Being an introvert is not something to brag about. In fact, we tend to reject this personality trait, trying at all costs to be more extroverted. But what if we chose to accept ourselves and be happy the way we are? How can we find this confidence within ourselves? Here are 6 exercises to help you.

What does it mean to be an introvert?

We don’t choose to be introverts. That’s why we waste far too much time trying to change ourselves into extroverts.

In fact, we don’t become extroverted either.

In fact, an introvert can learn to be self-confident, to dare to show and tell.

And an extrovert can learn to listen more to others, and to be alone with himself.

In the end, being an introvert doesn’t prevent us from having great relationships with others, having the job of our dreams and being happy.

It’s just that introverts need to build up their self-confidence more than other people. And above all, they won’t do things the same way as an extrovert.

Because it’s important to realize that it’s a mistake to believe that the world is only for extroverts. In fact, there’s room for everyone.

In other words, if you’re an introvert (like me), don’t conform to others. Be you. Do things your own way. You’ve got your place!

12 signs that you’re an introvert

Maybe your desire to be extroverted has made you forget who you really are.

That’s why I’ve decided to list a few signs that show whether or not you’re an introvert.

You prefer silence to crowds
Sometimes you feel alone when you’re surrounded by people.
You don’t like small talk
Rather than say what’s on your mind, you prefer to keep quiet
You tend to put yourself in a corner
You have to force yourself to meet new people, sometimes even to see your friends.
You like to daydream
You need a lot of time to yourself
When you see too many people on too many consecutive days, you feel an urgent need to see no one for a while.
You think a lot
People say you’re distracted
You don’t mind not talking to someone for a while

Being an introvert: 6 exercises for self-acceptance

As I said earlier, being introverted isn’t a bad thing, and you don’t have to change. In fact, you can be happy just the way you are.

Being introverted has its advantages and disadvantages, just as being extroverted has its own.

In fact, the aim here is to learn to accept who you are and be happy as you are.

That’s why I’m sharing with you 6 exercises that I practice very regularly.

1 – Meditation for introverts

We often feel that we’re not a good enough person and that we need to change again and again.

What if we learned to accept ourselves instead?

To do this, I invite you to take a moment to sit down in a quiet, comfortable place.

Take 10 deep breaths. Concentrate on your breath. Relax your shoulders and legs.

Then read this text:

“I’m not here to be otherwise.
I’m not here to be perfect.
I’m not here to struggle and reject myself.

I’m here to embody who I am.
With my qualities and my faults.
I’m here because I belong.

I am enough.
I am a good person.
I’m valuable.

I have the right to be who I am.
To do things my way,
At my own pace.

There’s room for everyone.

I can be happy
here and now,
just as I am.

Do this meditation as many times as necessary.

2 – Visualization

Being an introvert means having difficulty meeting new people.

Indeed, we feel a lot of anxiety and we don’t always know how to manage it.

Personally, I do a visualization exercise that calms me down.

In fact, when I have to go to an appointment, I’m often stressed. I don’t know the person and I ask myself lots of questions. And, to calm my anxiety, I take a moment to close my eyes.

Then I visualize myself at the appointment with the person, imagining the place and the person, but not in detail.

In fact, I concentrate rather than on my feelings. I visualize myself serene, smiling, at ease. I visualize the person in front of me serene, smiling, at ease.

Then I visualize myself and the person in front of me having a good time.

It’s an exercise that calms me down a lot, which is why I wholeheartedly recommend it to you.

3 – A mantra for all introverts

In fact, I have two mantras that also help me better manage my relationships with others.

The first is: “I have the right to be as I am.”

Indeed, being an introvert is sometimes frowned upon by modern society. Yes, we’re invited to take our cues from extroverts. But I believe you can be an introvert and still be successful and happy in today’s society.

To do this, it’s essential to accept yourself first.

That’s why the mantra “I have the right to be as I am” is so magical!

Then, my second mantra for being more at ease with others is “The other is my human sister/brother”.

Yes, I repeat to myself that the other person is my brother or sister to get rid of anxiety.

All too often, we protect ourselves from others, and that’s what prevents us from having good relationships with others.

But we don’t need to protect ourselves. Others are who they are, just as we are who we are.

So let’s accept ourselves by accepting others.

4 – Writing to learn to talk about yourself

Being an introvert also means having difficulty talking about yourself. We’re afraid of appearing clumsy, egocentric… So we prefer to keep quiet.

Yet introverts are just as interesting as extroverts.

In other words, if you’re an introvert, understand that you too have things to tell. Exciting things.

To help you discover these things, I invite you to write.

Start a diary in which you record your news: how am I doing today? What did I like and dislike? What have I been dreaming about lately? What have I learned?

Take an interest in what’s going on inside you. Learn to find your inner world exciting, so you’ll find it easier to talk about it with others.

5 – Practice talking about yourself

Talking about yourself when you’re an introvert is difficult. That’s why I invite you to practice.

First of all, realize that you’ll never be like an extrovert, able to talk about yourself unfiltered, unceasingly.

But you can learn to talk more about yourself, with greater ease and confidence.

To do this, start small.

In other words, the next time you’re in a conversation with someone, talk about something about yourself, something that happened to you or the last film you watched, for example.

In fact, it’s easier if you decide what you want to talk about before the conversation starts.

Then, as you talk about one thing about yourself, move on to two, and so on.

It won’t be easy at first. That’s normal, it’s a learning process. So practice. With people you trust, for a start.

6 – Talking to each other

After a conversation, a meeting or an appointment, always take a moment to refocus on yourself.

After all, being an introvert is hard to take in a world where extroverts are the only ones in the limelight.

That’s why it’s quite possible that you criticize yourself a lot after a conversation.

Maybe you think you’re lame, weird, lacking in self-confidence and should be more like this and less like that…

So stop! Take a moment to refocus and talk to yourself.

You’re an introvert. You are who you are. No more, no less.

You don’t have to change. You just have to accept yourself.

Because it’s your own criticisms, your own doubts, that are eating away at you from the inside, preventing you from doing what you like and being happy.

So, what’s a good conversation?

Imagine that what you’re feeling, what you’re thinking about yourself, what you’re saying to yourself, imagine that it’s a friend of yours whom you love very much who’s feeling, thinking and criticizing himself the way you are. What would you do? Would you tell him he’s right to feel that way about himself, or would you reassure and encourage him?

Write down what you would say.

Then reread what you’ve just written and address it to yourself.

Be your best friend. Stop talking badly to yourself. Stop hurting yourself.

You’re a good person, whether you’re introverted or not.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover The 6 secrets of self-fulfilment for introverts
Discover Overcoming shyness: 10 tips that will do you a world of good

I recommend this inspiring book:

Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverted Kids by Susan Cain

The author focuses on introverted children, offering insights and advice on how to meet the challenges of growing up in an extroverted world. The book explores the unique strengths and qualities of introverted children, emphasizing the importance of understanding and embracing their natural inclinations. With practical advice and real-life examples, Cain empowers introverted children and their parents, teachers and caregivers to recognize the value of introversion and create environments that nurture and celebrate the strengths of even the quietest individuals.

I wish I’d read this book when I was younger. It’s important to learn from an early age that being “quiet” is not a character flaw. Learning to understand how the world may perceive your introverted behavior is essential to preventing low self-esteem.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself