regarding this:
Two of the characteristics associated with introversion are 1) attention to the inner world of thoughts, feelings and imagination, and 2) focus on the meaning of events. Considering just these two aspects of introversion you can begin to see the importance that introversion plays in things like art, music, philosophy, science, and the religious/wisdom traditions of the world. In other words, knowledge, wisdom, meaning, creativity -- all these flow out of the introverted side of our nature. So much of what makes us human, so much of culture and civilization are dependent upon the capacity for introversion. Without the capacity for introversion most of the inventions, ideas, knowledge, political and social structures, and artistic works that make life livable and meaningful would not exist.
Here is a quote from Carl Jung in Psychological Types (the word "fantasy" can be understood to refer to the activity of introversion):
Here is a quote from Carl Jung in Psychological Types (the word "fantasy" can be understood to refer to the activity of introversion):
"The dynamic principle of fantasy is play, a characteristic also of the child, and as such it appears inconsistent with the principle of serious work. But without this playing with fantasy no creative work has ever yet come to birth. The debt we owe to the play of imagination is incalculable. It is therefore short-sighted to treat fantasy, on account of its risky or unacceptable nature, as a thing of little worth."
This is not to diminish the importance of extroversion. We are social beings living in a world with other people and the value of relationships and action in the world are undeniable. As a society, though, we tend to only give this aspect of life credit and neglect the importance of the inner life.
One more quote, this time from the poet Adelaide Proctor, that beautifully states the importance of attending to both sides of our nature, the introverted and the extroverted:
One more quote, this time from the poet Adelaide Proctor, that beautifully states the importance of attending to both sides of our nature, the introverted and the extroverted:
"Dreams grow holy put in action; work grows fair through starry dreaming,
But where each flows on unmingling, both are fruitless and in vain."
I had a great time presenting this material. I always do. It really is a lot of fun. If you didn't catch it this time around, I'll be doing it again, so check back often.
Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!
Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!