Michaela Chung Quotes

It helps to remember that people who possess the qualities we lack aren’t any better than us. They weren’t given a bigger piece of the awesome pie. They are just as flawed, but in different ways.

It is such a rare thing in this world to find someone who is not constantly trying to impress someone, be liked, or fill empty airspace with mindless chatter. A person who is completely, unapologetically okay with who they are and what they feel is like a beacon of light in the dark. As author Anne Lamott once said, “Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.

The danger of attending the extroverts’ masquerade ball is that we surround ourselves with people who only like us for our disguise.

Extroverts are not superior to introverts, and vice versa. We are different personality types with different needs and motivations. In our culture, different is scary. Extroverts have laid claim on the definition of normal, leaving introverts to feel guilty for not fitting in.

Often, we find ourselves wedged in the middle of a draining conversation. We might desperately want to dislodge ourselves from the interaction, but instead we stay in receiving mode, absorbing their words like a slow-acting poison.

Often, introverts spend so much time trying to do as the extroverts do that we never ask ourselves what we really want. After years of denying our true desires, it can be difficult to separate what we want from what the world tells us to want.

As much as the world tries to tell us otherwise, our free time is ours to spend how we wish. This can be a tricky concept for introverts to fully embrace. We’ve been chastised so much for our personal preferences that we feel obliged to ignore them.

We need time alone to restore ourselves. Introverts are pressured to push ourselves to the point of exhaustion in social situations—then we feel guilty for becoming irritable and grouchy. We blame ourselves for not being able to be “on” all the time.

Our extroverted culture makes introverts feel despicable for wanting to be alone. Like thieves snatching something that doesn’t belong to them, we have to “steal” a moment of solitude. If only introverts could see that we have a right to our alone time. We have a right to enjoy it too. Think

With all the misconceptions about us, you would think that introverts are a small and freakish minority. As alluded to earlier, introverts make up roughly one-half to one-third of the world’s population. Yet, the qualities that are as natural to us as breathing—the very same qualities that we share with millions of other introverts across the globe—make us feel defective. Just like me, many introverts come to believe that there is something wrong with them.

A lot of people think I'm brave because I quit my job and traveled the world alone in search of purpose. And yes, doing this required a lot of courage. But for introverts like me, there are things that care us even more than performing or traveling solo. At the top of the list might be saying "I love you" for the first time, or opening up to someone new. Remember, the bravest acts happen in quiet moments. When you feel afraid to speak up or try something new, but you do it anyway, you are the definition of courage.

Many introverts have so much pain associated with intimacy that we are afraid to get close. There is the pain of being emotionally overwhelmed. The pain of moving too quickly. The pain of being misunderstood and feeling like the bad guy all the time. Then, of course, there is the pain of knowing that we are causing someone else pain simply by fulfilling our innate needs. Our partner feels our need for space as a slap in the face. Our lack of energy is interpreted as a lack of love. All of these pain associations make us reluctant to get close, no matter how much we say we want a meaningful relationship.

November 1 SINGING YOUR OWN PRAISES “Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” —A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh As an introvert, you might have grown up feeling anything but grateful for your personality. You tried to cure your introversion by mimicking extroverted behavior. Of course, this didn’t work because you can’t fix what isn’t broken. You are an introvert. You like people, but sometimes you like your alone time more. You think deeply and choose your words carefully. You enjoy different pastimes than the extrovert down the street. None of this makes you a bad person. In fact, there are billions of other people who share your preferences. So, let’s try a different approach, shall we? Let’s try on a little self-acceptance for size. Instead of trying to fix or cure, let’s celebrate our strengths. For the longest time, I saw my quietness as a fatal flaw, a sign that I was not friendly or feminine enough. Now, I see it as just another piece of the intricate mosaic that is my personality. Alongside my quietness, there is also intuition, wisdom, and an ability to read between the lines. Sure, I speak slowly and pause often, but I am singing on the inside. Those who matter can hear my silent song. This month’s entries will help you to see the beauty in your introverted nature and guide you toward singing your own praises (quietly, of course).

As an introvert explorer, your soul’s goal is to come home to itself.

They say curiosity killed the cat, but that was only the tenth time. During his other nine lives, the cat relished in the boons of his curiosity.

We don't need to be in a designated role to take ownership of our environment. We can simply decide that we will be the giver, the helper, or the greeter wherever we are. We can even make a little game of it. We can tell ourselves: Today, I'm going to make at least three new people feel welcome. Or we can say: At this party, I'm going to gift two people a genuine compliment.

That’s the thing about introverts—we are always waiting to be invited to speak up about what matters to us. If the invitation comes too soon, we’ll probably avoid the question, deflecting the focus to the other person. We might want to come closer, but we’re not warmed up yet. We’re

We are different personality types with different needs and motivations. In our culture, different is scary. Extroverts have laid claim on the definition of normal, leaving introverts to feel guilty for not fitting in. While

There are plenty of people out there who are as knowledgeable about introversion as mosquitos are about long division. Such people tell us that introversion is a deficiency that needs to be fixed.

The next time you find yourself on the receiving end of a conversation assault, take a moment to have a little self-compassion. Remember that other introverts share your slow-talking tendencies, your hatred of small talk, and your disdain for the phone.

Squires thought her need for alone time was a sign of depression. In the end, it was a lack of solitude that triggered her descent into depression. Like Squires, many introverts receive the wrong message about solitude. Our extroverted culture makes introverts feel despicable for wanting to be alone. Like thieves snatching something that doesn’t belong to them, we have to “steal” a moment of solitude. If only introverts could see that we have a right to our alone time. We have a right to enjoy it too.

I’m restless. Things are calling me away. My hair is being pulled by the stars again.” —Anaïs Nin, Fire: From A Journal of Love

the bravest acts happen in quiet moments. When you feel afraid to speak up or try something new, but you do it anyway, you are the definition of courage.

LOVE YOURSELF TODAY BY JUST BEING Be wrong, be right, be strong, be weak, be fierce, be afraid—be whatever your heart wants you to be in this moment. First and foremost, be honest. The worst thing to be is a lie.