Comments on: My Introverted Brain Needs Time to Process Things, and That’s OK

By: Alexis Luce

Alexis Luce — Sun, 14 May 2017 17:17:00 +0000

Very nice article! It’s been a long time I haven’t read anything about personality types and introversion. I’m an introvert myself and today I decided to get in touch again with some psychology material as I’m going through a phase in my life where I’m questioning myself. Your article sums up many aspects very well and I can also relate with it.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 08:49:00 +0000

Oh man, thank you so much for this comment. I have been a clammer all my life and it’s usually just shut up and let someone else beat me up because I can’t answer for whatever it is that’s causing the problem when put on the spot. At least now I know this happens to other people, maybe I can at least give a heads up that I need some time to process so I can give a thoughtful answer.

I know I have had issues in workplaces where I have great success in the training or classroom environment, but if pressed for an answer in the real work environment (a lot of my jobs recently have been call centers), suddenly I’m not the know-it-all wunderkind everyone expected, It’s frustrating 🙁

By: trijnewijn

trijnewijn — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 21:30:00 +0000

Wow, you just described me very accurately. It’s great to hear I’m not alone! I never notice clothes or even surroundings, but when I see someone again, I can remember the feelings I had the last time we met. When my intuition is at work while I’m listening to someone, it usually leads to being able to spot issues, even when people didn’t realise themselves they are the reason a situation bothers them or got them all excited. Even when I can only spot them hours after they’ve left…

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 08:10:15 +0000

I’m definitely an introvert, and I find I actually miss a lot of detail of what’s going on around me, and remember even less of it. I’ll remember the general impression something left on me or how it made me feel, but I tend not to remember the details unless it’s something that I really care about.

I’m an INFJ, so sensing is supposed to be my inferior function, and that sure seems true of me. Instead of noticing all the little details, I tend to be inside my own head taking whatever input I let in, whether someone’s talking to me or if it’s something I’m looking at, and bounce it around in my mind to look at it from every angle. So while I’m busy doing that, a lot goes by me unnoticed. That’s also why I might look like I’m spaced out when someone’s talking to me, but I’m really listening very intently and thinking about what they’re saying. I just might not be as present in the moment as I could be.

By: Ronique

Ronique — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 01:25:48 +0000

OMG this is me at work – well, me everywhere, but especially at work. My extremely extroverted peers get extremely excited when an idea comes to them on the spot, and I may come off as a bit disengaged, because I have to process all angles of the idea before I declare its merits. I think they value my criticality… usually!

By: Bria

Bria — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 17:25:56 +0000

Such words are the best compliment for me! Love yourself just the way you are.

By: Mythili Venugopal

Mythili Venugopal — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 16:29:31 +0000

Thank you so much. This article really helped me feel good about myself as I always loathed the fact that I couldn’t flawlessly carry a conversation

By: JuliaR

JuliaR — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 13:10:56 +0000

Strong INFP here. This is stuff I wish I had known before I completed school. I have a master’s degree and I still feel like I’m not smart or even deserving. I always wondered what was wrong with me, and why I couldn’t give coherent answers in class. When I’m rewarded for apparent good work, I still feel like a fraud because I don’t actively participate and it takes a long time for me to come around to an answer. At work meetings I’m always silent in fear of a) an incoherent reply when I’m put on the spot or b) a half baked idea that is laughed at. When I’m required to run a meeting, well, that’s when the “fun” begins. I still don’t know how to own these insecurities and struggle in these situations.

By: Bria

Bria — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 08:04:49 +0000

Thanks Ron, love to hear that! And thank you for sharing your experience.

By: Ron Wood

Ron Wood — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 18:11:58 +0000

Great article. Good for you figuring this out early in life. I’m mid-life and only recently figured this stuff out.

Different things process at different speeds, and for me relationship issues are the slowest. After 25 years of marriage, I (and my wife to some degree) realize that when issues come up I just can’t speak to them on the spot. I need time, sometime days, to process before I can have a good discussion on thorny relationship issues. If I’m forced to speak on the spot is usually doesn’t go well.

Just an fyi for others that clam up (as I do) when a difficult relationship issue arises and then beats themselves up for not being able to relate their thoughts on the spot.

Peace