“If you retreat in response to desire rather than deprivation, the deprivation may never come.” — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“...ultimately I found my community by pursuing what I loved: writing, acting, art, coffeehouses.” — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“...efforts to make work fun only annoy most of us, especially the introvert.” — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“Though I may be efficient at the family table, I linger at the table for two.” — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“Regardless of how dead we feel in a crowd, we cling to the uniquely American assumption that associating is good and necessary… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“...it is impossible to fully and fairly understand introversion without looking inside. We aren’t just going away, we’re going toward something.” — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“Our challenge as introverts is to adopt the attitude, based on the introversion assumption, that your need to retreat requires no explanation—it… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
Whatever kind of introvert you are, some people will find you 'too much' in some ways and 'not enough' in others. — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
I am very troubled by the tendency to define introverts by what they lack. Introversion is a preference, not a fallback plan. — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“I prefer to interact with people one-on-one. Any more than that, and the dynamic becomes competitive.” — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“Where else but cyberspace does the introvert have the opportunity to start in our comfort zone of written communication and talk later?” — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“For introverts, who have limited energy for interaction, we need to be more thoughtful and deliberate about whom we meet—which, happily, is… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“I’m one of those introverts with well-honed social skills, and I have even danced on the occasional table, but I have felt… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“For introverts, the best associations start with ideas. If you don’t feel a part of your neighborhood association or the happy hour… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“For the introvert, as for the flâneur, observing is not a fallback position—something we do because we can’t participate. We watch because… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“It would be wise to be concerned about the introvert who is deprived of solitude. Is she neglecting herself due to depression?… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
Introverts prefer introversion; we tend to gain energy by reflecting and expend energy when interacting. Extroverts have the opposite preference; they tend… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“Is it better to part with your introversion or to accept a diagnosis that allows you to have it as long as… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“...if your friend knows you at all, she is being rude by pressuring you to do something that is bad for you.… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“Though some of us like to get on stage, many introverts are content to put on their invisibility cloaks and watch. But… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“In an extroverted society, we rarely see ourselves in the mirror. We get alienating feedback. Alienating feedback comes in the form of… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“Although most introverts seek time alone as an alternative to people and competition, solitude is a power source for the introvert. And… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“Secondly, extroverts often incorrectly assume that introverts are suffering. Introverts internalize problems; we like to take things inside and work on them… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“How do we maintain integrity as introverts, and at the same time allow our natural extroverted tendencies to emerge? The answer: organically.… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“Think of a group of Extrovert Moms gathered together at a Little League game, excitedly chatting and enjoying the action. In comes… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“We have an assumption here in America that the kind thing to do is to be “friendly,” which means being extroverted, even… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“We know we only have so much energy for reaching out; if we’re going to invest, we want it to be good.” — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
Let's clear one thing up: Introverts do not hate small talk because we dislike people. We hate small talk because we hate… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“The Socially Accessible introvert looks like an extrovert on the outside and sees extroversion as a bar that he or she can… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
Extroverts want us to have fun, because they assume we want what they want. And sometimes we do. But "fun" itself is… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“Because extroversion lines up so well with American values, we introverts often deprive ourselves of what we most enjoy and thrive on.… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“Similarly, a Solo Date is an outing with yourself to satisfy some of your introvert cravings. And it is a delicious treat.” — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“I believed that if I had the whole story, if I had the opportunity to really know the person I was sitting… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“It takes an extrovert to bring out my upbeat side. If it were up to me, everyone would probably just sit around… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
Introversion, when embraced, is a wellspring of riches. It took me years to acknowledge this simple reality, to claim my home, and… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“One of the teens I worked with told me about how she loves to take tests, because it is quiet and everyone… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“We have an assumption here in America that the kind thing to do is to be “friendly,” which means being extroverted, even intrusive. The… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
There's a lot to love about America - freedom, the melting pot of diversity, individualism - all attractive concepts, especially to an introvert. In… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“Because extroversion lines up so well with American values, we introverts often deprive ourselves of what we most enjoy and thrive on. So, for… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
I loved the study of psychology. I didn't love seeing patient after patient. I was perpetually overstimulated, busy decoding everything I took in. — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
Introverts tend to internalize problems. In other words, we place the source of problems within and blame ourselves. Though introverts may also externalize and… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
As an introvert, you can be your own best friend or your worst enemy. The good news is we generally like our own company,… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
One of the best places for a shy person to meet people is in a coffee shop. If you are a reader, bring a… — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
Whatever kind of introvert you are, some people will find you 'too much' in some ways and 'not enough' in others. — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
“...efforts to make work fun only annoy most of us, especially the introvert.” — Laurie Helgoe Copy Share Image
