What does genuine self-care for introverts look like?

Often misconstrued as superficial indulgences, true self-care requires a deeper understanding of our 'wants' versus our 'needs'. While 'wants' are akin to icing on a cake, nice for sure, but essential? Not really!

The real substance lies in addressing our core needs.

In this episode I to help you identify and prioritise the deep-seated aspects that contribute to mental, emotional, physical, and equally important social well-being. I also talk about the 'needs chart' which is a valuable visual aid to help communicate and understand personal needs within families and teams.

Let's explore this together.

*** Key Points ***

• • Distinguish between 'wants' vs. 'needs'.
  • Adapt routines based on changing needs.
  • Use a ‘needs chart’ for clarity.

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

This I believe is the right time for this episode for we introverts with festive season at its peak.

I explore how we socialise on our own terms during the high-energy, high expectation festive season. As an introvert myself, I've often faced misconceptions that I'm antisocial, shy or arrogant.

Apparently, introverts avoid people. We do not. It is about managing our social and emotional energy wisely. It is more about how societal pressures affect we introverts both at work and in family situations.

It is about respecting our own boundaries while giving ourselves the permission to enjoy social events meaningfully. It is about being discerning with invites using our personal selective socialisation blueprint.

*** Key Points ***

• Understand and respect our boundaries with social invites.
• Communicating polite yet firm 'no'
• Set your intentions mindfully

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

The very first ally we need is ourselves. This could not be more true for we introverts as well.

In this episode, I explore the concept of self-allyship for we introverts and how it differs from advocacy.

Previously, I discussed advocating for system-level change to support introverts. However, self-allyship is about providing personal support and encouragement in a world that often favours extraversion. Drawing on my 30 years as a leadership and skills trainer, I emphasise the importance of embracing one's nature while combatting societal biases.

It is in fact necessary that we become our own ally to navigate internalised negative beliefs and systemic biases.

*** Key Points ***

• Embrace change with self-responsibility.
• Counteract internalised negative beliefs.
• Create environments conducive to growth.

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

Celebrating Episode 250 together, can you believe it?

Do I, an Open Introvert, have any strengths to offer in a world of loud, confident, and spontaneous extraverts, that anyone will take notice of or find valuable?

Having been there and asked that question of and for myself I take a deep dive into some of the unique strengths and inherent gifts that we introverts bring to both life and work. This episode may be a little uncomfortable or awkward for some of the listeners but it is a topic I believe we need to explore with positive intention.

We introverts tend to undervalue our strengths and abilities due to societal bias towards the extravert ideal. My aim is to empower fellow introverts by helping them acknowledge and celebrate their unique introvert strengths.

I encourage to take stock of your personal strengths and redefine how you can articulate them in professional and personal life for broader recognition and respect.

*** Key Points ***

• Recognising undervalued introvert strengths.
• Understanding flourishing as an ongoing process.
• Redefining strength articulation professionally.

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

Join me as I proudly share the empowering concept of being unapologetically introverted. Growing up in England, where apologising was almost second nature, I've come to embrace my introversion without apology and that is no small-shift.

This shift has significantly boosted my confidence and self-belief - more so now that I understand and take pride in being an Open Introvert.

Through a personal story involving two siblings: Melody, an introvert, and Kyla, an extravert, I explore with their permission how stereotyping often leads well-meaning extroverts astray. I hope to educate extraverts about our unique needs which can foster better understanding rather than trying to change us.

My journey through challenges like an unsuitable marriage and burnout shows the importance of balancing one's true nature with life's demands.

*** Key Points ***

• Embrace our introversion confidently.
• Educate others about our introvert needs.
• Assertive communication fosters empowerment.

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

To be an Introvert Advocate, I feel it is important that I share my own journey of becoming one. Having faced systemic biases towards the extravert ideal from school to business and everywhere else, I have learned that effective advocacy begins with self.

By sharing my personal experiences of the extravert bias and the pressures to conform to extraverted norms, I hope to inspire we introverts to embrace our authentic introvert-self. Being self-aware and self-advocate is key to raising awareness, initiating change, and empowering oneself, we can challenge these biases together.

Let's work towards equitable inclusion by eliminating the extraversion bias, the last acceptable bias that persists unchallenged at work and other parts of our lives.

*** Key Points ***

• Importance of self-awareness
• Embracing authenticity over conformity
• Building allies beyond personality types

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

This week I explore an intriguing question posed by a client of mine: Can introverts truly influence others?

In this episode I dive into the nuanced distinctions between being an influencer and being influential, especially from the perspective of we introverts.

The perception by introverts themselves and others, is that we introverts lack influence due to our quiet, think-say-think processing nature. Our preference for meaningful content is often overlooked because of the hyper-active, always on, and highly visible extravert influencers.

You see, influencing is a responsibility, ethical influence at least - which seeks mutual benefits as opposed to self-serving manipulative ends. There is a difference between honest intentions and manipulation and I explore that through the lens of Jeanie Laborde's book - Influencing with Integrity.

*** Key Points ***

• • Introverts have inherent influencing strengths
  • Understanding Ethical vs manipulative influence
  • Strategic thinking for intentional communication

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.

*** Summary ***

Dear fellow introverts, this episode is a little nostalgia, little learning and a lot of emphasis on power of storytelling for we introverts.

In this episode, I take you back to the autumn of ’87, sharing how a nervous pre-interview night with my cat Chumley kicked off a lifelong journey of storytelling. Yup, you read that right.

Let us explore why and how storytelling is an excellent tool for we introverts to connect, engage and be noticed in and for our authentic self. Let us take a dive into how crafting the right story not only impacts our message but transforms how others respond to us.

*** Key Points ***

• The power of storytelling for introverts.
• Our think-say-think helps us craft impactful stories
• Understanding and using Quiet Courage.

*** Resources ***

Visit https://hub.flourishingintroverts.com/resourcesp for tools and resources mentioned during the podcast.