Laurie Helgoe

Your nature is not the problem. The problem is that you have become alienated from your nature -- from your power source.

— Laurie Helgoe

“Where else but cyberspace does the introvert have the opportunity to start in our comfort zone of written communication and talk later?”

— Laurie Helgoe

“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

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

“I prefer to interact with people one-on-one. Any more than that, and the dynamic becomes competitive.”

— Laurie Helgoe

Introverts process information internally, and we don't like to express our thoughts until they are fully formed.

— Laurie Helgoe

“Though I may be efficient at the family table, I linger at the table for two.”

— Laurie Helgoe

Introverts are more effective leaders of proactive employees. When you have a creative, energetic work force, an introvert is going to draw…

— Laurie Helgoe

“Although most introverts seek time alone as an alternative to people and competition, solitude is a power source for the introvert. And…

— Laurie Helgoe

An extrovert is more likely to share immediate reactions and process information through conversation.

— Laurie Helgoe

“The Socially Accessible introvert looks like an extrovert on the outside and sees extroversion as a bar that he or she can…

— Laurie Helgoe

“Regardless of how dead we feel in a crowd, we cling to the uniquely American assumption that associating is good and necessary…

— Laurie Helgoe

“In an extroverted society, we rarely see ourselves in the mirror. We get alienating feedback. Alienating feedback comes in the form of…

— Laurie Helgoe

This is why it is sometimes hard for introverts to find words: we really hate to compromise, and words are always a…

— Laurie Helgoe

“If you retreat in response to desire rather than deprivation, the deprivation may never come.”

— Laurie Helgoe

Introverts like being introverts. We are drawn to ideas, we are passionate observers, and for us, solitude is rich and generative.

— Laurie Helgoe

“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

Introverts often assume what's inside is visible on the outside. We don't have to invent or fake the emotion; we just need…

— Laurie Helgoe

“...ultimately I found my community by pursuing what I loved: writing, acting, art, coffeehouses.”

— Laurie Helgoe

“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

“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

“Think of a group of Extrovert Moms gathered together at a Little League game, excitedly chatting and enjoying the action. In comes…

— Laurie Helgoe

As an introvert, you can be your own best friend or your worst enemy. The good news is we generally like our…

— Laurie Helgoe

“...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

“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